Reflections on two decades of service and commitment, Sherie’s 20th Anniversary

PCH’s founding members Ralph Pacini, Greg Chapman and David Higginson, collectively and successfully weathered 32 years in business, creating a brand that has undeniably made a positive impact upon the Inland Empire’s business landscape.  Anyone in the IE’s close-knit architectural community would love to make a similar claim.  I have had a combined 13 years and Rick a combined 9 years with PCH. However, no one rivals our longest employee’s 20 years tenure; nearly 2/3 of PCH’s being in business.

The story goes something like this...

In 1999, PCH was growing and needed help in the front office.  Margaret’s DSA paperwork was increasing exponentially while she was keeping up with the numerous day-to-day duties as a receptionist.  Laura Chapman spearheaded the search for a receptionist to allow Margaret to focus on her administrative support for PCH projects.  Laura phoned Redlands East Valley High School’s Career Guidance Counselor to see if they could recommend a recent graduate to hire.  The counselor immediately touted a young lady that worked in the school’s front office.  “She’s a real go-getter with a high aptitude.”  Laura, Greg, Ralph, Christine Pacini and David Higginson all interviewed Sherie Oesterblad.  Their most memorable highlight of the interview?  Toward the end, Greg asked, “Why should PCH hire you?”  Sherie replied, “Well, I’m nice!”  Long story short, she was hired.  So, every now and then, when ever Sherie expressed any “attitude” toward Greg or Ralph, they would jokingly remind her, “You said you were nice!”

Her tireless energy for life.

Sherie was born and raised in Mentone.  Among a household of three brothers and an older sister, she learned that you must “hold your own”, don’t get pushed around, and speak up to be heard.  The Oesterblad children’s playground was the neighborhood Mentone streets and their very own, “Mentone Beach.”  

Yes, it’s true.  Mentone had a dry lakebed that, after a hardy, rainy season would swale and create a small lake fed by the Santa Ana River, which originated in the San Bernardino Mountains.  Hence, the edges of this body of water would be Mentone Beach.  In high school, while attending Redlands East Valley, Sherie was a starting member of the Girls’ Soccer team.  After graduation, she continued her love of the sport by joining a local women’s soccer league.  

Sherie became a mother in her early days at PCH.  She would have a beautiful daughter, Tori.  As a single mother, she would hold down a full-time job and still find time to play soccer and go on hikes with PCH through our local mountains.  She has descended to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, scaled Mount Whitney, kayaked the Kern River, hiked to Palisade Glacier and nearly all the peaks around San Bernardino and San Jacinto.  

To say Sherie is competitive is an understatement.  “Don’t get in her path on any trail,” we would say, especially because she tried to outpace Ralph on the uphill and Greg on the down.  Similarly, much can be said about her competitive drive in the office.  Concurrent with her duties as a receptionist, she was soon called to be our DSA Coordinator, just after Margaret’s departure. 

Sherie is our DSA Specialist whose tireless efforts and spot-on powers of recollection have served her well in closing many uncertified projects.  She has skillfully assisted many school districts with closing and certifying many outstanding projects.  She is irreplaceable, invaluable and we have been blessed to have her by our side… and even slightly ahead of us.

A celebration.

We cannot cease her sing her praises.  Her commitment and loyalty are characteristics anyone would love to have in any team member.  Rick and I were once Sherie’s coworkers, but now we are her bosses.  Sherie has seen many colleagues that have come and gone through PCH and she has seen quite a bit of change.  I think Rick and I can say we don’t always feel comfortable being labeled a “boss.”  However, we can agree that we would rather be called “friend.”  

Greg and Laura Chapman refer to her as a daughter.  We would like to refer to her as our friend and coworker.  How about our “little sister?”  We hope to look back in another 20 years and remember the good times and how we’ve weathered time.  We look forward to that.

Thank you, Sherie, for the past 20-years of your commitment, service, insight, support, loyalty and love… and most of all, your friendship.