Behind the Scenes with Katie Lira

1. Tell me a little bit about your experience with G|M.

I first started with G|M in 2006, I was 19-years-old and it was my first office job! Wow, I'm coming up on 15 years here - that's crazy! I work in our Riverside office and heard about the job opening from my mom, who worked for G|M for more than 20 years; she was a Vice President. When I first started here, I was a receptionist and then moved my way into a sales support role pretty quickly. The job used to be called "Account Manager Administrator" but has since been changed to "Job Captain." From there, I began working on larger accounts and today, I am the Assistant Job Captain Manager.

2. 15 years is a long time! What keeps you coming back every day?

I honestly just like what I do, I really do. I enjoy being a Job Captain and I think I'm pretty good at it. This job keeps me challenged and busy and keeps my mind going and I like that. I couldn't have a boring job, I would lose my mind (laughing).

3. What is one of your favorite aspects of your job?

It might sound weird to some people, but I love making quotes! I really do. I enjoy the whole process, I don't know why. Putting it all together is really fun for me.

4. What does a G|M Job Captain do, for someone who might not know?

We are the person who walks the order from start to finish. While the Account Executive works with the customer to select the furniture and workplace layout, the Job Captains are the ones on the backend making it all happen. We are the ones who take the quote to order then to install and taking care of anything the customer needs from start to finish.

5. Sounds like you are pretty busy. What do you do to stay organized?

At G|M, we have these fancy excel documents called "Dashboards," and this helps keep me so organized! Each day, I look ahead at the next day and the list of urgent tasks I need to complete and estimate how long that task will take me. It's sort of like an advanced to-do list, it's my bible. I also use tasks in Outlook quite a bit and that is very helpful too.

6. How has your WFH experience been?

For me, it's been FANTASTIC! I love working from home. I feel like I am twice as productive and just get so much more work done. In the office, there are a lot more interruptions. When I am at home, it's quiet, I can focus, and there are a lot fewer distractions.

7. Where do you hope your career takes you next?

I would like to continue growing and I hope to get into an elevated operational role.

8. What do you think separates G|M from our competition?

I definitely think our technology is one key thing that separates us. Since we have developed proprietary software, it truly is tailored to the kind of work we do and is very efficient. Additionally, our people and how much we all care. We all truly care about our clients and our people and succeeded.

9. Let's get into some fun questions! What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I'm a mom and a wife so I spend most of my time with my family - my husband and my 11-year-old daughter. The three of us are always together. We like to stay local and are always out and about.

10. What is your favorite piece of Herman Miller furniture?

It might be cliche, but I love the Eames Lounge and Ottoman. I'd love to own one someday.

11. Do you have any Herman Miller furniture at home?

Yes, I have a Mirra 2 chair. I love it, it's my favorite Herman Miller task chair.

12. Who or what has shaped who you are?

My mom. She was such a hard worker and I think I got my work ethic from her. I take pride in my work.

13. What one word describes you best and why?

Determined because I can't let things go! I'll use that word instead of stubborn (laughing). I won't stop until I find the answer. I can't leave something not done - I need to get to the bottom of it.

14. What is your favorite purchase as of lately?

Well anyone with kids knows that most of your money goes to them. So, it's pretty rare that I buy anything for myself, however - I just splurged on some AirPods and I love them.

15. Ok, last question - what is your favorite food?

Mexican food - any of it all the time. With a margarita, please. :)