Employee Appreciation: Abby Krick

By Alexa Sinatra

Phipps is well-known for our beautiful gardens, seasonal flower shows, pioneering sustainability initiative, informative educational programs and community outreach. None of our work would be possible without the knowledge and dedication of our employees. There is a wide array of departments at Phipps, each playing an integral role in creating a wonderful experience for our guests. In this series of profiles, we meet some of our employees and get a glimpse into what they do to make Phipps possible. 

Marketing and Communications Manager Abby Krick discovered her love of museums while studying at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During an internship, she learned how to archive, catalogue and create exhibits at the university museum. Abby says, “I fell in love with working within museums and wanted to make it my goal to end up in one after graduation. After months of searching, I wandered into Phipps during open interviews and the rest is history!”

Abby has been with Phipps for almost 6 years and no day of work is the same! “Everyday I walk into Phipps, there’s a new challenge in front of me which makes it so fun,” says Abby. Some of Abby’s tasks could include reviewing copy for Phipps quarterly member magazine, Thrive, scheduling social media posts, assisting with promotion for upcoming events, reviewing seasonal show plans and so much more! Working closely with so many different departments is one of Abbys favorite aspects of her role at Phipps. Helping other departments promote upcoming courses and events gives her the chance to find new ways to keep Phipps growing every day.

Outside of work Abby is a thrifting extraordinaire! She spends most of her Saturday mornings digging through the racks of St. Vincent de Paul to discover new treasures for her wardrobe. Inspired by illustrators like Beatrix Potter, Abby loves to draw and has been doing it since she was 6 years old! She says, “I’ve spent a lot of time studying plants and animals to create fantasy/whimsical characters just like Peter Rabbit. When I’m not drawing silly little animals drinking tea or foraging for mushrooms, I sell my artwork at local markets around the Pittsburgh region. It’s a lot of work, but the fact that my artwork can brighten up someone’s day is all the motivation I need to keep doing it.”

Her favorite memory at Phipps is when Billy Porter filmed his movie, Anything's Possible, in the Conservatory! “There were hundreds of film crew members running around and filming went on from the wee hours of the morning all the way until the middle of the night,” recalls Abby. Unique experiences like this are what keeps working at Phipps so valuable and exciting!