Spotlights
Spotlight: International Women’s Day with Trudy-Ann Lemonius & Elle Arruda-Hackney
At Amergis Healthcare Staffing, our team members are at the heart of everything we do. Each month, our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) board highlights stories of Amergis employees who demonstrates our core values.
Every year, on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day to honor the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also advocating for gender equality. In this spirit, the D&I team wanted to highlight the experiences of the women here at Amergis. The team spoke with Trudy-Ann Lemonius (Director – Employee Relations) and Elle Arruda-Hackney (Director – Payroll) to learn about their career journeys and any insights or perspectives they have on navigating the workplace. Here’s what they had to say!
Trudy-Ann & Elle’s Career Journeys
Can you share a bit about your background and what inspired you to pursue your current career?
Trudy: “I had no aspirations of working in Human Resources. I really liked Journalism growing up and always thought that is where I would be. I loved the investigative, research and interviewing aspects of Journalism and watching a story unfold effortlessly through great interviewing techniques, astute information gathering and seamless interaction between an interviewer and their guest. So, in terms of my background, my undergraduate degree is in Mass Communication, and I began my HR career at a bank (National Commercial Bank, Jamaica) which to this day remains one of my all-time favorite places to have worked in part due to the lifelong friendships I formed. The HR role that led me to stay in the field was my time at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center that was on Patapsco Avenue in Baltimore. That is where I really saw the joy, frailties, and unpredictability of the human spirit.”
Elle: “I stumbled into my payroll career accidentally. I was working in customer service at a small mortgage company and was giving in opportunity to expand my duties with payroll being one of them. Within a year the small mortgage company was no longer small. My main focus was payroll, and I loved it. I know people think payroll sounds boring and some of it can be tedious, but it is also very rewarding. Let’s face it, compensation and pay are driving factors in why employees choose to work for organizations. In payroll we can directly impact our employees by paying them accurately, in a timely manner, and resolving any pay questions quickly. The best aspect of my role, however, is not payroll. It is getting to work with such a dynamic team. Within Payroll we have roles that focus on the technical piece of transmitting payroll, others that are calculating pay in and outside of the pay period, others that are registering and applying payroll taxes and garnishments, and others that are working with our employees and keying data. With such extensive duties and roles, we have a diverse team that brings such varied experiences. Working together to enhance our process or on team projects I always gain new insights and ideas that I would not have thought of and is always the highlight of my day.”
What barriers, if any, have you faced during your professional career due to being a woman, and how have you overcome them?
Trudy: “[My] challenges have less to do with gender, but more with the evolving landscape of HR and the changing needs of the employment arena. The challenges I have encountered have more to do with organizations recognizing the changing role of Human Resources and all its disciplines. It has long moved from the administrative corner of decades ago to one that is more proactive, and I may say active, in helping to design, guiding and cultivating an organization that is seen as an ‘employer of choice.’”
Elle: “One of the biggest challenges I have faced as a women and mother is balancing work and life. I feel that women take on the responsibility of being the main caretaker for the family and balancing both demands can be very tricky. A co-worker shared with me the ‘Five Balls of Life’ speech by ex-Coca-Cola CEO Brian Dyson that really helped me regain some balance. My aha moment from this speech was that I didn’t have to keep trying to keep them all in the air, and if a drop the right ball, it will not be the end of the world. I just had to know which ones could be dropped without breaking. I use this theory often, and expand it to help my prioritization, if the task/project/life event is made of glass it takes top priority.”
Who are some women that have inspired you throughout your life and career?
Trudy: “Over the years I have been inspired by a couple women too numerous to mention here the more I think about it. I am generally inspired by women who are genuine, resilient, kind and love unconditionally (one of whom is my mother-in-law).”
Elle: “There are so many women who have inspired me throughout my life, like Eleanor Roosevelt, Michelle Obama, Amila Erhart, Jacinda Ardern, Joan of Arc, Sally Ride, and my mom! However, if we are narrowing it down to one, it would be Patsy Mink. Growing up learning my alphabet M was for Mink. Patsy Mink was the first woman of color elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress. She championed causes supporting women, education, and childcare. She introduced the Early Childhood Education Act and was one of the authors of Title IX which protects sex discrimination in education allowing women athletes the right to equal opportunity in sports. I have always admired her determination and integrity but most of all her tenacity, she never gave up even in defeat.”
