Julie Smith - Office Manager
Julie thrives on organizing, the office and the employees, which makes her a valuable asset to Legato and its clients. 
Julie’s diverse experience includes serving as an office professional with Schreiber, bank teller at Firstar Bank, office manager at KOS Home Improvement, and administrative assistant at Broadview YMCA and St. Norbert College. Prior to joining Legato, Julie and her husband, Marv, were house parents at Rawhide Boys Ranch for more than four years.
It takes a special person to be a houseparent. What did you take away from that experience?
Gray hair! We lived and worked daily with at-risk youth from varying social/economic backgrounds, ethnicities, and levels of cognitive and emotional development. We had 54 teenage boys live with us during our time with Rawhide. It wasn’t just a ‘job’ for us, it was a ministry, with all of the inherent stressesand rewards. It was an amazing ‘season’ in our lives. The gray hair was worth it, given the special ongoing relationships we have with many of 'our sons' and the young men and women who worked and lived along side of us in our home at Rawhide.
What led you to your position with Legato?
After much thought and prayer, my husband and I resigned from Rawhide, and for the first time in our lives we were both looking for new career opportunities. I’ve always been interested in art and design, and my previous experience as an admin and office manager made this a perfect fit. I absolutely love it here!
Tell us about your family.
The greatest joys in my life are my faith in God, my husband of 35 years, two daughters and their hubbies, and their gifts of our precious grandchildren (six years in a row!).
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My family gets most of me, especially my grandchildren. I also help care for my mom who has Alzheimer’s disease and lives in an assisted living facility. I cherish every moment with her, as I’m never sure what she’ll remember tomorrow--or even today. Since my mom was diagnosed, I’ve become an advocate of making people aware of the disease and how many lives it affects in so many different ways. Bible study, reading and knitting, round-out the rest of my time.
How would you describe yourself?
Let me put it this way ... I had a sign on my desk for many years that said, ‘I am subject to bursts of enthusiasm.’
