Springfield Executive Profile: Debra Gruell

The Life & Work of a Local Executive

(Published December 26, 2007)


Debra Gruell - The Springfield Museum

BACKGROUND

Name: Debra Gruell
Title: Director
Organization: Springfield Museum
Work Experience: Worked 17 years for a food broker, serving as VP of Sales & Marketing; created and taught ArtSmart Kids in hundreds of organizations across the country and on Carnival Cruise Line ships; came to Oregon three years ago to teach the program in Yachats and at the Corvallis Art Center; first came to Springfield to teach ArtSmart Kids for Willamalane Parks & Recreation.
Education: Herron School of Art; Associates Degree from Indiana Business College
Birthplace: Madison, Indiana

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Business Philosophy: The Golden Rule
Core Values: Family. Friends. Art. Animals. Play.
Measures for Success: Getting up each day and making a difference in the lives of people I see and work with; then going to bed each night saying “Thank you for this day!”
Goals Yet to Achieve: Getting my 32-book series, “Art Adventures with the ArtSmart Kids” into print and distributed; traveling to Italy and enjoying the whole country for several months.
Personal Mission: To live my life the best I can with the tools I’ve been given; to make a difference in the life of kids, especially in ways they experience the arts.
Words That Best Describe You: Artistic. Gentle. Loving.

KEY DECISIONS

Toughest Decision: Leaving my two sons and grandchildren back in Indiana when I came to Oregon to live and work.
Worst Decision: Not going to school to study art instead of business when I was a young woman.
Best Decision: To honor my lifelong vision and returning to art.
Missed Opportunities: Waiting until the 1990’s to go back to school to study art (because I didn’t believe I was a good enough artist).
Mentor Who Mattered Most: My grandmother, Lillie Mae.

CONFESSIONS

Best Part of Your Job: Feeling so well-supported by our Board and volunteers in a community that cares about its history and the Springfield Museum.
Worst Part of Your Job: Commuting back and forth from Yachats while seeking a home here.
Traits You Most Seek in People You Hire or in Volunteers: Willingness to do their best with the talents they have.
First work You Did For Pay: I was a locker room attendant at the swimming pool in Greenfield, Indiana. I squeegeed the floors and disinfected the bathrooms, then sat up front and gave out locker keys to kids.
Most Important Life Lesson: Things can get better … and they do! There is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Your Life Passions: Art. Teaching. Grandchildren. Travel. Cooking. Gardening.
Pet Peeves: Laziness. Whiners.
Living Person You’d Most Like to Meet and Have A Conversation With: Oprah. I would talk with her about her school in Africa and doing ArtSmart Kids programs for the girls there. Maybe she’d be interested in being publisher of my whole series of books!
Top Choice for a New Career: Be a writer.
Personal Legacy That Matters Most: My sons, Glenn and Joel, and my grandchildren. I’ve had so many special moments with them, lots of laughs, and such good times together.

FAVORITES

Most Influential Book: The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. It was the first book I bought when I was 15 years old and I’ve gone back and read it again a number of times.
Memorable Movies: Under the Tuscan Sun. White Christmas (It always brings tears to my eyes).
Enjoyable Musician/Music: Jazz and smooth jazz (The Rippingtons and Diana Krall); classical (Luciano Pavarotti).
Websites Most Often Visited: MapQuest (I get lost a lot around here!); springfieldmuseum.com; and lots of art sites.
Best Advice You Ever Received: “Be your own best friend” (from my grandmother, Lillie Mae).
Person in History You Most Admire: Helen Keller.
Quote You Know By Heart: “It took me four years to paint like Raphael and a lifetime to paint like a child” by Pablo Picasso.
First Choice for Spending Free Time: Walking the beach with friends; talking with my grandkids; drawing and cooking.
Best Vacation Destinations: Paris (seeing The Louvre); closer to home – the Oregon Coast.
Favorite Food/Cuisine: Pasta and seafood.
Causes You Support/Volunteer Work: The Humane Society; Orphanages and Special Needs programs for children.
Cherished Possessions: My 15-year old cocker spaniel, Buster.
Fondest Memories: Camping with my sons when they were boys – canoeing and fishing on the Patoka Reservoir in Indiana; the births of my grandchildren.
How You’d Like to Live Your Last Day: Walking the beach with my loved ones and dog, Buster; eating lots of pasta and tiramisu; signing a few more printed copies of my “Art Adventures with ArtSmart Kids” books!

-- Interviewed by Todd Peterson, The Springfield Beacon