Employee Spotlight: Elisha Mojica

Our Director of Marketing, Adam Acosta, sat down with Elisha Mojica to chat about her career at Boston Retail Solutions. 

Hi Elisha, let’s get started by getting to know more about your role at BRS.  How long have you been with the team and what do you do? 

I have been with the company for 9 months, still pretty new and I’m a project manager on the Lululemon Team.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Right now, I’m training a team member to take over the main line construction scope of barricades and graphics workload and I am training to help on the light box side of the Lululemon projects.  I also help support the service of previously installed light boxes using a platform called Service Channel. 

Over your time with the company, what are some of your proudest achievements?

First, I really love the team that I’m a part of.  We’re a really close team and we work really well together.  I would say that I’m really proud of the 4 SOP’s that I created with the team’s help.  Once they were completed, I shared them with Angie Schumacher, our Director of Business Operations in the Specialty Division and she gave me really good feedback.  Also, I’m proud of the fact that even though I’ve only been with the company for a short time, there are already opportunities for me to grow in my role, and take on more responsibilities, like helping Katherine with the lightbox program so that she can be freed up to do more in the Senior Account Manager role. 

What are some things about our company culture that inspires you?  

One of my favorite things about our company is that there is a really positive culture across departments. I can go to anyone across the company and ask them a question, and they answer it with a smile.  Even though I haven’t met most of my colleagues in person, we have great interactions via meetings or over email and chat.  I love that even though I am a remote employee, it doesn’t take away that there’s a positive organizational culture and that everyone tries to help each other succeed.  I’ve been a part of several organizations that do not have a positive, supportive culture. It takes away from wanting to complete your tasks, hostility really affects your morale.  

What’s a favorite project that you worked on here at BRS, and what made it so special? 

Within my first month, I worked on a project in New York at Grand Central Station.  It was a vinyl project on storefront glass, and there was removal involved.  The existing vinyl did not come off easily.  The team called me and told me that they could be there for weeks, and it still would not come off!  Because I was only a few weeks on the job, I didn’t really know how to respond, and when I tapped into the team’s resources, they helped point me in the right direction to get the job done.  It was my first solo project that started off really rough, however with Katherine VanHoose & Leo Garcia’s support, we were able to make it happen. 

What do you bring to the table that you feel like you are really awesome at?

I’m really good with processes, procedures, and training.  A lot of my background is in training and development.  This is really my first job in the construction/graphics space.  I’ve even seen progress in individuals that I’ve worked with in training so far at this company and have received good feedback on my ability to help train individuals to take on more and grow.  I hope that I’m bringing positivity, and encouragement and showing patience when I’m training.  Because there is a lot of complexity in what we do.  

Let’s get to know you more, outside of BRS, what is your expertise?  

Hmm…I don’t even know where to begin…I’m like a Jackie of all trades!  Well, I started my career as a diesel mechanic in the army, then I became a high school biology teacher, then I became a school principal.  Before I was here, I was a program manager for a federally funded organization managing labor regulations.  I have so many random occupational titles in my experience!  

How does your diverse background translate to your life outside of work?  What kind of things do you enjoy doing during your free time? 

Every path I’ve traveled down has helped me get along with anyone who’s grown up anywhere.  I’ve lived in lots of different places, like New Jersey, the Carolinas, and West Virginia which has helped me to be able to adapt and fit in.  One of my friends told me the other day that I don’t judge people and that I give everyone a fair chance.  I do like to go all in and chase a dream.

What are some of your favorite things to do outside of work?  

I have two French bulldogs, I love to take them to the park, I dress them up, last year for Trunk or Treat at my Church I decorated my trunk as star wars they were dressed up as Luke and Leia.  I’m very into my dogs!  I like to travel, I try to go outside the country once a year.  Right before I joined BRS, I was in Mexico, I love to travel, and I wish I could do more.  

What’s your biggest motivation?  

My daughter just turned 18 this year. It’s been her and I for her whole life.  I always wanted to show up for her.  I pursued my education to show her that you can put in the hard work and accomplish your goals.  She’s been able to see our progress and growth through hard work. She’s my motivator.   I want her to know that age or struggles in front of you can’t stop you.  I’m a little competitive, I’m the first in my family to earn a Master’s degree.  I want to set an example for my 5 siblings. 

What was your first job? 

Straight out of high school, I joined the army and became a diesel mechanic.  Then I became a medical assistant and went to school to become a nurse, and I realized that wasn’t the path for me.   I got to drive all the big trucks, which was awesome, I loved it.  I was in the reserves for a few years, and I actually served with Jessica Wise.  That’s how I found this job.  She reached out to me, I was really unhappy with my current job, and she sent my resume to Katherine, and the rest is history.  It was crazy because I hadn’t talked to Jessica in a few years. 

What’s a skill that you’d like to improve on?  

Two things, one is work-related and the other is not.  This is a fast-paced environment.  I want to be able to slow down more and improve my accuracy and attention to detail.  I really hate making mistakes and I know that I want to learn to slow down.  In my personal life, I want to improve my physical fitness.  I started exercising more over the past few months and I don’t love it yet…so I want to love it.  

How would your friends describe you?

My friends describe me as very ambitious.  They see me as kind.  I’m always trying to work toward the future, thinking about the steps ahead.  

What do you think is the most unique thing about working at BRS?  

There are a lot of unique things. I like that there doesn’t seem to be barriers between people, no us vs. them.  There have been companies that I worked for.  For example, you would never dare to call and ask the CEO a question.  But here, Randy encourages employees to ask him questions.  We’re all here to accomplish the goal of making this company successful.  Especially since we are employee-owners.  I think it’s really awesome that you can pick up the phone and get anyone in the company, and they will help you out.  Also, the actual products of our company are very unique.  Before I had no idea what barricades were, I’ve learned so much.  In meetings, we laugh, we’re smiling, and we are still very productive even though we’re comfortable with each other.  Something Katherine shared with me that’s encouraging, is that 99% if there’s a mistake, it’s fixable.  

What’s the most challenging thing about working at BRS? 

There is a lot to learn, and you can’t learn it all right away.  It’s frustrating to not be able to answer questions right away, because of the learning curve. Thankfully you can reach out to someone, and they’ll have the answers.  It surprised me how many new questions there were that I had no idea how to answer.  Every day I’m learning something.  

What does Employee Ownership mean to you?  

Great question, I’m still trying to learn what that means to me, I’ve never been a part of an employee-owned company. However, In our last all-hands meeting, when Randy presented the new Bonus program, and how hitting our company’s EBITDA goals can lead to bonuses I got really excited, and even marked on my calendar when I can become an employee-owner. I’m looking forward to getting my first certificate.