International Women's Day: Challenging What's Possible

March 8, 2021  |  By: WAXIE Editorial Staff

The Jan/San and cleaning industries have historically been considered male dominated, especially in certain career paths and leadership positions. Yet over the last several years there's been a lot more awareness and a paradigm shift as both companies and the industry professionals are making strides to provide tools, access to resources, and mentorship opportunities for women to build meaningful careers.

In 2015, the Hygieia Network (an ISSA charity) paved the way for women in the industry to connect with and support one another, as well as have access to the resources to advance professionally in their careers. WAXIE has been a huge supporter of the Hygieia Network and many of our staff are members. But there's still quite a way to go.

As we've done the last two years, we would like to acknowledge some of the hard working women across WAXIE who are challenging the status quo of what's possible—from operations to leadership roles. This year though, we're including a few words from their coworkers who nominated them for this recognition.

Vanessa Manzano, Warehouse Administrator, WAXIE Seattle

"Vanessa always strives to achieve greatness in her position. She has volunteered so much time in order to roll out new routing software in the Pacific Northwest and assist in the warehouse with routing and shipping. She always brings new ideas to the table in streamlining processes and organization. I can count on Vanessa to be there when I need any help in any aspect of the operations team. I do not know where we would be without Vanessa’s dedication and intelligence." – Scott Johnson, Operations Manager, WAXIE Seattle

• What is your role at WAXIE? I am a Warehouse Administrator, and sometimes an emotional/administrative support person for my colleagues. I route for Portland, Seattle and Spokane and also maintain dock appointment, transfers, and routing system updates for our Pacific Northwest Branches. I try to help out where I can and to make things better and more efficient for our team.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? There is a lot of reasons! For the first time in my life I feel like I am allowed me to be my true self. I like that I am constantly leaning, and every day poses a new challenge. I also like that the work is meaningful. For example, during the pandemic we prioritized first responders, hospital and essential businesses. To make sure they get what they need and letting them know we are all in this together. Another reason I like working at WAXIE is that I get to work with my best friends, and the support and knowledge that I get from my ops manager has been helpful to my growth.
  
  
• What part of your job are you most proud of? I would say this recognition has moved to the top. It is an honor to be with mentioned with these strong women of WAXIE. I have not had a long career in WAXIE as some of my fellow women colleagues and I know I would not be where I am today without them. Also knowing there are other women in different branches who are willing to give assistance and guidance is amazing. I am proud of the growth I have achieved in a year. Erica our Sales Admin convinced me to apply to WAXIE as a Customer Service Rep. I was hired and within 3 months I stepped into the Warehouse Admin role.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? My top 5 projects right now are education, women’s rights and equality, personal growth and the arts. I love meeting and collaborating with women CEOs and VPs in philanthropic organizations.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I love to travel and visit breweries. Most breweries are family friendly, so my family has fun with that. I brew hard cider and I am working up the courage to brew beer.

Sarah Baylor, Sales Administrator, WAXIE MARKETplace in Colorado Springs

"Sarah’s been with WAXIE for two years now and has completely changed the face of WAXIE in Colorado Springs. She jumped in with both her feet, got the team organized and makes sure all the t’s are crossed and I’s are dotted. She’s a huge asset for us here in Colorado." – Amanda Mascareñas, Administrative Assistant, WAXIE Denver

• What is your role at WAXIE? As Sales Administrator, I work with the sales reps to handle day to day tasks and issues. I also cover in the MARKETplace by helping take orders, pulling items and putting away freight. Basically, if you need something done, fixed or just need a hand I’m the one to call.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? I like working at WAXIE because every day is a challenge and there is always something new to learn. WAXIE has an amazing team that is always there to teach and support you.
  
  
• What part of your job are you most proud of? Everything that I have accomplished has been with the help of our various teams and management. Without them I wouldn’t have made it through one day. I am so thankful for their support and dedication to making our employees be the best they can be.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? Learning! I believe that a day is wasted if you have not learned something new. So every day I challenge myself every day to try and learn new things.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I have two puppies (Dela and Rory) under 6 months old. I love them more than anything and when not at work, you can find me in a tug of war battle or running wild through the park playing catch with them.

Tiffany McLaughlin, General Manager, WAXIE Wichita and WAXIE Oklahoma City

"Tiffany’s career has flourished and grown over the years despite being in an industry traditionally dominated by men. I admire Tiffany for her dedication to her team members and her clients, learning over the years to embrace every individual as exactly that “an individual.” She truly has a heart of gold and at times with wearing her heart on her sleeve when appropriate. 

'The most expensive investment a leader can make is a personal investment' leadership principle describes Tiffany to a tee, and it is one in which she embraces fully. You are sure to be burned at one time or another and it hurts more so due those personal relationships.  You may think to yourself that I will never do that again because it hurts so much and then you do because that’s leadership. 

Tiffany embodies the above and I think that her leadership comes from a place of integrity, honesty and an endeavor to persevere." – Nick Rosner, General Manager, WAXIE Livermore

• What is your role at WAXIE? I am a General Manager in Wichita, KS overseeing both the Kansas & Oklahoma branches. I manage a team of 51 men and women of different backgrounds and seniority in their careers. My role is to encourage the growth of our client base and create passion for the facility supply business as a whole. I enjoy working with the sales team to encourage strategic growth and learning about the operations team and how they provide superior service to our community. Prior to this I was a Sales Manager leading a team of 13 sales professionals at the WAXIE Livermore branch in the Bay Area.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? I don’t like, I love working at WAXIE because of our culture of family and our dedication to our clients. I feel supported and encouraged every day to challenge myself for greater results. Often our sales team makes promises to our customers and then we ask our internal team members to help fulfill those promises (which they do). It is truly a pleasure to work with all of our teams at each branch who are committed to the business and to helping our customers.
  
