Changing Perspectives: Representation at Every Level

March 8, 2022  |  By: WAXIE Editorial Staff

You cannot change what you cannot see. At WAXIE, we are challenging the status quo and we aspire to lead the industry by recognizing and supporting women across our organization through more representation and visibility.

Everyone has the opportunity to help others build their careers regardless of their job description or gender, and we encourage others in our organization and in the industry to actively mentor and assist women at all levels to grow and thrive.

There are many ways that someone can make a difference ranging from teaching women additional skills and knowledge, advocating on their behalf, and actively participating in mentorship programs such as ISSA’s Hygieia Network to guide them through obstacles they encounter in their careers.

We’d like to thank our remarkable female employees for their hard work, dedication, and tenacity in breaking the bias towards increasing diversity, inclusion, and equitability within our company and in the broader Jan/San, packaging, foodservice, and specialty product industries.

Erica Woodward – Sales Administrator at WAXIE Seattle

“Erica is an exceptionally intelligent individual. Over the course of her 6 years with WAXIE Erica has gained a vast knowledge of the administrative side of WAXIE. She is well versed in all of our systems and a near expert in every admin field.

Both as a Customer Service Rep and Sales Admin, Erica is top class. She is exceptional with customer relationships, product knowledge, and timely responses. She is eager to learn new things daily and works incredibly well with other departments to learn their systems and process.

Her expertise and professionalism have played a critical role in the ongoing success of our sales team. She is an amazing employee, and I am very proud to have her on my team.” – Paul Trimberger, Sales Manager, WAXIE Seattle

• What is your role at WAXIE? My current role is Sales Administrator, but I tend to branch out where I can to help our team run more efficiently and successfully. The first half of my WAXIE career was in Operations and now I’ve been a part of Sales for the last 3 years. I have a well-rounded knowledge of both departments and their standard operating procedures.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? I like working at WAXIE for a multitude of reasons, but the one that stands at the top is the relationships. It’s great to be a part of a team who support each other through the good and the bad.
  
  Next in line would be the constant learning opportunities; I feel like I am learning something new every day and overcoming daily challenges that arise.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are proudest of? Winning Employee of the Quarter twice! It’s a great feeling when your coworkers nominate you for a recognition award. Thanks, team!
  
  
• What are you passionate about? Food! In general of course, but I LOVE cooking. I like to branch out of my comfort zone and cook things that seem daunting. I’d say the most prized dish that I’ve created is blackened seared ahi tuna steak, that’s been steeped in a soy, ginger, jalapeno, and cilantro marinade. Then it’s plated over a fried risotto cake and topped with avocado. *chef’s kiss* My dream is to one day open a food truck.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I read Tarot cards as a hobby. I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy them as a guideline for day-to-day reflections, certain situations, questions, etc. They assist me to think out of the box, view situations in more ways than one, and gain insight.
  
  
• What does Women’s History Month mean to you? A celebration of women that reflects on the often-overlooked contributions of women to US history.
  

Sandra Vazquez – Facilities Supervisor, WAXIE San Diego

“Sandra does a fantastic job supporting WAXIE and our internal staff by maintaining a clean and safe work environment in our San Diego distribution center. I am proud to be associated with Sandra; she has a great work ethic and does not obfuscate her serving responsibilities. Sandra has a no-nonsense approach to managing her team while striving to provide exceptional customer service.

As you can imagine, with COVID-19 every department and company has struggled through staffing issues. I didn't have to worry about these issues with Sandra knowing that her excellent work ethic and creative thinking would ensure that our environment at work remained safe.

Sandra leads three full-time janitors from the front that do a fantastic job under her leadership. I'm very proud of her leadership style while supporting others; Sandra always helps others by jumping in, whether cleaning the building or supporting the local distribution operations by going out making deliveries with our Service Center Manager Jamie. I can always depend on Sandra to service our internal and external customers positively.” – Skip Willis, Operations Manager, WAXIE San Diego

• What is your role at WAXIE? As Facilities Supervisor I oversee the maintenance and cleaning of the San Diego office. I oversee three amazing ladies who do an incredible job of cleaning this building. In addition, I work closely with plumbers, electricians, gardeners, HVAC technicians, roofers, and any other contractors needed to ensure this building is properly maintained. I am also responsible for completing all gaming/casino licenses for WAXIE, which are required so that we are compliant and can sell to casinos.
  
