When you're invited to join the Seattle Times' photo shoot featuring one of the "Best in the Northwest" companies, you say yes. And I did. And this experience reminds to take a moment and enjoy the realization that my job is truly one of the best and most rewarding.

In recruiting, I've found my home. Every day I connect with talented people and by building relationships I help grow the Expedia family. We are a company of travelers who bring expertise and passion to the office every day and leave feeling accomplished. Sure we all have our moments, but at the end of the day, if we stop for just a second, we appreciate the privilege that it is to be part of a global travel company. We bring talent and we give time, but we get true joy out of it (not to mention brilliant travel benefits).

So how did I get to this point in my career? Working smart, and often hard, traveling the long and winding learning curve, building my skill set, jumping into the unknown and relying upon sheer determination whenever experience waivers. I began technical recruiting for a Northwest staffing company about six years ago and haven't looked back since. My career has taken some dips and strides, and along the way I've learned how to be a compassionate recruiter by being remembering all those times I was a candidate myself. After recruiting for  Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Amazon and Expedia, I've observed more hirings and firings than you care to imagine. I've also come to understand how lucky I am.

By being an advocate for each candidate, a brand ambassdor for my company, I'm able to bridge people and build networks. Within these networks I match talent with opportunity. This is my true passion.

This is why I recruit.

And at the end of the photo shoot, I smile. I'm reminded that to join the ranks of the "Best in the Northwest" you have to start within. You take what you've learned and you harness it to give the best of yourself. And when you give the best of yourself -- "work" becomes synonymous with who you are, naturally.