Graphic Communicator photo by Herald Grandstaff

Althea Benjamin at her desk at International headquarters.

Althea Benjamin, an accountant in the GCIU's Accounting Department, counts on things beyond numbers to enjoy life.

An avid outdoorsperson, she enjoys teaching accounting to adults and loves to volunteer time to help children aged 5 to 10 in her church.

The eldest of four children, Althea relocated to the Washington, D.C., area from St. Thomas of the Virgin Islands. Armed with a bachelor of arts in accounting and a master of business administration degrees from the University of the Virgin Islands, she decided to relocate to the District so she could "do something different, meet some new people, and do some new things."

Althea does the payroll for the GCIU staff and pensioned staff, as well as cash receipts, make deposits, does death benefits, and maintains all payroll deductions. She collects all of the time sheets and makes sure that every staffer is paid for the correct number of hours worked.

When she moved to the District shortly after earning her master's degree in 1992, Althea worked for four years for Feld Entertainment – the parent organization of Ringling Brothers Circus and Disney on Ice.

She was an accountant who trained the road controllers. "If they couldn't come to me, I went to them," she said, adding that she would be out of town for anywhere from three days to three weeks.

The job was perfect for her love to travel. She spent three weeks in Australia, three weeks in Japan, six weeks in Mexico, seven days in Blackpool, England, 14 days in Dubei of the Arab State of the Emirates, as well as throughout the Carribean. "Traveling was what I liked best about the job. Because shows were in the evenings, I'd have all day to tour," she said with a smile.

She decided to leave Feld Entertainment because she felt that she was overlooked for a position that became available that she wanted.

Althea teaches accounting at the Washington Business School two nights a week. "That's my contribution to society – to help empower adults through educating them," she said.

"What I like about Washington Business School," she added, "is that it's a certification program – not for a degree. Most of the students are there for only a year. I see progress in a short period of time. I don't have to wait four years to see them get a degree. Just from the evaluations I get from the students at the end of each quarter, I feel that they appreciate my contribution," she said.

At the time of the Graphic Communicator interview, Althea reported that she was going to quit her teaching job the night before and told her students about her plan. But before she could leave the business school building, the director paid her a visit because Althea's students had gone to him to complain. He talked her into not quitting.

"Sometimes," she said, "I'm tired and don't feel like going to class. But after I get there, I get revived."

Another way she gets revived is for her to enjoy the colors and brisk air of fall – her favorite season. Althea enjoys horseback riding and camping. She plays volleyball and tennis. "I don't think I play tennis well, but I play volleyball well," she said.

She also enjoys sewing – particularly making clothes for little children.

Althea attends a Seventh Day Adventist Church and volunteers for the Adventurers organization. With Adventurers, she is a group leader who takes children five to 10 years old bicycling, camping, bowling, roller skating, and visiting museums.

She doesn't stay away from the Virgin Islands. She goes home at least once a year – to visit her parents, especially on holidays.