  
• Why do you like working at WAXIE? I can honestly say that I have the best job at WAXIE, I work with so many wonderful people and have made many friends throughout my 21 years.
  
  Most of all I appreciate the mentorship and friendship from Eric C. and Skip W. as without their guidance and support I would not have the knowledge I have today. Eric gave me the opportunity to travel to other WAXIE locations and assist with remodeling projects. Here at the San Diego office, Skip has shared his extensive knowledge of working with contractors and employee issues. And Val B. as well, she has not only been a true friend, but she has helped me to be a better person.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are proudest of? I am very proud that I introduced my youngest son Jorge to the WAXIE family. During the 10 + years he has worked at WAXIE I have seen him grow into this hard-working, intelligent, amazing analyst!
  
  
• What are you passionate about (career & company related or not)? I love to go hiking, particularly in Yosemite and the peaks and trails around Lake Cuyamaca near my home. I also love to exercise and to watch Dodgers and Raiders games.
  
  
• What is something fun that not everyone would know about you? Not everyone knows that I went to Catholic School when I was in elementary school, and I wanted to be a nun when I grew up. Well, that never happened, I have been with my better half Ruben for 30 years. I have three wonderful sons, 10 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
  
  
• What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day to me means that more and more women of all races have a stronger voice not only in the workplace but in society. Even though I am a Hispanic woman, I feel that I am respected and seen as an equal.
  

Maritza Ramirez Diaz – Warehouse Administrator, WAXIE Santa Ana

“Maritza was hired as our Receptionist on April 4, 2018, and was quickly promoted on February 1, 2019 to the Warehouse Administrator position. It was Maritza’s hard work and dedication to her job that allowed this opportunity to happen in such a short period of time.

Since her promotion, I’ve appreciated how seriously she takes her responsibilities. During our safety audits, there has been no reason for me to worry about passing because of Maritza’s determination to make sure that all of her responsibilities within the inspection are accurate.

In addition to the Warehouse Administration position, Maritza is on our safety committee and is always willing to help out in the Customer Service department when needed. She is a true example of an above and beyond employee who is, in fact, our Employee of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2021.” – Laura Maloney, Operations Manager, WAXIE Santa Ana

• What is your role at WAXIE? I am the Warehouse Administrator for WAXIE Santa Ana. The duties I perform are to schedule appointments, report and follow up any discrepancies with the expeditor team, check-in our drivers by assisting with their daily route, as well as their driver’s vehicle inspection report, assist warehouse teammates with any concerns they might have, and other duties given by my manager.
  
  
• Why do you like working at WAXIE? It gives me the opportunity to expand my knowledge in the industry. I also appreciate the work culture my teammates and I have.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are the proudest of? Being recognized as Employee of the Quarter in 2021.
  
  
• What are you passionate about (career & company-related or not)? I am passionate about coming in to work every morning and performing my duties to the best of my knowledge.
  
  
• What is something fun that not everyone would know about you? I enjoy spending time at the beach and exploring new hiking sites.
  
  
• What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day has a lot of meaning to me because of how far we have come along, and the impact it has made and will make for other women in the future in hopes that it continues to get better.

Sherry Lee – Pacific Northwest HR Administrator/Safety Coordinator, WAXIE Seattle

“Sherry is amazing. She always takes care of all of our HR requests and offers a sympathetic ear for listening or a shoulder to cry on.

It is not easy taking on the task of defending the employee while also making sure that our company, co-workers, customers, and others are also taken care of. During the past few years with COVID and finding good employees, Sherry has had an exceptionally difficult job dealing with the daily challenges of employees that have bad attitudes and don't meet our objectives or create major problems in the workplace. She goes above and beyond trying to discipline, coach, nurture, and try to turn a rough stone into a polished diamond that will be a long-term part of our team.

