When it comes to running the National Merchants Association office smoothly, the Team looks to Hortencia Saenz.
Hortencia has been with National Merchants Association for two and a half years, and has seen the changes over the years as well as helped facilitate the more recent developments in expansion.
Hortencia is the force behind set handling all the small tasks and smoothing out the wrinkles. A Team Member needs a flight to New York for a tradeshow? Hortencia plans that and hands out the itinerary. A cocktail party needs to be planned for the Sales Team to network? Hortencia makes arrangements. Billing and invoices need to be audited? Hortencia handles that and more.
As the Executive Administrative Assistant and Office Manager, Hortencia oversees everything from the company’s finances to entire departments. Despite her many duties and the multitude of tasks she encounters every day, Hortencia says her favorite ‘task’ is employee appreciation.
“For each employee’s birthday I make sure they are hand-delivered a card signed by the entire Team,” Hortencia explains. “It’s the little things in the office that make each employee feel special and valued.”
It doesn’t stop there. A crafty person by nature, Hortencia spends a generous portion of her own time creating birthday cakes from scratch for Team Members. She customizes each cake to reflect the personality of the individual, and the entire office revels in the detail and elegance of each birthday cake.
“It’s something I enjoy doing,” Hortencia says modestly. “I know that Team Members enjoy it, and I appreciate when my colleagues feel a sense of camaraderie when they celebrate an office birthday together.”
(Photo above: A cake baked and decorated by Hortencia to celebrate the birthdays of National Merchants Association’s Underwriter, Bernadette Guidry, and PCI Compliance Representative, Mykal Thompson.)
In addition to the delectable cakes, Hortencia has created coasters for each Team Member at their desk, and has worked with National Merchants Association’s Copywriter to create personal lanyards and badges for the Team, as well as special employee appreciation events.
“Spending time together as a staff, whether it be a lunch together on a Friday, or an end of the year soiree, is important for the synergy in the office. It makes us a true Team,” Hortencia explains. “In addition to my other responsibilities in the office, I’ve been planning future employee appreciation events. I look forward to surprising the staff!”