Blog Post

PackageIt Team Spotlight - Meet Lisa Taiga

PackageIt Team • Aug 13, 2020

Meet Lisa Taiga, Account Manager

Lisa Taiga never planned to be a packaging materials specialist for PackageIt’s family-owned shipping supply team. But today, she says her uncharted career path has stretched her limits and expanded her horizons. As an account manager, Lisa has become an indispensable part of the company’s inside team—and a curious, insightful employee with a smile for everyone.

Lisa came to PackageIt when a recruiting firm suggested she interview at the 46-year-old Seattle mainstay. “I left my previous job as a counselor for an exchange student program, and I wanted something with more balanced hours. Something more stable, like an administrative role. Honestly, I didn’t think PackageIt was a good fit for me, but I took the interview to get some practice,” she said. “I remember walking through the warehouse, and I didn’t have any product knowledge. I couldn’t believe all the rows and rows of bubble wrap that all looked the same, but they were different,” she laughs.

After developing instant rapport during her second interview and meeting some of the staff, Lisa was sold on the job and accepted the steep learning curve. “I really liked the environment and the people. It felt very nice, like a family-oriented company—and so supportive.”

Family Ties & Settling in America

Lisa grew up in Shanghai, coming to the U.S. in high school. After living with her aunt and studying English for two years, she went home with no intent to return. “I didn’t like it at all. I couldn’t speak English; I couldn't make friends, and I was scared to go out,” she recalls. “I went back to China, and it was so funny because all my college friends kept talking about going to America. And even though I hadn’t planned to go back, they inspired me.” After graduating, Lisa worked for a year and decided to give the U.S. one more shot.

Today, Lisa is in her third year with PackageIt and says she feels right at home. “I’ve been in America for six years, and I love Seattle. People are friendly and ready to help, and my coworkers have become my second family. I’m very appreciative of the company because they know that I am alone, with no relatives here. Whenever I need anything, they always check on me, offer to help or invite me to their homes for holidays. Everyone is really tied together.”

From Onboarding to Expert: Lisa’s PackageIt Role

Lisa says her job is the ideal blend of problem-solving and client communication. “It took me a while to feel comfortable with all of the products and items we carried. The first six months, I felt like a piece of white paper. I knew nothing about this industry. Now here I am, really growing with the company. And now I know all about the different types of bubble wrap,” she joked.

Each day, Lisa verifies client deliveries to ensure timely arrival and order accuracy. Then she spends her workday processing orders and finding cost-effective and custom packaging solutions for new and returning customers. “When current customers send in their orders, I process them and check on item availability. I also arrange things with our vendors and check on product lead times—since some items take a bit longer than others to ship,” she says. “When customers have special requests, like ‘I need this tomorrow,’ it’s my goal to make it happen whenever possible.”

Vice President Doug Parman appreciates Lisa’s “make it happen” attitude. “She has been a great addition to our inside team. She is focused on staying productive and improving efficiencies for herself and others. Her determination to satisfy each and every customer, inside or outside the company, is a character trait to be admired,” Doug says. “She’s also very willing to roll up her sleeves and assist in any way possible to contribute to the team’s success. We’re happy she has landed with the PackageIt family.”

Navigating “Pandemic World”

Seattle was the first U.S. state to issue a COVID-19 lockdown. And while PackageIt was logistically prepared for the work-from-home transition, it took an unexpected toll on Lisa.

“We started staying home at the end of March, and that was my first time working remotely. All of my routines were messed up. I couldn't sleep. I was tired, but I was mentally overwhelmed,” Lisa says. “That first month really dragged me down. I was very depressed. Starting in the middle of May, I decided to make adjustments. I realized that since I couldn’t change what was going on around me, I needed to change myself. I needed to be strong.” The next day, Lisa woke up early and began journaling a plan for her home and work life. Adding frequent coworker check-ins and afternoon walks or hikes, she started to settle into a “new normal.”

“I hope it’s over soon, but I know that I have grown and developed many skills while I’ve been home. But it has been very difficult being alone so much.” A born extrovert, Lisa loves talking with people and misses the face-to-face interactions integral to her pre-pandemic workdays

“Working from home had other challenges, too. We have many customers who ask for items in a specific color or show me a picture and want me to find something similar,” Lisa said. “When I was working [on-site] at the company, I could just run downstairs, talk to the warehouse manager or my boss, and look for the items myself so I could touch them and see them. People at the company would always laugh and joke with me. They’d hear me running around all the time—and they recognize my footsteps. They were always teasing me about how I never sit still.”

Like other PackageIt team members, Lisa had to develop workarounds without facility access. “Before, I could respond instantly to customers when I could run to the warehouse myself. I have figured it out now, but it is a longer process to find what they need. I have to call the warehouse manager or other team members at the company, and the speed of response is slower. It’s something we are working on every day. I feel like we have done a great job, but we are still aware that it is different.”

Operations Manager Bill Gunning says PackageIt has streamlined operations to run smoothly with employees safely at home. “We’re not going to risk our team members getting ill or bringing this home to their families. We’ve converted our business to 80 percent paperless from before the outbreak,” he says. “It’s tough not having the ability to see clients face to face, but we are working hard to develop telecommunication solutions. But it has definitely been difficult for our sales staff and inside team.”

Self-Care & Nature Fuel

Lisa is a small, mighty force at PackageIt, and she sustains her powerhouse productivity with weekend recharges. “My mindset is that I work very hard during the week. I do my best to solve my customers’ problems, and I accomplish as much as possible. Then, on weekends when the weather is nice, I get outside and hike. It is a release for me, and it helps me get ready for the next week. It refreshes me to be surrounded by nature, trees and water, and to breathe the clean air.”

When the weather is less cooperative, Lisa finds new ways to use her abundant energy. “I’m a very active person. I can’t sit still. When it gets cold and I can’t hike, I find some dance or martial arts classes or something that helps me get my exercise and keep moving.”

Lisa maintains family ties by traveling home to Shanghai once a year. “My dad travels to America sometimes, and I always make time to meet him for a weekend or a few days. But my mom doesn’t speak English, so it’s hard for her to make the long trip. I had plans to go to China in February, but all the flights were canceled because of the coronavirus, so I hope to reschedule soon.”

Closer to home, Lisa visits her brother in Las Vegas, Nevada, when she needs a break from the rainy season. “He came to Seattle with me, but he wanted to be adventurous. To use his hotel management experience, he had to go somewhere with more hospitality opportunities—so he packed up and drove to Las Vegas. He got his bartending certificate, and he’s been bartending there for five years. He loves it.”

While Lisa has settled into American life, she misses the Chinese “street food” prepared in small, roadside restaurants around Shanghai. “Seattle has a great Chinatown and a lot of good food, but the Chinese food at home is different. There are so many small places that are not even big enough to call restaurants. Just here and there, little places run by two or three people. Some don’t even have a menu, or the menu has only two or three items. But they have the best food!”

Custom Packaging Supplies & Heroic Service

As an essential business that supports its customers’ critical supply chains, PackageIt hasn’t missed a step during the pandemic. And with heroic employees like Lisa, the company is adapting and thriving—even in a coronavirus economy.

“If I had to pick a superpower I bring to work, it would be communication. When there is an issue, I am a liaison, working directly with the customer and the sales and purchasing people or warehouse manager,” she says. “I listen to the customer and let them know we are handling things right away. At the same time, I work with salespeople or the warehouse to find the best solutions. I think my skills lie in solving an issue as early as possible while maintaining good, positive energy with customers.”

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PackageIt is here to help during uncertain times! To meet our team in person or order custom packaging materials and personal protective equipment, call 888.743.0907 or connect online now!