Well, hey there! It’s time for the next edition of Q&A by the Coffee Machine, where we get to know the staff at Shelving, Inc. As a small business, every single employee plays an integral role in helping our operations run smoothly. 

Today’s feature: Rita Barvais! 

Rita is one of our newest members, beginning here in September. In fact, her three-month mark is next week!

As our customer support specialist, Rita assists the sales team with various tasks. On a typical day, she answers the phones, troubleshoots issues for customers, and follows up with vendors for the estimated time of arrival of items, as well as all the small miscellaneous tasks that come with any job. 

Growing up in Gas City, Indiana, (“Yes, I grew up in a city called Gas,” she said), Rita went to Taylor University to study business. Her dream was to go into the design industry, creating lines of figure-flattering clothing. 

While her career path has since changed, she does clothing alterations out of her home on the side. From altering wedding dresses to basic tailoring, it’s her favorite way to destress. Her plan is to continue this gig through retirement, as she’s not the type to just sit still.  

One of her most rewarding moments was when she was selected to be the costume designer/director for The Sound of Music at the Children’s Theatre Academy. As this is one of her favorite movies, she was beyond excited. “It was the experience of a lifetime to work at that level in the theatre and with amazingly talented children of all ages.” 

Rapid Fire:

• Giving presents or getting presents: Giving presents
• Favorite book: Learning to Breathe Again by Tammy Trent
• If you got a surprise three-day paid break to rest and recuperate, what would you do? Go somewhere warm and relax by the water 
• The game you’ve spent the most hours playing: The card game “Screwy Louie”
• If you could have an all-expenses paid trip to see any famous world monument, which monument would you choose? She’d go back to Washington, D.C. to see the Korean War Veterans Memorial. As she comes from a military family, it was one of the most moving things she’s ever seen.

When she’s not doing alterations, you can find Rita helping out at her church. An active member, she loves lending a hand with the kids or running its coffee bar. 

That’s all for now! Come back in a few weeks for another Q&A.