Kristin Gilley

I have been supporting Mickey Ray’s practice since 2007. My primary responsibility is to service all of our clients’ needs – ranging from processing applications to fielding phone calls, answering questions, preparing for annual reviews, and doing whatever else is needed to keep the practice humming. 

What do you love best about your work?

There's always work that needs to be done. I like the steady flow, because I like being busy. I love interacting with the clients. I love getting to know their stories and their backgrounds because I really do meet some very interesting people every day.

Also, this practice is so family-oriented. That’s important to me. Mickey treats us like family, because family is very important to him, too. Our clients are family, in a way. It’s a good feeling to know we all care so much about the people around us.

What are the biggest challenges you face at work?

The topics we deal with are complex. Sometimes, a question leads to an answer, which leads to another question, and another answer – and it keeps going.

While it can be frustrating at times, the opportunity it presents is that there's plenty of room to grow and move up in my role. I appreciate that.

What does it take to be really good at what you do?

Organizational skills and a good amount of patience. What I mean by patience is that things are always changing in this line of work, and when we don’t have access to answers, it takes some patience to research and figure them out.

What are you most proud of at your work at PFG?

I take a lot of pride in my work. I like to think that being positive and upbeat helps everyone, so I strive to do so. This job has also taught me to overcome my natural shyness and to have the confidence to talk to all kinds of people.

What are you passionate about outside of work?

My family. I love spending time with my two young children and my partner, Chris. I also love to do karaoke and dance – any kind of dance, you name it. I have been dancing since I was three. I did cheerleading all through school, and I’ve danced for the Roughnecks (football) and the Jackalopes (hockey) in Midland.

What is a little-known fact about you?

When no one is watching at work, I might do a little dance move.