Get to Know Relyco - Mary Jo Gauthier, Office Manager

We'd like to introduce Mary Jo Gauthier, Relyco's Office Manager. This post is pretty special because it's being written on the day that happens to be her 10 year anniversary at Relyco! That wasn't premeditated (as much as we'd like to think we're that smooth). So Mary Jo is Relyco's Office Manager, but that title seems deceptively simple. In reality, Mary Jo does so much. She takes care of receiving and shipping all eCommerce store orders, stocks our office with supplies, makes all of our staff's travel arrangements and just generally keeps track of everything.

We were interrupted during this interview when someone needed a set of keys to an office. Mary Jo immediately directed them to exactly where to find the keys: "My right hand coat pocket, hanging on my chair. It's the one on the ring next to the Planet Fitness key card." Random requests are old hat to her at this point. Without skipping a beat, she turned back and went right into answering the interview question as though nothing had happened. That's classic Mary Jo: ready to help, knows the answer, then back to business. Interviewing her was a treat.

She laughed more than anyone else (as you'll see!) and it was an all-around good time.  

What three words/phrases would your friends use to describe you? Something about laughing all the time [she laughs]...fun and a good friend.

Where did you grow up? Portsmouth [New Hampshire]

What’s your favorite smell? The ocean.

Do you have a favorite pen? Yes, I do! We all know that! Because I have to use it down to the end and I have to see it. [laughs] I get very upset if someone takes it when I'm very near the end. If they take it when it's brand new, I can live with that. But when I've worked really hard at getting it down to there [gestures to small amount of ink with fingers] and it disappears, I am not happy! [more laughs]

What do you wish your customers knew? I just wish people who do online orders would capitalize their names [laughs] and their addresses. Because I get really tired of fixing them. [more laughter] They get in lower case mode and fill out everything in lower case and I sit there going capital N, capital street...it's because I just can't let it go through without the capitals. I just, I can't! [laughs]

What’s your favorite thing about Relyco? I like the size of the company. I've worked for a really small place and a really large place. And this is like Goldilocks, just right. It's in between. [laughs] I like the people. I love my job.

If you could talk to your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give? OH. We could write a book on that one! [laughs] Don't be afraid of things, don't be afraid to try things, don't worry what other people think about you. The true saying: you're never going to regret most of the things that you do, but you will regret the things that you never did or were too afraid to try.

Your house is on fire, what’s the one thing you grab? Probably my pictures.

Where is/was your favorite place to visit while traveling? Too many. I have so many places I'd like to go back to. I've been to London three times, I'd go back twelve more. I've been to Ireland. I've been to Bermuda three times, I'd go back there a bunch of times. [pause] Did you catch that island theme? Everything is an island. [laughs] And there are many more! Nantucket. Martha's Vineyard. Jeju Island in South Korea. I could just go on and on. [Asked if she's just listing islands now:] No! They're all my favorite places! [more laughs]

What’s your favorite song to dance to? That would be B52's Love Shack [laughs] or Play That Funky Music White Boy. One of those. Just awesome. Oldies but goodies.

If you could hang out with someone (living or deceased) for the day, who would you pick? I'd like to visit with the Dalai Lama.

What’s considered your specialty at Relyco? Being jack of all trades. [laughs] I know a little about a lot. [laughs] I keep track of a lot of stuff.  

We're so glad to have Mary Jo here. Whenever she goes on vacation for five or six days, she says it feels like she's provisioning a ship. Before she leaves, she makes sure that everyone is all set and won't run out of anything while she's gone. Actually, whether she's on vacation or not, we almost never run out of anything because of her watchful eye. There are always backups on hand. She keeps Relyco running like a well-oiled machine. And she does it cheerfully and with a laugh! Who could ask for more?

To contact Mary Jo Gauthier, send her an email at mgauthier@relyco.com. To contact Relyco, give us a call at 800-777-7359. You can also click here or on the button below.