Kati Bye Dresmal

For Kati Bye Dresmal, one of the best things about her days is that no two are alike.  As the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Facilities Management at Chapman University, Bye wears a lot of hats—and shoes.

“My job is extremely fast-paced and never boring,” says Bye.  “With facilities management, there is always something happening.  There could be a power outage or flooding, which means it’s not all high heels and dresses for me.  I’ll find myself in rainboots during a rainstorm checking for leaks, and I’ve worn plenty of construction boots and hardhats.”

She also completes a lot of important behind-the-scenes tasks each day.  “I do a good deal of information gathering, calendaring and scheduling,” says Bye, an executive assistant for 24 years, who has worked for two executives at Chapman, including her current boss Rick Turner, Vice President of Facilities Management.

“Executive assistants are the eyes and ears on the ground and help those they report to know and understand much more than they could on their own,” says Bye.  “I am the first person my boss speaks to in the morning regarding his responsibilities at Chapman.  He relies on me for the information that he needs for the day.”

According to Rick Turner, Bye is excellent at her job. “Kati is more than an executive assistant to me,” he says.  “She is the go-to person for the department for all our special needs.  She is the cheerleader for the organization when things get crazy and we need our spirits lifted.  She never says no to a new challenge, even if that challenge is out of her comfort zone.  That’s an absolute must for me and the organization she supports.”

Homegrown Talent

Born at St. Joseph Hospital and raised in Orange, Bye has spent her life enjoying the many amenities the community has to offer.  She attended Cambridge Elementary and Yorba Middle School and graduated from Orange High School in 1993.

“I was a cheerleader in high school, and I still have my core group of girlfriends,” says Bye, who lives in Old Towne.  “I enjoy going to the farmers market every Saturday, meeting friends for happy hour and attending local events like the Street Faire and the Tree Lighting Ceremony.  I have a huge support system here, and everything about my life revolves around community.”  Bye even met her husband, Todd, who she married last October, at King’s Fish House in Orange.

Bye also enjoys giving back to the community by volunteering for local causes.  She is a member of the Orange Elks Lodge and currently co-chairs their Fire Support Dog Committee dedicated to raising funds for training expenses for the fire department’s support dog, Ember.

Road to Chapman

After graduating from high school, Bye went to work for a residential architecture firm as an executive assistant—a job she held from 2000-2012.  She left that position due to the recession and then joined Chapman.  “At the time, I was a big fan of then President Doti and his work, and I was happy to come full circle and join the university,” she says.  “When I came onboard, there were many exciting things happening at Chapman, including breaking ground for the Musco Center.”

In her position at Chapman, Bye enjoys honing her various talents, including planning, scheduling and networking.  She has used her skills at connecting to form an alliance with other executive assistants, which has helped them all become even better at their jobs.

“There is a group of us who interact on a regular basis and share tips and information,” she says.  “We are a support system for one another, and often give each other advice that helps us get our jobs done more effectively.”

Jessica Bean is Executive Assistant to the VP, Dean of Enrollment Management and has known Bye since 2012.  “Kati is an asset to Chapman as an executive assistant,” says Bean.  “She is extremely knowledgeable and efficient in being in a support role to high level administrators.  Her position as support for the VP of Facilities Management and her knowledge of how things ‘work’ on campus and how things are implemented is invaluable.  Both professionally and personally, I can talk to her about anything.  She has been a constant support to me and provides logical direction and feedback, no matter the subject.”

People Make the Place

For Bye, whether she’s at work or in town, it’s all about the people.  “I have so many great friends in Orange,” she says.

“Kati knows or is connected to a lot of people in several different arenas,” says Bean.  “I can hardly go anywhere in the Orange Plaza without her running into people she knows. I have recently moved to Orange, and whenever I have questions about what’s going on in the city, if something happened, what the local laws are, etc., I know I can ask Kati.  She will either know the answer or refer me to someone who can give me the answer.”

Turner agrees.  “Kati has a heart of gold.  Her city support through various volunteer venues and her passion in her actions to please those she loves within the community is second to none.  She loves the City of Orange and all its community members.  Her dedication to supporting Orange is admirable and rises to levels that most residents would never understand or see.  Working for Chapman is just icing on the cake for someone so committed to being a part of Orange and its community.”