Quick with a smile and kind word, from the moment you meet her, it’s clear that Meranda is a thoughtful and dedicated employee who genuinely enjoys her job. She takes customer service very seriously and considers it the single most important job responsibility she has. “If someone is having a bad day, you don’t know what they’re going through. When you work with customers, it’s important to always be friendly and do your best to help them,” she says.
Meranda has worked at the Sam’s Club in Pooler since May of 2013. Her first position was in the bakery, but after a few months, she transitioned to maintenance, where she was on the team for several years. Meranda learned a lot in maintenance and honed her people skills. About two years ago, she was ready for a new challenge. She heard about an opening at the service station and applied to be an attendant, a job she says is a good fit for her. She works full-time and can’t remember the last time she missed a day of work.
“I have some of the most friendly members!” enthuses Meranda. “There’s one guy in particular; he’s handicapped, so he can’t get out of his van. When he comes, I go out and pump his gas, and I’m fine with that. I’m more than happy to help him, and I know he really appreciates my help.”
Work has undeniably changed the past six months, thanks to the pandemic. But Meranda appreciates that extra protocols that have been put in place to keep her and the members safe. She doesn’t mind wearing the PPE or doing deep cleaning to make sure that the station is spotless. None of that gets in the way of her doing her job well or interacting with the customers.
When she’s not working, she and her husband like to spend time together and with their families. They often watch movies or go for walks. Before the pandemic, they liked to go out to eat. They met working at Sam’s and will celebrate their third anniversary this November.
Not one to sit still, Meranda has been considering going back to school to pursue a career in the medical field. She’d like to be a nursing assistant or a nurse because she wants to work with people, and she isn’t afraid of hard work. “I’m a worker. I can’t just sit – that drives me crazy,” she says. She thinks that working in healthcare would not only be interesting but would also keep her on her toes and be a way for her to help people every day. Her job coach, Alina, says, “Meranda will do well at whatever she sets out to do because she works hard to achieve her goals. I look forward to seeing her continue to excel!”
Meranda’s strong work ethic and commitment to providing superior customer service makes her a valued teammate and employee. Her skills have grown with each passing year and having the support of a job coach gives her the confidence to try new things and to continually set new goals for herself.
Your support means so much to Meranda and so many other program participants in the Supported Employment Services program. People who are making a difference and contributing to their workplaces, each and every day!
