Working as a Sewing Machine Operator at our Raleigh facility, Deborah has been a member of the BISM team for 8 years.
With a tremendous amount of poise and thoughtfulness, Deborah lets us in on who she looks up to and takes us down memory lane sharing some memorable moments in her life. Get to know Deborah in her interview below.
Where is your favorite place you have traveled?
When I was around 9 years old, my mother and I traveled to Toronto, Canada. It was such a beautiful and lively city. It was like the New York City of Canada. This was during a time when we didn’t need a passport to travel to Canada, but we still had the experience of going through customs. It was such a different time. Anyway, our hotel was amazing and we could walk to all the restaurants and shops. It was such a wonderful trip.
Who do you look up to in the company?
Virginia Morgan. Ms. Virginia has so much wisdom. She is such a hard-worker and always gives me great advice. Alice Kelly is another Associate that I look up to. Both of these ladies are always happy to drop little nuggets of advice my way. I appreciate them both.
What is your favorite animal?
Dogs! They are so loving and affectionate. They were always a part of my family and I am just used to having them around.
If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I probably would have changed my major in college. I earned a degree in Psychology because I love working with people. My work as a case manager was extremely rewarding, but due to a shift in the Human Services field that required case workers to begin visiting clients in their home it was difficult at times. Also, as rewarding as my job was , the Human Services field is not the most lucrative. Many of the programs offered to the community are funded by grants which can sometimes impact someone’s livelihood if there is no funding to pay workers. All in all, I loved working in that field and gained many great experiences from it. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would have earned a degree in Education so that I could be an English teacher.
What show are you currently binge watching?
Chicago PD! I love cop dramas. I also love Ozark on Netflix. I am obsessed with medical dramas so Chicago Med is another show on my list. Finally, Queen Sugar on OWN is a great watch!
What is your favorite memory?
The day I graduated from high school. It was such an amazing day! My mother was a vendor for the Business Enterprise Program here in Raleigh. I grew up spending time at her stand and met so many people throughout my childhood. I never imagined that all of these people would show up for my graduation. So many people sent me flowers, monetary gifts, and beautiful well wishes that day. My mother prepared a delicious dinner for everyone. My dad was so proud and excited. You would have thought he graduated. I was my parents’ first born so my high school graduation was a huge milestone for all of us.
What motivates you in life?
I like to think I pull my motivation from within, but acknowledgement from others also motivates me as well. When I start a task, I am committed to seeing it through. When I am at work, receiving positive feedback from my supervisors is a great motivator. More importantly, making sure my work is correct is what pushes me to do my best. My work is a reflection of me and I always want to be represented in the best light. That is particularly important to me.
