Lorisa Emery

September 29, 2020

What do you like about working at the Lab?

I genuinely enjoy helping others, and if I can make life a little easier for someone and know that I can be depended on, then I’m glad I can be a part of it. I’ve had positive experiences since working at the Lab, first, my mentor/trainer/supervisor made my onboarding experience a breeze and was always super helpful with everything. Also, if I have to reach out to someone, either within or outside of my division, I find that people here are down to earth, approachable, and willing to help. I also think the type of work that the Lab does is amazing and mind-boggling. Supporting and working with these intelligent people makes me very proud to be part of this workforce.

What do your day-to-day work activities include?

I act as the administrative point of contact for the division leader of the Materials Science Division (MSD), helping with daily interactions and administrative matters internally and externally. My support includes addressing and communicating day-to-day matters, managing complex calendars, and organizing in-person, video, audio, and web conferences, workshops, and tours. In addition, I am the MSD timekeeper point of contact and work to ensure approximately 400 staff members’ timecards are submitted on a weekly basis and address any questions that anyone should have.

What is your career background?

My past work experiences include: an optometry office, a civil engineering firm, and an oil/energy business in global human resources assisting supervisors and managers to extend expatriate job offers (which consisted of maintaining highly confidential information). During this time, I had the opportunity to lead a team in the US, overseeing the process whilst working with our counterparts from another country.

What advice would you give to a new employee at the Lab?

Ask questions. Get to the know the business and understand processes so you can make better use of your time and become more efficient. Don’t expect to know everything about the Lab within a month’s time because there is so much to learn. Most importantly, communicate with your supervisor and colleagues and share your knowledge because this helps to create a positive atmosphere and a great team dynamic.

What do you do in your free time?

I love spending time with my husband and our two adult daughters, attending social gatherings, and laughing with my huge extended family. I also really enjoy kickboxing workouts, camping, eating out, and hanging out with my dog!