Employee spotlight time! I had the pleasure of sitting down and interviewing Marisa, the Ambassador of Buzz at printova. She’s been with the company since May of 2019, taking on more and more responsibilities over that time. Below is the interview:

(Kendra) Tell me a little bit about yourself.

(Marisa) Ok, well, I was born in Wisconsin, and, whenever I was 2, we moved to Illinois due to my mom’s work, and then whenever I was almost 5, we moved here, again due to my mom’s work, because she worked for Walmart. So I’ve pretty much grown up here my whole life. Pretty much all of my memories are here. I have 2 sisters, and I’m the middle child, and  I’ve always grown up around lots of animals, so I’ve always felt passionate about animals.

(Kendra) How did you first learn about Printova Signs?

(Marisa) I first learned about it in a job listing on Indeed.

(Kendra) How has Printova helped in your career development?

I think it’s helped me so much. It’s helped me with my people skills, just having to talk to more people, and a larger variety of people, because we get so many people in here doing all different things. It’s helped me a lot with, just kind of like, letting things go, even if things aren’t going to plan. Just kind of like, let it go and go with the flow, because you guys are so nice and understanding. It’s taught me not to be so stressed out about every mistake, because pretty much every mistake can be fixed. I feel like that has helped me a lot, not just in my career, but also in my personal life.

(Kendra) What are 3 words to describe Printova?

(Marisa) This one was hard, but I picked a few. Innovative, for sure. Exciting, and fun, because it’s always something new, and were such a fun bunch.

(Kendra) What has been your favorite project at Printova?

(Marisa) Honestly, it’s kind of a tie between Harley, because that one was such a hard one, but it was so cool. Like, it was so rewarding to see it go up, and I got to use a blowtorch. and then, the Corvettes, because those have just gotten us so much buzz, and that’s like one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen ever. I think it’s a tie between those 2.

(Kendra) What is your favorite movie line?

(Marisa) This was hard, because I love movies, and I love movie lines. But I think my favorite one that’s just really stuck with me is from Remember Me with Robert Pattinson, and he said, “Ghandi said that whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it’s very important you do it.” I tend to agree with the first part. I don’t one hundred percent agree with it, but it’s something that’s always made me think, so I like it.

(Kendra) What’s your favorite travel spot?

(Marisa) Hawaii. I would love to be able to go there every month!

(Kendra) How do you define success?

So, how I think I would define success is just having enough to take care of me and mine, and to be happy.

(Kendra) If you could interview any person, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you ask them?

(Marisa) This one was hard, but I think I would interview Albert Einstein or Nikola Tesla. I just want to know how they came up with all these things. I would have so many questions. I don’t know exactly what I’d ask, but I just want to pick their brains because they seem like such interesting people.

(Kendra) If you were stuck on an island and could only bring 3 things, what would you bring?

(Marisa) This was hard, but: sunglasses, because I have sensitive eyes, a flint, and Jacob.

(Kendra) What advice would you give to new hires at Printova?

(Marisa) I would tell them to show up on time, take notes, and that’s the biggest thing. That’s helped me so much, and to ask a lot of questions, because I feel like a lot of people are so afraid to ask questions here, so then the work doesn’t get done right. It’s better to ask questions and get it done right the first time than to be scared to ask. That would be my advice.

(Kendra) What aspects of your role do you enjoy most?

(Marisa) I think it’s kind of like a tie between 2. So, I love heat pressing because it’s just like fun to watch your creation become something, and then also, I also really like helping customers find products that match their business, like promotional products, because I like to tailor them to them.

(Kendra) What do you like to do in your spare time?

(Marisa) I like to bike and just be outdoors as much as possible, since I’m cooped up in my apartment.

(Kendra) What does true leadership mean to you?

(Marisa) I had a little bit of trouble with this one, so I’ll tell you what it means to me, but I’ll also give an example. I know I’ve already said this to you, but Harley week, because I was new, I think it was like my third week, and you guys just busted your asses because the installer didn’t show up anymore, and you just got it done, and you put the company before yourselves, and I think that is the most true leadership that I’ve ever seen, just the pure dedication.

(Kendra) What is the first concert you attended?

(Marisa) It was actually a Mac Miller concert. He came to the U of A, and like the Bud Walton Arena, when I was in 10th grade. It was pretty cool.

(Kendra) What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten?

(Marisa) Pickles dipped in peanut butter, and it is good.

(Kendra) What is your personal philosophy?

(Marisa) I think my personal philosophy is just to do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. Whatever you put out in the world you get back, so that’s what I try and live by.

(Kendra) When is the last time you laughed so hard you cried?

(Marisa)  At my sister’s bachelorette party. I don’t know if I told you this story, but she, I just happened to be recording my little sister. All of the sudden, my older sister bust in the room, and she was like, “Don’t tell anybody, but I just threw up in my hand.” And it was just so funny and random, and so I died laughing. I started crying.

(Kendra) Would you rather by a tiny elephant or a giant Hamster?

(Marisa) This is a tough one. I think I’d have to be a tiny elephant, if I had to pick, just because there’s nothing really like that. A giant hamster could kind of be like, you know a bear, or whatever, but a  tiny elephant? That’d be adorable.

(Kendra) Your happiest when?

(Marisa) I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by the people I love, and usually out in nature.