When Marilen Driscoll, Kathy Schumann, and Kari Rahn joined Mead & Hunt more than 25 years ago, they had no idea how much their careers would evolve or the impact they would have on the company’s culture. Starting in various entry-level positions—Marilen as a technical editor in marketing, Kathy as a marketing coordinator, and Kari as a receptionist—they each found ways to grow their careers while supporting one another.
“Twenty-six years with Kathy and Kari has seen us working in five departments, several title changes, marriages, six kids, multiple homes, health scares and healing recoveries, exciting gains and deep loss,” Marilen reflects. “My kids call both Kari and Kathy ‘Tita’ (aunt) because they’re family. This is only possible because three young professionals started their journeys at Mead & Hunt around the same time.”
In this blog, we explore the story of three women whose parallel journeys reveal the heart of our company’s culture.
Career Evolution and Adaptability
Personal and professional growth has been a constant theme throughout these three women’s careers. Their career trajectories highlight Mead & Hunt’s commitment to personal growth and continuous learning.
Marilen Driscoll‘s journey began in marketing as a technical editor before transitioning to a marketing coordinator for the Transportation team. Later, she helped launch our internal continuing education program, MHU. This program, once run by one person, has grown into a full team helping drive professional growth for 1,400 employees throughout the company. She is proud of creating learning programs and developing major company events such as TechExpo and reGROUP that invite employees throughout the company to gather and build relationships with each other. Her career path is a great example of how employees can evolve within the company to meet organizational needs and fulfill personal interests.
Kathy Schumann‘s evolution from marketing coordinator to internal communications coordinator to director showcases similar growth. She says, “For a few years, I was very part-time while taking care of my young children.” That flexibility allowed her to find balance. When she returned full-time, she championed improvements to internal processes that led to the supportive Mead & Hunt culture we know today. Her contributions to the firm’s community service initiatives have inspired greater employee engagement and supported opportunities to give back to the communities we serve in meaningful ways.
Kari Rahn perhaps experienced the most dramatic career transformation. “About a year-and-a-half after I started, I saw that HR and Finance needed extra help, so I made a business case to work part-time in each department,” she explains. From there, she moved to HR assistant, benefits coordinator, HR manager, and ultimately HR director. She and Marilen have collaborated on developing programs for managers to provide better support for those who lead teams.
Moving Forward Together
What makes these women’s stories even more compelling is how they’ve supported each other to grow personally and professionally and advance Mead & Hunt. Their long-standing relationship exemplifies how connection fosters collective success.
“I think all three of us have grown in confidence thanks to the support we provide each other,” Kathy says. “It starts with connection and not competition. We were fortunate to have an immediate connection, literally from day one of joining the firm, and that’s important.”
Kari adds, “Look for mentors who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights. Always be open to evolving, be adaptable, learn from setbacks, take care of yourself both mentally and physically, and cultivate positive relationships with your coworkers. I wouldn’t want to be on this ride without Marilen and Kathy by my side.
Together, this trio has developed a cache of programs and initiatives that have shaped the Mead & Hunt we know today. “If anyone were to witness the three of us brainstorm ideas, it might be tough to follow—there’s a lot that is inherently understood without needing to be spoken. That’s a benefit of working so closely together and understanding the others’ communication styles and passions.”
Looking to the Future
As Mead & Hunt celebrates 125 years of exceptional and these three women mark 25+ years with the company, thoughts naturally turn to their thoughts on the future.
“I hope we are still saying ‘we take care of people,’” Marilen offers. “The full values statement starts with ‘I am empowered to take care of people…’ I love the empowerment piece. It means that each employee has the ability to take care of people. Empowerment allows it to be a personal action.”
Kari envisions continued growth that creates leadership opportunities and enables the company to pass from one generation to the next. “I hope to continue to see more and more women in leadership roles,” she says, along with continued support for employees who, like the three of them, want to use their skills in different ways and potentially explore other departments.
Kathy dreams of “a working environment where every employee experiences joy in their career. This doesn’t mean every day is perfect and that there are no stressors, but that we’re all resilient enough to press on with joy and enthusiasm for the work we’re doing.”
A Legacy of Friendship and Impact
As Mead & Hunt moves forward into its next century, Marilen, Kathy, and Kari’s legacies offer an inspiring reminder of what makes our company special. Their story demonstrates that professional success and personal fulfillment can go hand in hand, careers can evolve in surprising and rewarding ways, and the relationships we build along the way can become the foundation for both individual and organizational growth.
These three wise women champion the spirit that will carry Mead & Hunt forward for the next 125 years—a spirit of taking care of people, embracing growth, and building lasting relationships that enrich our professional and personal lives.
