Appreciate

Since March 29th, 2010, the International department at OC Tanner has been my home away from home.  It's strange to say that, because I don't think I have ever had a job that I would even consider calling my home away from home.  But that's really what OC Tanner was for me.  It was the first job that I think I have ever had that I was excited to go to everyday.  It was the first job that I have ever had that I feel like made me a better person.  It was the first job that I felt like my co-workers were like family.  This isn't to say that I haven't had jobs in the past that I liked, or people from those jobs that I became close to, but this place was different.

I have so many memories, it would take me forever to write them down.  I don't think a working day went by without laughter, and I don't even know how many times I cried because I was laughing so hard.  There were practical joke, so many practical jokes.  "Moldy" bagels, salt in the water bottle, role model pictures, and even an occupy movement.  Good times.  I loved that nothing was sacred with the International team.  If you said one thing that could be interpreted the wrong way, you were done.  You would be made fun of until the next person said something stupid.  I even had my story of losing my pants read in a department meeting.

Along with all the fun, I feel like OC Tanner was a place I was given countless opportunities to grow professionally.  My boss never micro-managed.  He trusted me with my responsibilities and counted on my to figure out ways to make things better, which I hope I was able to do.  I know that the things that I learned will be invaluable to my career in the long run.  OC Tanner's mission statement reads, "We help organizations appreciate people who do great work. Because celebrating great work inspires people to invent, to create, to discover. And when people are inspired, companies grow."  I don't know if I helped the company grow in anyway, but I know that I was inspired on a daily basis to do the best work that I possibly could.

I am really grateful for my time at OC Tanner.  Thanks Brad, Janet, Steff, Ty, Angie, Jordan, Lu, Bob, Michael, Elisabeth, Mo, Wendy, and Erin for making everyday a blast!  I am going to miss you guys.