What achievements are you most proud of?
Trudy: “My immediate family.”
Elle: “Watching my team members grow and develop is the thing that I am the proudest of. One of things that drew me to Maxim/Amergis was the culture of promotion and development. There are so many success stories here, in fact our Payroll Manger and Payroll Team Leads all started as payroll processors and have grown into leadership roles. One of the first people I met here at Maxim was a newly promoted Payroll Team Lead, she is now the director of Benefits and HRIS at Maxim. I am very proud that I have played a small role in their growth and achievements. And personally, my boys!”
What’s your favorite dish to cook or enjoy eating?
Trudy: “Well, seeing I am from Jamaica, it goes without saying that my favorite dishes to cook are oxtail with rice and peas, ackee and saltfish with either fried or roasted breadfruit and steamed snapper with everything on it – carrots, bell peppers, and okras.”
Elle: “I love making appetizers. Everything from dips to wings to bruschetta is my favorite!”
How do you stay motivated and continue to grow in your career?
Trudy: “I love to learn, and I take every opportunity I get to keep learning whether formal or informal (there is a lot of learning to be acquired via Youtube)”
Elle: “My team is my biggest motivator. Surrounding myself with creative, talented, and empathetic people keeps me inspired.”
What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter your field?
Trudy: “In this or any field, you must have a passion or a zeal or some underlying attachment that makes you want to be in this field. It can be unforgiving, so try not to take everything as a personal attack. Be open to other ideas and possibilities, it is almost always never as it seems.”
Elle: “Find a mentor! Ask the questions and keep learning.”
How do you balance your professional and personal life?
Trudy: “This has improved quite a bit in recent years. I consciously prioritize personal life by placing boundaries, when feasible on the time dedicated to work.”
Can you share a memorable experience or project that had a significant impact on you?
Trudy: “I have had a couple, but the one that is most memorable would be my time at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center where I worked primarily with men and a few women who abused drugs/alcohol and were on the path to recovery. There are few things more gratifying than to see people who were broken trying to rebuild their lives and hearing the stories behind their addiction, seeing the triumph and pride on their faces and seeing their families embracing them again.”
What role do you think mentorship plays in professional development, and have you had any mentors who made a difference in your journey?
Elle: “Mentorship has been critical to my development. I have had some amazing mentors that have really helped me grow. Having someone that truly cares about your growth, and provides honest feedback was a key for me.”
What are your hopes for the future of women in your industry?
Elle: “My hope for women leaders is that continue to support each other through mentorship and role modeling. That more women feel comfortable taking the jump to leadership and bring their unique perspective to the workplace.”
Fun Facts About Trudy-Ann & Elle
What’s something exciting or fun you love to do on the weekend?
Trudy: “Spending quality time with my family in any capacity, spending time by myself and loving the silence.”
Elle: “I love to read. I will read everything but right now I have gotten into the fantasy if there is a dragon in it, I am reading it!”
Is there an animal whose qualities or traits you feel particularly resonate with your own characteristic?
Trudy: “Snake – calm unless they are bothered/disturbed.”
Elle: “I love elephants, I am pretty sure it has to do with my name. I love that elephant herds are made up of family units and are matriarchal. They are a very tight-knit species that all work together to meet their needs and raise their young. They have incredible social skills and even mourn their dead. I also collect elephant everything and have over 10 in my office”
We want to share a heartfelt thank you to Trudy-Ann and Elle for sharing their amazing experiences with us for International Women’s Day!
Join the Amergis Healthcare Staffing Team and Make a Difference
Amergis Staffing always has a wide range of available opportunities for people who are ready to accelerate their careers. We embrace employees from all different backgrounds and always strive to foster a welcoming work environment by following our core values of:
- Promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Winning with integrity and trust.
- Prioritizing quality.
- Investing in development.
- Championing innovation.
- Driving for results.
Learn how you can join the Amergis Staffing team by reaching out online or visiting our jobs site today.
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