One of the most wonderful things about having a family business is the ability to include more members of the family in the business. With that in mind I’m thrilled to announce that my sister-in-law Louise Leslie Dawson is joining Team Camp Alleghany as our new Office Manager beginning October seventh. Welcome, Louise!
But I can’t give my brother all the credit for bringing Louise in to the family. After all, I knew her at camp before they even started dating. She’s two years younger than I am, but she and my cousin (with whom I am very close) were in the same group at camp. Louise and I were first friends at camp, and later were Head Counselors together (along with the same cousin) in 2003. So like many of the Alleghany hands, Louise comes to the job with lots of experience knowing the insides of camp first hand.
And one more plug for how well I know her many ways — we were also friends at UVa, and, having had the same major, we took several classes together. (I’m sure my brother Cooper recognizes that basically I brought Louise to the family! 😉 )
All in the family
But seriously folks, let’s get back to Louise. 😉
For the past few years she’s been working as the Director of Development at James River Day School in Lynchburg, Virginia, where they live. She liked the job a lot, but last May they had a baby — future Ghany Girl Sally Dawson — and going back to work full time was a bit rough on her, as it is for so many new moms.
Louise approached us after the summer to explore employment opportunities and it seemed like the perfect fit! We were looking for someone willing to be in the Staunton office on a very part-time basis, do the rest of her work from home, and then move to camp in the summer — which is exactly what we’ve worked out with Louise. (An added benefit is that when she comes to Staunton she’ll be bringing Sally, so my mom and I will get to have a lot of play dates with Sally while Louise works. THIS is what a family business is really all about — multiple generations working and playing together!)
Louise Leslie Dawson
Louise’s bio is up on the website soon but in case you haven’t seen it, here it is again for our blog readers:
Louise first came to Camp Alleghany as a junior camper in 1991 and spent 13 summers on the banks of the Greenbrier River. After eight years as a camper, she worked as a canoeing instructor, JC, Counselor, Unit Head, and Upstart Mom. Louise even met her husband, Cooper, at camp when he was working on the Green Team. They currently live in Lynchburg, VA with their new daughter, Sally.
During the ten summers she’s been away, Louise has continued to be involved with camp by helping with Tent Raising and attending Family Camp. She is so excited to be working for camp again, now as the Office Manager, and cannot wait to spend a full summer in the beautiful West Virginia mountains, introducing her own daughter to the fun of Camp Alleghany!
As you can see we have the best of all possible worlds with Louise joining us. We know you’ll welcome her as warmly — and with as much excitement — as we have. Welcome Louise!
–Elizabeth Dawson Shreckhise, Assistant Director, Camp Alleghany for Girls
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