Brenda VonPlinsky: Putting the FUN in finance
Leave it to Brenda VonPlinsky to make being a financial analyst in the regional office sound like fun. “I am a giant nerd,” she said. “and getting to dive deep into Excel every day is like playing with puzzles and getting paid for it.”
With her colorful personality and often colorful hair, VonPlinsky is far from your stereotypical stuffed-shirt finance professional. In her free time, she is a board game enthusiast. Every night, her household dinner table turns into a game table, featuring titles like Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, Azul, Illuminati, and so much more.
Even in the confines of quarantine, she has found ways to have fun. VonPlinsky plays clarinet in a community band that has been rehearsing over Zoom. She also recently adopted two very active puppies that are keeping her quite busy.
“We spend a lot of time getting their wiggles out in the conservation area behind my house,” she said. This is where VonPlinsky has been connecting to nature at the moment, enjoying all kinds of New Hampshire wildlife. “At least what the puppies don’t scare away first,” she added.
Her resume is nearly as wild as her personality. Before working for the Service, VonPlinsky was a bank receptionist, and prior to that, she served in the U.S. Army for four years as a cryptologic linguist in Arabic.
She cites her time in the Army as the source of her grounded perspective and optimistic demeanor. Now, when she faces crisis situations, VonPlinsky is reassured by the knowledge that, despite the challenges she may face and regardless of the outcome, it is unlikely that anyone will lose their lives. Instead of giving in to stress, she chooses to have faith in the skills, creativity, and resources of her team.
“Being a service member fostered a very strong sense of teamwork in me,” she said. “I truly believe that there isn't a lot that we can't handle as a group if we're all working to support each other and the mission.”
One of the things she loves most about her current position is collaborating with her team and employees across the region.
“Career-wise, the North Atlantic-Appalachian NWRS Admin Team is a huge source of strength and hope,” VonPlinsky said. “They are an amazing group of professionals who work hard every day to do their jobs the best they can, all the while supporting each other through myriad challenges.”
As much as she enjoys her job, VonPlinsky, like many of us, still craves time outdoors.
“I can rock a pivot table all day long,” she said. “but I could also learn to be useful with a chainsaw or a skid-steer, or even pull water chestnuts.”
Totally unafraid to get her hands dirty, VonPlinsky’s time in the Army made her quite flexible when it comes to work environment. Back then, her office varied. Sometimes she would work underground or in the back of trucks. Other days, she found herself out in the snow or even working in the heat of the desert.
It is this kind of versatility that makes VonPlinsky the ultimate teammate, whether in conservation or board games. Not only is she capable of stepping up to unique challenges, but she does so with endurance, optimism, and joy.
VonPlinsky’s shining energy makes her corner of the regional office just a little brighter. She noted that, even while hard at work, she was currently wearing a tiara.
“The odds are very good that at any point in time I’m wearing one or I have a costume on,” she said. “There’s no reason not to have fun while doing serious work!”
