Taylor Roller
How long have you been a member of Friends of Riley?
I have been a Friends of Riley member for 1 Year.
Why did you join Friends of Riley?
During my last semester of college I gave myself the goal of finding an organization to get involved with in my new community. After looking into different organizations in the Indianapolis area I decided that Friends of Riley was the place that would be the best fit for me. FOR was that place that would get me plugged into my new community and allow for me to give back to an organization that was so important to me. I knew that by joining FOR I would be supporting an amazing cause and would have the opportunity for so many positive interactions and connections.
What is your position and what committee do you serve on?
I am a co-director for the annual event, Rise. Rise has five committees that my co-director, Kimberly, and I oversee: silent auction, bottle pull, hospitality, design/entertainment, and catering. My favorite part about being a FOR member is that I am constantly challenged to think outside the box and try things out of my comfort zone. FOR is a place that brings together people from all different backgrounds, communities, ,and professions. It is a unique opportunity for all of us to work together for a cause that is so important to all of us.
What is your current occupation?
I am currently a Quality Engineer at Altec Industries. Altec builds a wide range of custom trucks and utility vehicles that are used for utilities, telecommunications, tree care, and more. I spend my days working on supplier and product quality. I ensure that our suppliers are providing our employees with the tools and materials that they need to complete their job, and that our employees are building a functional truck that meets all of our customer's needs and requirements.
What do you love most about the industry you work in?
I love the industry I work in because it is always changing. The products we build change from customer to customer and are constantly being developed and improved. Along with the varying products, the challenges vary day to day. Very rarely do I go into work and do the same thing I did the day before and I am almost never behind a desk. I love the constant interaction with our different teams, and the constant challenge of thinking outside the box.
Who inspires you?
One of my biggest inspirations in life is Tyler Trent. Tyler was a Riley patient and lost his life to cancer in January 2019. I was lucky enough to have crossed paths with Tyler during my senior year of college and his fearlessness and desire to get to know everyone he encountered turned into a wonderful friendship. Tyler knew he had a journey different from others his age, but he didn't question it, nor did he think it was any more important than someone else's. Honestly, I think Tyler thought that most other people's stories were way more important than his own. He fearlessly pursed friendships with those around him. He was a truly inspiring role model. He left an amazing legacy that I am proud to share with others and hope to grow up to be more like him.
What’s a fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I am allergic to squash. No pumpkin pie for me at Thanksgiving!
When you’re not working, where in Indianapolis do you like to spend your time?
When I am not working I like to check out local restaurants and breweries. I love finding new places with french fries, sweets, or flights of beer. On Friday's you can probably find me at Upland Brewing having a flight of beer or at Fundaes chowing down on an ice cream cone.