Employee Spotlight: Ashley Burdeshaw

What do you do at TJM and how long have you worked here?

I'm a graphic artist, and have worked here for the past 6 months.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Atlanta, where I lived up until middle school when my family moved to Ocala. I spent middle and high school in Ocala and then moved to Tallahassee a few days after I turned 18. I went to Florida State and graduated with my B.A. in Social Work and a minor in Psychology. (Go 'Noles!)

After I graduated, I got a job at Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and worked as a Child Protective Investigator for 5 years. I was the specialized investigator dealing with all cases involving the sex trafficking of minors in the Tallahassee area. During that time, I also worked closely with a team of community agencies and our local police department to develop a program for kids at risk of being recruited into the commercial sexual exploitation industry.

What's your favorite product that you've helped design?

I love designing t-shirts, or anything that requires re-drawing things. My favorite thing I've done is something I'm currently working on for a friend I used to work with at DCF. I created a logo for a training session they have coming up, and am now incorporating that logo into a shirt design for them.

What are your hobbies/interests outside of work?

I love to travel. I've had the privilege to go on mission trips all over the world, helping those less fortunate than myself. I've been to India, Pakistan, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. I have worked the most extensively in Guatemala and have been back there 4 times working with girls rescued from sex trafficking in Guatemala City. I was also part of a team that filmed a documentary on human trafficking in Guatemala in 2010.

What's your family like?

I don't have any kids, but hope to one day. My parents live in Ocala and my younger sister as well. I am the oldest of 3 kids, and my sister Kristina goes to CF (College of Central Florida) full time here in Ocala. My other younger sister, Laura, works for a mission organization in Tijuana, Mexico.

What do you like most about living in Central Florida?

I like that the beach is close by and that I have great friends and family here. However, if you have known me for any length of time, you quickly learn that the heat is something I cannot stand. Florida is definitely not my favorite state, and I hope to be able to move up north where it's cold one day in the future.

What else does the future hold for you?

My passion is to work with sex trafficking victims, and I hope to be able to enter that field again one day. I'm also very passionate about graphic design and have loved the things I've learned and have been able to be a part of working here. I just got my first Wacom (graphics) tablet and have been having a blast learning new skills and creating new designs. I am thankful and honored to be able to work here with such great people and look forward to many good days to come!