THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 21, 1996 TAG: 9603190070
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CLOSE-UP
SOURCE: JANELLE LA BOUVE
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Jennifer Speight's wish is for every employee at Nauticus to be happy.
``We want to keep employee morale up,'' said Speight, 41, the director of personnel, administration and training at Norfolk's waterfront attraction. ``If the employee is happy, guests will be happy.''
To make sure that she had the right person in each job, Speight said she and the managers interviewed applicants right through the weekend prior to the facility's opening in 1994. Some of those original staff members still work at the museum.
``We started two years ago with nobody,'' she said. ``The building wasn't even finished.''
Speight said one of her goals is to do more to bring the local community into Nauticus.
``I would like to get the support of the local people and to increase attendance,'' she said.
At present, there are about 12 volunteers at Nauticus, and she hopes that number will grow.
``We'd like to build the volunteer staff up to about 200,'' she said.
Speight's lifelong love for animals led her to take up horseback riding. She took riding lessons and joined the Southeastern Virginia Dressage Association. Four days each week, she heads to Tega Farm in Virginia Beach to ride her Arabian horse, Spud.
Speight's experience with animals has led to volunteer jobs at Greenbrier Baptist Church, which she and her husband attend. During the Christmas season, she took charge of the care of the donkey used in the live Nativity scene at the church and during the church's annual fall festival, she was assigned to the pony rides.
Full name: Jennifer S. Speight.
Hometown: Rocky River, Ohio.
Fond childhood memories: ``All the pets we had throughout the years.''
Spouse: Elvie.
Children: ``I don't have my own children, but I inherited two older children when I married. My husband's children are in their 30s, so I became a mother and a grandmother at the same time. I don't mind it. The grandchildren call me Grandma, and I think it's cute.''
Pets: ``I have a 19-year-old West Highland terrier, a Scottie and a cat.
Occupation: ``I am the director of personnel, administration and training at Nauticus.''
Hobbies: Horseback riding.
Last book read: ``I'm reading `The Rainmaker' by John Grisham.''
What's your favorite game? ``I watch `Jeopardy,' but I don't really play any games.''
Describe yourself as a color: ``A bright color because I'm energetic and cheerful.''
If you could be any animal what would it be? ``I'd want to be someone's dog because I know how well I treat my dog. If I ever come back, I want to come back as someone's loved pet.''
What irritates you the most? Rude people.
Favorite type of music: ``I like the music Sting did for the Living Sea Theater at Nauticus.''
Favorite movie: ``I like old movies a lot. I like the American Movie Channel.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? ``I need to learn to say no. And I guess I would like to learn to relax more because I'm always on the go.''
Favorite TV program: ``Seinfeld.''
Favorite way to spend a day off: Riding my horse or going to the beach.
What would you choose for a last meal? A hamburger. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB