Jen is genius! It’s pretty fair to say that her first week on the job as fredflare.com’s new Shipping and Receiving manager was a ground-breaking one. In addition to learning her new responsibilities she offered to coordinate a photo shoot where she secured the location, cast the models, did all the hair and makeup and, when one of the girls didn’t show, willingly jumped in and took her place. This girl’s middle name is “Makin’ It Happen” and we so LOVE her for it! She’s got amazing energy and will probably be running this place in no time. We can’t wait.
Jen, we always see you rushing around. What exactly do you do at fredflare.com?
Well, believe it or not, I’m the Shipping and Receiving manager! I make sure that every order that leaves our warehouse is absolutely perfect! I do a lot of heavy lifting and I climb a lot of ladders. I’m also the makeup artist for the photo shoots. I work with Vanessa to make each and every model a total babe! When we don’t have a hot mod, I’m more than willing to step up and sport the sexy “Jen pose” as best I can, hahah! So I guess I do one job that’s super girlie and one job that’s super NOT girlie. How did you land this gig?
Last year, before coming to fredflare.com, I worked at a salon on the Upper West Side. I was the Retail Manager and Makeup Artist. I also did freelance makeup for television, magazines, and runway shows. I loved it! Then I started here as the assistant manager of the Customer Service department, and I had the best boss ever, Vanessa! Two months later the craziest thing ever happened. Chris and Keith sat me down and asked me to become the manager of the Shipping and Receiving department. WOW!! I was totally pumped and after one full minute of thinking it over I said HECK YES!!!!!!! Now I work in the warehouse a.k.a. the Fun Zone. It’s great! Sounds neat!!! But haven’t all the other Shipping managers been boys?
Yes, I am the first-ever lady manager in Shipping! But I’m totally buff – which is why my nickname is Buffy “The Chosen One”. (We love the old WB!!) I also manage 90% of the boy population here in the office, which is my fave part of the job. The guys I manage are so hard-working and dedicated. I don’t know what I would do without them, especially my assistant manager Neal. SHOUT OUT!! Another great thing about hanging with the boys is you get to hear all the deep intellectual conversations they have. For example, they’ll ask, “Who do you respect more, Criss Angel or David Blaine?” I’m sure you can only imagine how much fun we have! Besides being buff and working with the boys, what else do you enjoy doing?
My after-work time is usually spent at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. I intern one day a week there and take classes for sketch comedy and improv. If I’m not practicing, I’m usually watching performances. I also just moved into an apartment close to work and I’ve been spending a lot of time vegging on my couch watching CSI, Top Modz or any movie from the early 90’s. (Beetlejuice is a fave of the moment.) I’m also really into old school hard rock!
We noticed you say “pop” instead of “soda”. Where are you originally from?
Good ol’ Akron, Ohio also known as A-K-ROWDY. You can frequently catch me sporting an Akron tee shirt or some type of Cleveland Browns paraphernalia. I love my hometown, although I don’t see myself moving back anytime soon.
Don’t you miss your friends and family back in Ohio?
Of course I do!!! Pat and Patty – my parents and, yes, those are their real names – still live in the house I grew up in. Going home makes me have flashbacks of high school, but I love it. I do miss spending time with my little cousins, Dominic and Bianca, although showering them with gifts from fredflare.com seems to make them just as happy. I love seeing my friends and family as much as possible, so whenever I have a long weekend I drive home. Drive? Does that mean you have a car here?
Oh, yes. Her name is Rhonda and she’s a beaut! She is a red 93’ Eagle Summit, held together completely by duct tape, red duct tape to match. Someone threw a Snapple bottle into the back window, so that has a tarp on it. The passenger door falls off when you open it, the hood is held on by a bungee cord because if you go too fast it will fly up and hit the windshield. The bumper is also taped on and the tires need to be pumped after every drive. Since the back window is gone, I put a shower curtain on the seat so, if it rains, people can sit without getting damp. But I love her. She’s a beast and one of the best cars I have ever owned! We noticed you have been getting to work early lately. What gives?
Total accident! I just moved to Brooklyn, a mere ten-minute walk from work. This is a little different from my old one-hour commute from Astoria. I love it, and since I do have the best job ever, I’m pretty excited to get to work and start another day. Is there anything else you would like us to know?
Here are a few rules I live by: smile a lot, give good hugs, tell the truth, work hard, have a lot of fun, and just be nice. It feels good to make other people feel good so do your best to be a day maker everyday! Just a few of my favorite things: yacht rock, commercial jingles, Mary-Kate Olsen, makeover movies, Outback Steakhouse, Amy Poehler, Crystal Pepsi, Freaks and Geeks, Pop-up video, and swimming pools. If anyone ever wants to talk about anything, like the old WB, 90’s movies, Arby’s, Family Guy, your fave fredflare.com purchase, anything Ohio, the last CSI or Top Modz email me at jen@fredflare.com I would also love to see photos of your cars!
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