Employee Spotlight
Michael Groban
Financial Analyst
Michael Groban joined Catapult in the summer of 2011 as a financial analyst working at the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Division of Information Systems. There, he deals with financial projections and controls, manages record keeping, and forecasts trends for the coming months. It’s a solid base for his career goal of moving into operations, working on policies and procedures.
“I’d like to help make an organization more efficient,” he says, while talking about learning and growing, in both his career and his personal life. “I don’t want to do the same thing over and over.”
That focus on the future has helped him as he began his career in a tough economy. Michael graduated from the University of Florida in 2004, then moved to Tampa and worked for a construction company as a purchasing specialist. He also lived in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale for a while, but left Florida as the sunshine state’s poor economic climate adversely impacted the construction industry.
A native of Rockville, MD, he moved back to the Washington, DC area and worked as purchasing director at a local homebuilder for two months, until that company closed. That’s when Michael found Catapult.
“At Catapult, my job gives me an opportunity to think outside of the box, which is important,” he says.
Michael’s mind is not always on work, however. One topic that occupies his thoughts is where he’s traveling next.
That’s probably a result of a recent trip to Europe, a whirlwind tour that took Michael and friends to Germany, England, and Italy in 10 days. The next trip will probably be to Montreal and Quebec City.
Michael’s dream vacation would be a trip to the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament in Brazil due to playing the game competitively when he was growing up.
These days, he satisfies his interest in soccer with watching classic match-ups, like last December’s clash between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“I recorded it, and turned off the phone so no one would interrupt,” he says.
That’s real focus. And focus is something you can bet Michael Groban brings to everything he does as he keeps an eye on his future.
