Humans of the Gateway Arch: Meet Sherri
In our “Humans of the Gateway Arch” series, we spotlight a member of the Gateway Arch team who helps make the Arch one of the premier travel destinations in the world. The Arch’s park partners work together to attract and welcome visitors to St. Louis’ renovated urban national park, where visitors can create lasting memories and return year after year.
Meet Sherri Devany, lead associate at The Arch Store, located at the Gateway Arch. Sherri has worked for Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA), the Arch’s nonprofit partner that operates The Arch Store, since 2001 – first in the Arch’s former Levee Mercantile store for 15 years, and now in The Arch Store since its opening in 2016.
Q: Describe your role as lead associate at The Arch Store.
A: My role is between a manager and a store clerk. I make sales at the register, assist the other clerks if they have any needs, assist visitors, help make supply lists, and lead the team when the store managers aren’t here. Whatever needs to be done, Clarissa and Jeremy call on me to assist.
Q: What is your favorite thing about working at the park?
A: Do I have to pick just one?! I love working at the register and encouraging donations. When customers make a donation to Gateway Arch National Park, they provide funds to protect and preserve the park and to plan programs and events for visitors. If I’m not at the register, I love assisting visitors – getting to know them and where they’re from, and helping guide them around the park or around St. Louis. Another favorite part of my job is the people I work with. I couldn’t ask for a better team – the people in the store, my managers and everyone at JNPA.
Q: What’s been your most memorable moment working at the park?
A: I work with fourth graders in the Rockwood School District every spring and fall, and I get to dress up in 1800s-era attire and tell students about general stores back in the day. I love working with the kids! Working at the Levee Mercantile, I loved dressing up in the old-time clothes every day and seeing people “ooh” and “ahh” at the items sold in an old-time general store. I’m creating new memories here at The Arch Store every day.
Q: Tell us a few fun facts about yourself!
A: I am very involved musically at church – I’m in the orchestra and in two handbell groups. I also collect cat figurines, which I have scattered all over my house, and I have one real cat. I come from a military family, so I have lived overseas in Asia and Europe. I now live in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and having worked for JNPA for so many years, I wouldn’t know what else to do because this is where I feel I was called to be.