Kamille has worked at England Logistics since 2019 and is a portfolio manager with our factoring operations team.
Learn more about Kamille in this team member spotlight!
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EL:
Could you walk me through your progression here at England Logistics?
Kamille:
When I started in 2019, I was a customer service representative (CSR) for the factoring department. I then moved to the data entry team to help with more operational items. Then, I moved back into customer service. After that, I left England Logistics for about six months.
I then realized England was the place for me and came back. I was rehired as a client integration specialist three years ago. After becoming a client integration specialist, I was promoted to a senior CSR role. From there, I moved over to what we call national sales.
I helped out a specific team member; he was working on factoring, tires, and fuel. That’s what I’m working on now. I have a whole factoring portfolio. I have some clients whom I’m helping with their fuel transactions. I’m helping close out their tire invoices. Day to day, my main function is speaking to carriers and making sure that they’re getting paid and keeping them moving.
EL:
I would love for you to go a little bit more into why you decided to come back.
Kamille:
Yeah, absolutely. I left EL for about six months and became an assistant manager for a property. The work was good, but I did not feel I was making a big impact.
EL is something where I feel like I am. First of all, I have a vital role here to keep logistics moving. Second, England Logistics has great continuous improvement programs that we have going for us. It’s nice to come in and feel like you’re heard, feel like you can make a difference, and feel like you’re being supported in your personal and professional goals.
EL:
That’s a lot of interesting experience! In addition to all of that, what are your passions outside of work?
Kamille
Outside of work, I crochet a lot. I’ve been doing that for about ten years now. I really enjoy it. I also have a lot of houseplants. I have over 60 in my house, and that number is ever-growing.
EL:
Wow, that’s a lot of plants!
What would you say is your proudest achievement outside of work or professionally?
Kamille:
My proudest achievement is purchasing my first home in 2022. Of course, that was made possible by working here, getting raises, and progressing in my career. That’s been really great.
EL:
That’s a big achievement! During that period of career progression, do you have a professionally defining experience you could share?
Kamille:
I want to speak about my very first manager here. She was a portfolio manager who hired me, and I felt like she took a chance on me and coached me. This was my very first office job ever. I wasn’t well-spoken with people. I was really nervous, and it showed, so I’ve come a long way. She actually encouraged me to take a public speaking class, which has helped me quite a bit in my career and in life in general.
EL:
It’s great to hear you had such supportive leaders.
With your growth and their coaching, what would you say your ‘Why’ is at this point in your career?
Kamille:
I think it aligns with the idea of keeping logistics moving forward.
That’s our goal here. Where I have that experience in tires, fuel, and factoring, we all have that common goal of keeping our truck drivers on the road, keeping our freight moving. I think that’s something that you’ll find among everybody here at EL. We’re passionate about that goal.
EL:
What keeps you going day to day?
Kamille:
What keeps me going day to day is our clients. Trucking is not glamorous, but it’s necessary. It’s a tough industry out there for carriers. Money is tight, and margins are low. The drivers keep me going. It is urgent for us to help them with their business.
Factoring their payments, helping them get fuel discounts, and making emergency roadside calls for tires—things like that really keep me motivated because I know that they rely on us—they rely on me. To come in here every day and know that I’m making a difference—that’s what keeps me going.
EL:
Is there anything at EL professionally that has helped you personally?
Kamille:
There are certainly things that I’ve taken from EL and applied to my personal life. One big thing is that none of this is personal. That is the biggest thing. That’s honestly something that provides me with a lot of relief.
If people are angry, a lot of the time, it’s because they need help. The way that you react to a situation is a really big deal. That’s definitely something that’s helped me with relationships in my personal life as well. The way that you react and the way that you compose yourself are absolutely important, can make a difference, and are things that you can share with other people as well.
EL:
So then my next question is, when are you happiest?
Kamille:
I’m happiest at the end of the day when I feel like my job is complete.
In factoring, we pay the carriers and ensure that they stay on the road; if we don’t pay them, they could be stopped for an entire night. They may not have fuel. They can’t get from point A to point B because they rely on us. I feel happiest when my job is done, when I can see that my purchases are clear, my communications are caught up, and my carriers are well informed about what’s going on with their accounts.
EL:
That’s really critical. I can see exactly why that is something that is on your mind.
Do you have something that most people don’t know about you?
Kamille:
That’s a great question. I have autism. I think it is cool for people to see that you could be a high-performing professional, even despite some of your mental situations or anything else you may struggle with.
EL:
I think that’s a great point. It’s great to see how you are succeeding here, and it’s great that you are sharing that experience.
With all your experiences and the growth you have discussed, where do you go from here?
Kamille:
I do have some aspirations at work. Right now, I’m in a portfolio manager position and part of a leadership team. However, I don’t have anybody under me at this time. My current goal is to either move into another position or work to the point where my current position can accommodate a team under me.
I would really like to do that with England Logistics. There is a great leadership program here, and I want to be a part of that. I want to influence and motivate, maybe even some newer employees here, just to make sure that they’re doing what they want to be doing and have the support to meet their goals.
In my personal life, my goal is to renovate my house. We bought a fixer-upper, and there’s a lot to do there. We’re slowly chipping away at it. It’s a proud feeling when you have something that is your own and can make it even more your own, so I think that’s a good goal.
EL:
I’m sure with your level of dedication, it will turn out amazing.
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