As a former member of the Culture & Engagement Committee, I am passionate about bringing staff members together. We spend more time with our coworkers than we do with our family and friends, so why not enjoy that time together?

I took ownership of our first internal staff newsletter, which was sent out to 100+ staff members on a monthly basis. Utilizing MailChimp software, this newsletter highlighted company news, department updates, and staff's personal accomplishments. I received positive feedback from my colleagues, noting that the newsletter is " both professional and fun" and "something they get to look forward to every month."

Another initiative that I had created on behalf of the Culture & Engagement Committee is "Themed Friday." Once a month, staff members participated by dressing according to the chosen theme, such as "Company Swag Day" and "Holiday Sweaters." With over 100 staff members spread across San Diego County, we had struggled with feeling connected. Despite being apart, we could feel unified through our themed Fridays.

When talks about having a birthday party for our two canine colleagues spread around the office, I jumped on this opportunity to make it an exciting celebration for staff members. Our office dogs were an integral part of our team, helping alleviate our stress and being a source of fun and ease in the office. The invitation I designed sparked a lot of laughter, and the event brought a lot of joy to our work week.