I have worked with Miss Sherry for about 12 years now and she is truly a major support for our offices and helping us through the Human Resources challenges that arise.” – Bob Sundberg, Assistant General Manager, WAXIE Alaska

• What is your role at WAXIE? I started as the Sales Administrator/HR Liaison in Las Vegas, after answering a two-line ad in the newspaper! Yes, a newspaper! The Vegas branch grew rapidly and I became HR Administrator in about 2 years. Human Resources has been my full-time job since then.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? I have always appreciated WAXIE’s integrity as a company. Sure, nothing is ever perfect, but as a company, it’s never been difficult to appreciate their values.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are proudest of? I’m proud that I have always been able to grab onto any system that is presented for Human Resources, no matter how technical.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? I’m also proud that my husband and I were able to blend a family of 5 boys! They all still get along as brothers!!
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I used to play a mean saxophone! Not for a very long time now. I loved playing jazz.
  
  
• What does International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month mean to you? It means an objective focus on all that women can do and are capable of doing.

Ann Moore – Customer Service Representative, WAXIE Las Vegas

“Ann is always working to make WAXIE a better place to work. Ann is the branch Safety Coordinator, helping to keep WAXIE a safer place to work. Ann is always there to help any department that needs help, she has done routing in the warehouse, trained people in the Service Center and is always helping the sales staff with anything they need.” – Louis Ference, Warehouse Manager, WAXIE Las Vegas

• What is your role at WAXIE? My name is Andra Moore, but most people know me as Ann, and I have worked in customer service in sunny Las Vegas for the past 14 years. Time has flown by for me. I have moonlighted in the Parts Department for a few months under Mr. Helmick’s watchful eye, and I make follow-up calls for folks who contact us via the web for Mr. Marlow, our Sales Team Manager.
  
  I train new hires on the basics of our internal systems. I have overseen Making Strides for Breast Cancer donation events for several years. I fill in for our supervisor Lisa when she is off-site, take care of the daily deposit, and I am now the Safety Coordinator for the WAXIE Las Vegas branch.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? Our company strives to be fair to us, as well as our customers.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are proudest of? My best achievement is obtaining the honor to wear the WAXIE ring [which is given to WAXIE employees in honor of 10-years of service, a tradition started by WAXIE founder Morris Wax]. Let’s face it, we all have symbols within our lives. Things we strive for, believe in. I believe in the products we sell. I trust the information given to us in our training and learning modules is solid. We are doing our best to keep the public clean and safe.
  
  For example, who did the public turn to when we were faced with COVID-19? Yes, the public looked for information and products from WAXIE!
  
  
• What are you passionate about? I like to kayak on the Colorado River at Willow Beach with friends and coworkers. We often get together in the hot summer months to cool down.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I was the WAXIE Bee for Candlelighters, a charity aiding victims of childhood cancer for 10 years. You can check them out at: https://www.candlelightersnv.org/ 
  
  I have also driven a semi long-haul team second seat across 48 states and Canada. The truck stops are not yet equipped to accommodate women even today.
  
  
• What does Women’s History Month mean to you? Women’s history is vast. There is a plaque in Boulder City, Nevada of a woman on a windy day. The plaque explains that even though the men built the Hoover Dam, the wives of these strong men are who turned the area into the village it is today by making the house a home. Planting the seeds for the future.
  
  Never look down on someone unless you are helping them up, the only time you fail is when you give up!
  
  In the future, I would like to see the women in our company recognized on social media or in our internal newsletters regularly, not just during Women’s History Month. Those who have brought us thus far. For example, Carol Lynn M., Theresa E., Sherry L., Sandy N., and Danni W. are women that have taken on many roles throughout the years at WAXIE and contributed to our growth over the decades.
  
  Also, those who have had tremendous success, and excelled quickly through the ranks like Katelyn C. She started in customer service at a branch and look at her now, Inventory and Vendor Return Specialist for our entire company. Caitlin B. started as our branch Human Resource Director, and she is now a corporate professional.
  
  And there are many more we could add to the list for recognition, and hopefully, more to come!  

