Meet: Ashley Yehl Flanagan
U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Press Relations
1. What is your current occupation?
I currently work in the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Press Relations.
2. What do you love most about your job and why?
The thing that I love most about my job is USAID’s mission and commitment to international development and humanitarian work in an effort to improve the lives of families, communities, and countries around the world.
3. What has changed in your industry in the past five years?
In the past five years, the federal government has made a huge push to make it easier for all employees to participate in telework and flex schedules, even if it’s just a day or two a week. I know a lot of people that have benefited from the greater work-life balance.
4. How has CapeSpace improved your work life?
CapeSpace has provided me with an outlet, away from my home, where I can create a work environment that allows me to be at my most productive.
5. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time, I’m active both as a board member of FORWARD and in my community in Dennis. I enjoy baking, walking along the Cape Cod Rail Trail with my husband, and visiting with family. We’re also getting ready to have our first baby in February, so recently most of my free time has been devoted to getting ready for that!
6. What is your favorite place on Cape Cod?
My two favorite places on Cape Cod to visit are Truro Vineyards (such a great spot to have a glass of wine!) and Woolfies Bakery (I challenge anyone to find a better blueberry muffin!).
7. If you could invite any three people living or dead to a dinner party who would they be and why?
If I could invite any three people to a dinner party, I would invite Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, and my husband Chris Flanagan. Michelle Obama and Tom Hanks are people whose work and activism I admire, and my husband because I couldn’t do something like that without him!
8. What is your superpower?
My superpower is my diligence. I’m known for it at work and in my personal life. It’s a huge point of pride.