Meet a Helpful Human – Nancy Baran

We’re the employees you would hire if you could. Responsive, helpful, and dedicated in ways automation simply can’t be. We’re your team.

Each month we recognize one of our Most Helpful Humans in Hosting.

Meet Nancy Baran

Nancy Baran joined Liquid Web in 2015, bringing with her over 17 years as an Executive Assistant. Her previous work spans the utilities, political, and financial sectors. Though her role with Liquid Web marks her entry into tech, working with the executive team and staff for the past five years has made this her favorite position to-date.

We caught up with Nancy to find out what motivates her daily.

Why did you join Liquid Web?

Joining Liquid Web really was a fluke. I wasn’t necessarily looking for a new position. I was scrolling on LinkedIn, and an Executive Assistant position at a large tech organization popped up, catching my interest. After my interviews, I knew hands-down that Liquid Web was the place I wanted to be.

What draws you to the Hosting Industry as a career?

The industry is constantly evolving, and the need is growing for hosting new applications, stores, and websites for small and medium-sized businesses. There is excellent job security in technology and web hosting, specifically. And job security during turbulent times like these is something that I am grateful for.

Is there something specific at Liquid Web that you just love?

I love going to work (or logging in from home) and knowing that I will be doing something totally different than I did the previous day. In the world of hosting, no two days are alike.

What’s your favorite part about the company culture at Liquid Web?

Everyone is treated equally and respected, regardless of their job title or “rank” in the company. In fact, titles are mostly irrelevant; it’s more about collaboration and teamwork across all levels in order to create the best possible outcomes for our customers, every time.

In your eyes, what’s the difference between Liquid Web and other employers?

Seeing how Liquid Web has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic has been amazing. They have proven that the health of their employees and customers matter beyond a doubt. They deferred payment for customers during 2020 to help increase cash flow during mission-critical times. They created resources for remote workforces and provided resources for architecting new infrastructure needs to help increase security, website speed and availability, and even email. And they have ensured our employees are as safe as possible with new safety protocols at the data centers and empowering non-critical employees to work from home.

What is the biggest milestone you’ve accomplished?

Being a part of the team planning events to celebrate company milestones has been tremendously rewarding. I helped to coordinate rolling out our new logo a few years ago, the events around Liquid Web turning 20 years old, and Holiday events and planning, which was very fun to be part of.

Seeing an event start as an idea and come together makes celebrating said milestones all the more more exciting.

Tell us about the most positive experience you have had at Liquid Web.

The most positive experiences I have at Liquid Web are helping my colleagues have all of their questions and concerns addressed, especially around traveling. I am the master travel planner, handling canceled flights, missed connections due to weather, and last minute hotel accommodations. I personally feel obligated to ensure our teams feel safe and make it to their destinations.

The positive feedback and gratitude I receive from my colleagues make for positive experiences and relationships amongst us all.

Work aside, what are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy golf, pickleball, kayaking, hiking, walks, concerts, traveling to any beautiful Michigan beaches, and traveling out-of-state to anywhere warm. I spend as much time as I’m able with my kids and grandkids! I also enjoy social events with friends, whether it be playing a round of golf, a euchre tournament, or watching MSU football or basketball.

What is your favorite TV show?

There are too many to name! I love “Schitt’s Creek” (who doesn’t?), especially the characters David and Alexis. When together with friends, we love throwing quotes at each other like “ew, David” or imitating hand gestures used in the show. I also love watching reruns of “The Office.” There is always something new I missed when watching the episode in the past, or just simply relating to the typical office environment is always interesting.

If you could have dinner with one famous person [dead or alive] who would it be?

I’ve always admired Lady Di, Princess of Wales. Even though she was royalty, she seemed down to earth and raised her boys to understand there is more to life than royalty. Her involvement in charity work with children was outstanding and inspiring.

We hope you enjoyed our series, and stay tuned for the next Most Helpful Human in Hosting profile.