Ashley Munoz – Account Consultant, WAXIE Livermore

“I first interviewed Ashley for sales and I saw a spirit of determination and a relationship builder, although she was not ready to pursue sales, I counseled her on a path to sales and that she would need to prove herself by education and going above and beyond.

I was pleased to see her take my counsel and exceed expectations in customer service. Ashley then jumped into the role of bullpen sales consultant during COVID, not letting the times affect her mental game or her passion for sales. She is a born learner and she possesses a true grit for achievement.
As a young female in a male-dominated sales industry, she has worked harder and has proven to be a trusted advisor for to our clients for WAXIE and Envoy Solutions. She is not afraid to ask for help and seek to understand completely. She embraces who she is and extends that vivacious attribute to everyone she meets.

In this industry it is rare to build a young female to success, I am impressed by her determination. She is steadfast in her goals and desires, and I am proud of her achievements so far and for a long prosperous career. Ashley has the “fire in the belly” that we need to go out and represent WAXIE and Envoy Solutions every day.” – Tiffany McLaughlin, General Manager, WAXIE Oklahoma City & Wichita

• What is your role at WAXIE? I have been an Account consultant for the past 2 years (this April). I establish and maintain healthy, long-term relationships with clients to generate repeat business and referrals. My goal is to offer solutions to needs and challenges, through the services and products that WAXIE provides.  
  
  
• Why do you like working at WAXIE? I love many things about working at WAXIE. One of the biggest things for me is the relationships that I have built. I’ve had the honor of being mentored by some incredible people who truly care about me and my professional career. I love the fact that there is an opportunity for growth, and we are encouraged to grow daily.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are the proudest of? I love that being a woman has not inhibited my growth potential. WAXIE and my customers actually celebrate my position in the predominantly male industry.
  
  
• What are you passionate about (career & company related or not)? I am passionate about traveling and simply just creating memories with my family. I learned at a young age that life is short and because of that we are constantly on the go creating memories going to the snow, Disneyland, camping, Mexico, Tahoe, etc.  
  
  
• What is something fun that not everyone would know about you? I originally went to cosmetology school to do hair. I was in a salon working for 4 years before I had my daughter. I since have switched gears, but with that said I am a licensed cosmetologist and still do hair for friends and family.
  
  
• What does Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day mean to you? Women’s History Month is to remember all of the strong unbreakable empowering women who play a vital role in history.
  
  To honor the women who didn’t back down in a room full of men. Those who showed perseverance and who helped normalize women in power and show that women are just as valuable as men. Many women are in a position to maintain the house, take care of the children, do pick-ups & drop-offs, cook, help out with homework…the list goes on…all while working a full-time job and sometimes multiple jobs.

Patty Martinez – Customer Service Representative, WAXIE Santa Ana

“Patty has been an incredible asset to the Customer Service team and to the WAXIE Santa Ana branch over her 20 years here. She is looked up to by her coworkers for her product knowledge and expertise in system processes. 

Patty has been a mentor to many new members of the team and is a comforting and supportive colleague as they get started here. She is very charismatic and has a way of making you smile when you are around her. Patty is always willing to learn a new function or take on a new task whenever needed.”  – Desiree Bonilla, Customer Service and Service Center Manager, WAXIE Santa Ana

• What is your role at WAXIE? I’m a Customer Service Representative. So, I take orders and help our customers both internally and externally. Some of my customers I have known for years already.
  
  
• Why do you like working at WAXIE? I love what I do, helping anyone that needs my help. WAXIE is my second home and my second family. I love coming to work and dealing with all the challenges that are presented to me. I feel like I have grown a lot at WAXIE and 20 years have gone by so fast for me.
  
  
• What is the biggest achievement in your career or the one that you are the proudest of? I have been in customer service for 20 years, and my biggest achievement has been teaching others what I have learned.
  
  
• What are you passionate about (career & company-related or not)? I am passionate about my family and spending quality time with them.
  
  
• What is something fun that not everyone would know about you? I love dancing, going to Rosarito for a little weekend vacation at the beach, and eating tacos.
  
  
• What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day to me means a day to celebrate women’s achievements and all women’s rights. All the accomplishments women have made to make a difference all over the world, and for me, every challenge I have encountered has made me a stronger woman.