It’s been a crazy few months of adapting and pivoting to meet the challenges of a global pandemic and as a business, we are extremely proud of and thankful for our team and their ability to roll with the punches that Covid-19 has thrown so far! For that reason we are delighted to announce that our Employee of the Month for July was none other than Rebecca Praticante, who has recently taken on extra responsibilities in our warehouse where we have been experiencing some pressures due to increased demand. Bec is always willing and eager to help, with boundless enthusiasm that she carries on into her life away from work, too. We caught up with her for a brief chat…
<strong>Hi Bec! Congratulations on a well-deserved win. How does it feel to be named Employee of the Month?</strong>
Hi! And thank you. It feels great to know that others have noticed the above and beyond, especially since moving back into the office and being short staffed has meant my having to take on more responsibilities.
<strong>Tell us a bit about your Belroc journey so far – how did you end up here and what’s your typical day like?</strong>
I have been with Belroc for almost 4 years now. Prior to that, I worked in hospitality for nine years, working my way up through the ranks to become the front desk manager of a hotel. I loved that job but things changed when my son Landen was born; the shift patterns didn’t fit with the family lifestyle I was craving so it was time for a change and Belroc seemed like a perfect fit. You might not think that hospitality is linked to my role now but actually, a lot of the things I learned on my college degree in Hospitality Management are very relevant, especially when it comes to dealing with customer complaints.
My typical day changes a lot at the moment based on the needs are of the Operations team. We have had a lot of change recently in our department and we all juggle different roles. I jump between processing all orders that come in to Belroc, preparing shipping paperwork, setting up shipments, physically preparing shipments in the warehouse and then invoicing all the completed orders. It’s busy, but my colleagues are very supportive which has been really helpful.
<strong>What’s your favourite thing about working at Belroc?</strong>
My favorite thing about my role is that it is always changing and evolving. I never do the same thing each day. Every order brings new customers and a change of what is needed from me for that order.
<strong>What’s the most challenging thing about your job?</strong>
I find working with some construction companies very challenging. In this industry we tend to be a lot more open then hospitality where the customer was always right, and it can be hard to find the balance between giving honest advice, even if it isn’t what the customer wants to hear, while still keeping their confidence in us as a company they trust and rely on.
<strong>OK, enough about work stuff. Tell us what you like to do in your own time.</strong>
My favorite thing to do outside of work is just to spend time at home in Kingston with my husband, Vic and our 5 year old son Landen, plus our fur baby Chloe, who is a 6 year old Beagle/Hound mix. I love reading (although I don’t get to it as much as I would like to) and playing games with my son. We love taking walks and running around the back yard with Chloe. As you’ve probably noticed from my contributions to the staff newsletter, I’m also a keen baker and I enjoy adapting recipes to make yummy things that suit my family’s dietary requirements.
<strong>Tell us something about yourself that your colleagues might not know?</strong>
I took piano lessons for 7 years and I remember none of what I learned, I also played the flute for 4 years in high school. I really enjoy music. Most will know at work that I am much more productive when I have some tunes in my ears with headphones!
