goTRG is made up of more than 2,000 diverse teammates across the globe operating under one vision: to revolutionize returns. With experts in every field from software and engineering to ecommerce and supply chain, we want to highlight the skilled teammates who elevate this company’s mission every day. So each month, we’ll hand over the metaphorical mic to a new goTRG teammate so you can better understand who we are and how we continually evolve as leaders in the industry.
Process Engineering Manager
Aysia started working at goTRG in the summer of 2018 as a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) writer, based in Bentonville, AR. Straight out of college, she arrived ready to put her training to work and learn more about goTRG’s unique process for managing returns. While reflecting on the significant growth she’s achieved since, Aysia realized she’s thrilled to work for an organization committed to teammate development.
Over to you, Aysia...
When I applied for the position in Bentonville, I had just completed my associate’s degree, and I was looking for real-world experience to guide my career path. I stumbled upon goTRG’s technical writer job and was attracted to the opportunity to explore various topics in an industry I knew nothing about.
When I first started, one aspect I immediately loved was the broad range of exposure to departments throughout supply chain and production. The mystery of goTRG was slowly coming into focus with every SOP I wrote, and I found it so fascinating. I also enjoyed shadowing the teammates to get a keen understanding of how to document their critical processes. During that time, I walked down the aisles of my local retailers, thinking to myself, “How cool. I wrote the testing and packaging SOP for this product!”
Over my first year, I truly enjoyed learning and was excited to keep growing with the company. Fortunately, management recognized my potential. Denis Houle, Regional Quality Manager, promoted me to Document Control Associate, and in that new role, I helped write SOPs for other facilities and implement an Operations SOP tracking system. Denis taught me a lot, and he wanted me to keep advancing. So, at his encouragement, I transitioned to become an Operational Process and Procedure Analyst. Wow, did things move fast from there.
As an Analyst, I got the opportunity to travel to our Palmetto, GA facility for the most exciting and challenging project yet. Led by goTRG’s founder and CEO Sender Shamiss, and aptly named the Get-Well project, its goal was to gather experienced and talented leaders to optimize one of the company’s new returns programs. I represented the SOP team.
The work was grueling, but I loved a good challenge, and I was determined to do well. Over several months and 14-hour days, I helped write countless SOPs for departments and personalized SOPs for individual roles. goTRG wanted every T crossed, and I worked around the clock to get it done.
To my surprise, Sender noticed my passion and determination. In the middle of a group meeting one day, he called across the room to ask if I wanted to work with his team in the Miami Headquarters. I was shocked and so honored. Ultimately, Miami wasn’t in the cards for me, but Sender’s request evolved into a brand-new role thanks to Tom Baum, my manager, and the Director of Supply Chain Solutions. That was the start of the next step and my current role as a Process Engineering Manager.
As a Process Engineering Manager, I manage the SOP program for Operations and have my own team to oversee. Truthfully, I was nervous at first because I was learning how to be a manager for the first time. Fortunately, the skills I obtained from previous positions really helped. I also have a great team, and they made it easy.
Still, I think I’m most excited about how this role has increased my exposure to Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma Principles, driving process improvement and eliminating waste. Denis Houle first introduced me to Lean and Six Sigma as a Document Control Associate. In my current role, Jessica Colon, an incredible Industrial Engineer, has taught me even more about how to apply these principles. Under her guidance, I just completed my first Kaizen event.
During this three-day intensive workshop, we brainstormed about improving the SOP program by speaking with writers and stakeholders. We also utilized Lean Six Sigma tools to figure out our challenges and solutions and how to implement them. Now we’re beginning a 90-day process to execute what we discussed.
At the risk of sounding nerdy, I love looking at processes and determining how to improve their flow. Hopefully, this Kaizen event was just the beginning of many more to come. And hopefully, one day, I’ll be leading them, perhaps as an industrial engineer.
What’s exciting is that anything is possible at goTRG. The opportunity to develop professionally here is unmatched. The culture is so supportive of every teammate and their voice. I love that leadership is always open to hearing my ideas because, in the end, their only goal is continuous improvement.
Not only does goTRG want to lead the world in returns management and reverse logistics–they want to do it in the most sustainable way possible. That, to me, is huge. Before joining goTRG, I had no idea how wasteful returns could be. Now that I know, I’m so proud to work for a company that saves millions of products from landfills every year. It’s a great mission to get behind.
