Janet Spargur

Yardi Systems

By Leah Etling on May 29, 2012 in People

Janet Spargur, a quality assurance lead for Yardi System’s Commercial division, has two children of her own, but she’s helped bring many more into this world.

Her personal passion for assisting with childbirth as a doula – someone who provides emotional support and encouragement while a new mother is in labor – has led her to become active as a fundraiser and volunteer for birth-related causes.

With a professional background as an accountant, Janet made a move to join the Yardi team more than 14 years ago after working as a controller for a property management company.

She quickly found that she had a true interest in the company’s products, and enjoyed being part of a team that helped make them run smoothly.

“The thing I like best is having being on the edge of what commercial development is doing and being knowledgeable about that. It feels good to have the latest and greatest information,” said the longtime Santa Barbara resident.

Though her busy Yardi schedule doesn’t always allow her to pursue support requests from expectant moms, Janet worked to found the Central Coast Doula Association, a resource non-profit for parents that helps connect them with experienced doulas.

She was the only area doula asked to join the board of the Santa Barbara Birth Center, an alternative to a hospital environment for childbirth that opened in Fall 2011.

The center “targets people who want to have something in between home births and the hospital,” she explained.

As a resource for first-time Yardi moms, Janet said she is always happy to answer questions about pregnancy, childbirth, and the variety of options available to parents.

“She spent a lot of time with my wife in the months leading up to the delivery and was a great advocate during admitting and labor,” said Nick Koonce, a fellow Yardi employee. “We definitely benefitted from her experience and just knowing that she was there when and if we needed her was huge.”

Janet tells us that one of her favorite moments as a doula has been watching Dads talk to their newborns for the first time.

“In my experience, all dads have been the critical lifeline in getting the mom through labor.  I love seeing how when the baby comes out into planet earth, the baby may have this look like: “I don’t know about this,” and then they hear the dad’s voice, which they’ve heard throughout the pregnancy, and  you see them relax – they realize, ‘Oh, I’m home.’”