  
• What part of your job are you most proud of? I am most proud of the sales teams WAXIE has created, coached and developed. We strive for a very strong team culture. People who truly care for one another and want to see all succeed together. My personal greatest accomplishment is being chosen to manage two new branches in Wichita, KS and Oklahoma City, OK.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? I am truly passionate about live music; I can’t wait until we can mingle again and listen to artists play to a crowd. My favorite genre is country music, and my favorite artist is Chris Stapleton.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I love fast, beautiful cars. I would love to have multiple cars so that I decide to drive a different car each day—a corvette with the tops down today, tomorrow a Jeep, and on and on! Many times, as I am driving, I see a beautiful car on the road and come home and do research on it just for fun.

Heather Hamblin, Service Center Coordinator, WAXIE Arizona

"When I was promoted to the Service Center Manager position, prior to my current role, Heather Hamblin was a great help to me! At the time she was also fairly new to the WAXIE Arizona (Mesa) Service Center, but I was very impressed with her hard work, dedication and eagerness to learn. She even won Employee of the Quarter within her first six months of employment at WAXIE, which was well-deserved. Heather has grown a lot in her role as Service Center Coordinator over the last year and a half, and I’d love to see her recognized." – Carmen Craig, Team Service Manager, WAXIE Arizona

• What is your role at WAXIE? I have been the Service Center Coordinator with WAXIE Arizona in Mesa for just under 2 yrs. As the Service Center Coordinator, I oversee the equipment repair work for our customers. I schedule service, prepare estimates to be quoted to customers, and communicate with the service technicians as needed to ensure accurate and clear information on the estimate. I coordinate with customers on orders for parts and repairs, projected completion of repairs and all needed customer communications. My team and I assist the sales team, customer service team and WAXIE customers with equipment repair inquires, parts orders, equipment maintenance etc.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? Working at WAXIE is ALWAYS interesting. I have a variety of tasks that keep me busy and there is always something to do. We have a wonderful team here at WAXIE Arizona and a shared goal of helping our customers by providing the best service possible. Which we crush on the regular.
  
  
• What part of your job are you most proud of? I came into this position as a new hire with no experience in this industry or with any of the internal processes. I worked very hard to learn how to effectively do my job and be a valuable resource for my department. I was honored to receive the Employee of the Quarter for the 3rd quarter of 2019, just 6 months after being hired.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? Anything that gets me outside! I love being in nature and will go to great lengths to be places that very few get to see. I hike, rock climb, canyoneer, mountain bike (badly) and kayak. I’ve learned that the reward of untouched tributaries, mountain peaks and canyon walls is worth every painful step, even under a heavy pack.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I like to grow my own food. I grew up in Utah very rurally and started helping my mother and great grandmother garden and process food when I was young. It was a challenge learning to grow in the Arizona desert but I’m figuring it out and have even harvested prickly pear for jam and syrup. I’m not sure many people are going to think collecting cactus fruit is “fun” mostly it’s pokey.

Jackie Romero, Account Consultant, WAXIE San Diego

“As a saleswoman in a male dominated industry, Jaqueline (Jackie) Romero has overcome many obstacles and always rises above it all. Her customers love her and appreciate the hard work and effort even while facing threats of lost business. Jackie is very honest and puts her heart on her sleeve. 

Over the years she has shared various struggles that she’s faced in the past and I realized how difficult it must be to face some of those challenges. I would love to see Jackie honored as one of WAXIE’s great female warriors!” – Brian Bogle, Account Consultant, WAXIE San Diego

• What is your role at WAXIE? I’ve been a Senior Account Consultant for over 15 years. I’m out in the field building new business relationships, strengthening current ones, managing day-to-day tasks and challenges, and ultimately adding value for our customers.
  
  
• What do you like about working at WAXIE? I love many things about WAXIE, but I will say the relationships I have with others is the biggest one of them—from the people that I work with to my customers. It is so rewarding to be able to connect, bond and create trust with my customers. To have the team and people to celebrate the good times with, as well as having the support and love through some of the tougher times in life. That is very important to me.
  
  
• What part of your job are you most proud of? Taking the challenge at 23 years old to go into sales. At that time, the San Diego sales team consisted mainly of men over 40+ years old with many years of experience in the industry. I wanted to change that and earn the respect of my colleagues. I knew that with drive, discipline and hard work I would be able to grow and create a very profitable territory from nothing. Rick Hazard was the Regional Sales Manager at that time, who took me under his wing and gave me that opportunity.
  
  
• What are you passionate about? I’m passionate about traveling and exploring the world. I’ve always been fascinated and curious about it. I pursued a degree in Political Science to gain an understanding on the pillars that drives the world—politics, economy, culture, etc. And I’m deeply grateful that I’ve been able to travel to many countries. It has broadened my horizons.
  
  
• What is something that most people don't know about you? I’m an artist at heart and I think it’s good to always work on your creative side. I’m good at drawing and was diving into oil painting for a while. My new thing is learning how to play the banjo. I think it’s an underrated instrument. I’m also addicted to reading books and my stack is constantly growing.