What do you get when you take 30 years of friendship multiplied by 2 engineering majors raised to the 2nd power of overseas employment opportunities in different countries? You get today’s Episode 13 with my dear sister Delories King. In 2015 within a week of each other we both left the comfort of our family and friends to explore the world; Delories in Sicily and me in Japan. Tune in to hear Delories’s story of what led her adventure to include concentric circle goal setting, risk-based decisions, and a genuine feeling of wanderlust. Get the real on the positive and areas of involuntary growth that turns into a once in lifetime experience. Now let’s SYNC!
Delories L. King (La Mastra) is a Portfolio Optimization Element Chief currently working for the United States Air Force; she is poised and ready to begin a new position with the United States Department of State, a long-awaited position since her career in Civil Service began in 2003. Delories is 51% owner of TEKNIWELL, LLC a minority woman-owned disadvantaged small business based in Maryland but founded in Sicily, Italy with the help of her 49% partner in business and in life…her husband.
The last of three children, Delories was born in Washington, DC to Jamaican parents, and grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland. Delories was taught lessons of sacrifice, the value of education, hard work, perseverance and respect as she watched her parents thrive while building their life in the United States.
In High School, Delories recognized her love for the science, art, and world travel. Chemistry piqued her interest which led to her initial pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering at the University of Maryland College Park in 1999. During her sophomore year at UMCP, Delories changed her major to Mechanical Engineering. Delories earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2005, remained with GSA as an entry level Mechanical Engineer, and earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Globalization in 2009.
After working with GSA for four and a half years, Delories decided it was time to move on to a position that would afford her the opportunity to complete large scale capital improvements, a chance at professional growth, and the ability to travel while working. Her job search led her to NAVFAC Washington where she served as a Construction Manager for 8 years before the golden opportunity to pursue work and life overseas in Italy presented itself in 2015.
A single mother in June 2015, Delories and her 8-year-old daughter embarked upon a life-changing overseas experience with NAVFAC Europe, Africa & Southwest Asia (EURAFSWA) now known as NAVY Region Europe, Africa, Central (EURAFCENT). For three and a half years, Delories was immersed in Italian culture, art, and science both at work and at home. She was officially feeding her love for science, art, and world travel. From her overseas experience, and the various decisions along her professional journey, Delories believes in the concept of “concentric circles” and says:
“People always say ‘think big’ but thinking big can be overwhelming or scary to me. So I think in concentric circles, I expanded my view, my goal, my desire just a little bit at a time. And before I knew it, I was feeding my dreams without even knowing it. My circle now spans the globe with lifelong friends and colleagues sprinkled in countries that I’d never imagine. I have a global network and it has opened many doors for me. I’m eternally grateful for my experience.”
