Fun Facts About New Staff – July 2022

Find out whose perfect meal includes chickpeas, who’s watched “Mad Men” seven times, and who’s a long-time player of Dungeons and Dragons.

We’re excited to welcome our new hires to UPMC Enterprises. Get to know your new coworkers through their answers to a list of fun questions. You can also learn about them by visiting the UPMC Enterprises Personnel Wiki.

Bryson Meyers, Software Test Engineer

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?
A: I grew up in a small town about an hour south of Pittsburgh called Connellsville. I’d say I’m almost a local but not quite since I haven’t lived in the city for long.

Q: What is your least favorite word?
A: ‘Restaurant’ since it gets more difficult for me to spell with each passing day.

Q: Which is better: board games or video games? 
A: I prefer video games, but I am also a long-time player of Dungeons and Dragons.

Q: Share a fun fact!
A: I am the youngest of triplets.

Kelsie Karolcik, Pharmacist/Product Manager

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?
A: Although I’m not a Pittsburgh native, I grew up nearby in Morgantown, WV. My family often came up to Pittsburgh to visit the zoo and science center, go shopping, and attend baseball games and concerts. After living in Charleston, SC for a few years I am excited to be back in the area and swapping out my “y’all” for “yinz.”

Q: Do you have any kids? Any pets?
A: Just pets. One dog – Sullivan. One cat – Moxi

Q: What’s in your perfect meal?
A: Chickpeas! If chickpeas (in any form) is a part of the meal then it’s perfect for me.

Q: Which is better: board games or video games? 
A: My husband and I have always shared a love for board games. Our favorite for game night with friends is Ticket to Ride.

Ashley Varrato, Senior Program Manager, Digital Solutions

Q: How did you get into the industry?
A: I’m joining Enterprises after spending my career in other public sector roles, primarily with Pittsburgh Public Schools and Allegheny County DHS. I’ve helped implement initiatives aimed at improving the experience of people served by those systems, which sometimes involved introducing technology solutions. I’m excited to make the transition to health care and apply what I’ve learned.

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?
A: I’m a Pittsburgh local, and in true “local” fashion I say I’m from Pittsburgh but grew up in the North Hills suburbs. I’ve spent the last 11 years living in Lawrenceville.

Q: Do you have any kids? Any pets?
A: I have a dog named Moose – he’s a very active German Shepherd/cattle dog/chow mix.

Q: What is your favorite quote from a movie or TV series?
A: I do not have a specific quote, but my favorite show of all time is Mad Men. I’ve watched the entire series 7 times.

Brianna Flora, Director, Product Management

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?
A: I’m a Pittsburgh local and, after 13 years away, thrilled to call this city home once again!

Q: Do you have any kids? Any pets?
A: I do have one dog child, he’s just the cutest. The smartest boy in his class.

Q: What’s your least favorite word?
A: Hate

Q: Which is better: board games or video games?
A: Aside from the fact that I love video games, I’m still traumatized from getting stuck in a Monopoly game with a cheating sibling when I was 10…so video games, 100%.

Tessa Samuelson, Product Designer, Safar

Q: Are you a Pittsburgh local or did you grow up elsewhere?
A: I grew up in Lancaster County (Lititz, named the coolest small town in the USA back in 2013 to the skepticism of us all), but I’ve been in Pittsburgh for around eight years so I think I’m now a yinzer.

Q: Do you have any kids? Any pets?
A: We have a fuzzy 8-year-old pandemic kitty named Lenny Belardo, named after Jude Law’s character in the Young and New Pope. He’s very loving and likes watching tv in his free time.

Q: Do you have an unusual talent or hobby?
A: My friends say my hobby is collecting hobbies as I often have a new interest about every month (I get too excited to stick to just one), but the more recent has been drawing and exercising in VR, it’s amazing.

Q: Which is better: board games or video games?
A: My family owned a game store growing up (selling and playing the good games like Ticket to Ride, Crokinole, Royal Turf, Settlers of Catan, etc.) so I have a soft spot for board games, however during the pandemic I started playing video games. I had no idea that video games could be so beautiful and complex– whether that’s discovering monsters as Geralt in the Witcher 3 or exploring the meaning of life in What Remains of Edith Finch, so I now lean slightly more towards video games.