MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT:

Beth Freiss: Making Sense of Chaos

Beth Freiss, our new director of Facilities & Administration, says she enjoys chaos. She also enjoys fixing things. These facts aren’t surprising when you consider that she is the mother of six children, five of them boys. “They were constantly breaking things,” she says with a smile. And she fixed them.

Beth does make the distinction in that while she enjoys chaos – you never know what you’re walking into – she does not enjoy drama. “There is a difference,” she says.

Beth officially joined the Dutilh staff on April 3 and on her first day, she fixed a seal in a preschool wing bathroom sink. On her second day, she fixed the refrigerator cabinet and a toilet in the preschool wing.

“I love the environment,” Beth said of her initial thoughts on joining Dutilh, “I love the building. It’s condensed. It is like taking care of your home. It feels more personal.”

Dutilh certainly would feel homier compared with some of her past positions. Beth began her career in facilities at Giant Eagle, Inc. She was hired as a facilities regional manager in charge of 52 stores. When she left after 10 years, she was the supervisor of the entire facilities management department. She can’t even guess how many total stores that included.

During the economic recession in 2009, Beth joined the staff at Point Park University, initially as a secretary. When they discovered her facilities background, she became operations coordinator, a position she held for 10 years. Most recently, she worked as the business office manager at the Allegheny County Jail, which was decidedly not a homey environment. Understandably, policies were strict. “You couldn’t even bring a water bottle inside,” she said.

The former Beth (not “Elizabeth”) Smith was born and raised on Pittsburgh’s North Side. She earned her associate degree from the now-closed Computer Tech in downtown Pittsburgh in microcomputer operating/software applications in 1992. She later took classes in public administration while employed at Point Park.

In 1993, Beth married Alan Freiss. They just celebrated their 30th anniversary in February. Also this past February, Beth and Alan became grandparents for the first time – twice. Two of their six children had daughters that month. Their children, by the way, are between the ages of 33 and 23, and all of them live within about 15 minutes of Beth and Alan’s Allison Park home. Beth describes having her babies and being a mother as her most rewarding experience.

Beth and Alan also have a 12-year-old shepherd husky, Zeus, and often watch their son’s husky mix, Zero.

In her spare time, Beth enjoys reading and painting – not walls but actual art. She has tried her hand at most types of art and even attempted to knit or crochet blankets for her new grandchildren.

Beth shares that she prefers to be private about her faith walk. She did appreciate the warm welcome she received in April when she was introduced at worship. If she had to pick a favorite Bible verse, it would be the Lord is “my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2 (NIV)

As Beth settles into her new role, the hope is that Dutilh will become like a second home for her.

-Published on May 3, 2023.