Meet Gene Tarrant. He’s been one of our Class A drivers since 1988 and a self-proclaimed bad-ass-ador. And we agree! With 34 years of big-rig road service under his belt, he’s seen a lot, including a lot of success. As a Class A driver, his job is the last stop on the customer journey relay. A responsibility Gene takes very seriously. Delivering exceptional inventory not only reflects on the product, but the people and company as well. And Gene, well, he does a darn good job doing just that.

When asked what one word he uses to describe Ernest, Gene always replies pride. He’s proud to do what he does and proud to make people happy. Bottom line, that’s what motivates Gene and keeps him truckin’. Knowing that he’s delivering the goods, both figuratively and literally. As previously mentioned, after 34 years on the road, Gene has seen a lot. That’s why it means so much when he says the team at Ernest can get anything done. And he means anything. A lot has changed over the decades, but Gene has always prioritized customer satisfaction.

Gene loves his job at Ernest and truly believes it’s a great place to work and gain excellent career experience. He credits this belief to the good people and good managers that help make up the team. He notes, “As long as you keep your best foot forward, you’ll do well here.”

Outside of work, Gene is an avid golfer and family man. In fact, he’s been known to drive the ball like Tiger Woods. Now, that’s an impressive forward trajectory! Speaking of forward trajectories, when asked how Gene would help move Ernest forward, he replies, “I’m going to put it in the truck, and I’m going to move forward. But sometimes I put it in the truck and move backward first.” No truer words were ever spoken. Gene, thanks for being such a valued member of the team. You are so appreciated.

Ori’s official title may be Senior Design Specialist, Inner Packaging, but everyone knows he can do it all. With 30+ years of experience, he’s constantly educating clients through product training and by providing vendor info. And he’s always on the go, traveling to different divisions and working directly with the sales teams. So it’s safe to say, if you have a question, Or’s your guy.

He may have a million responsibilities on the client front, but he always has time for the 500+ people at Ernest, as well. Pick a random day of the week and you’ll find Ori mentoring our newest E-Teamers. Since he started as a packaging salesman (three different times), he can relate to the challenges people face on the road and offer advice on how to overcome them. But it goes further than just that. Ori’s there for whatever his team members need—pushing them to be successful both in and out of the workplace. His love of helping people goes beyond just those at Ernest. His idea for the next Cardboard Chaos? Shelters that can be used to help those less fortunate.

You may be thinking Ori must have more hours in the day than we do. We promise you that’s not the case. Ori just has a knack for speed. He’s quick to help and quick to solve problems. Everywhere he goes, he generates this contagious power that motivates those around him.

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that his E-Team name is “Turbo.”

His love for speed spans across all aspects of his life—driving race cars, skiing down mountains or piloting anything that moves fast in his free time. But he does slow down to read, travel and of course, hang out with his family, including his superhero dad. While his dad may not be able to fly or have his own Wayne Mansion, his powers are far more supreme. He survived the Holocaust—going on to start multiple businesses and raising a family. All without a formal education. Despite his unfathomable experiences, he remains the most positive and happiest person in Ori’s life. It’s safe to say that Ori’s dad is now our favorite superhero, too.

Family is everything to Ori. Just like it’s everything to us. Ori describes Ernest as an environment that’s belonging and welcoming. A place where people stay motivated and grow together with endless opportunities.

And while Ori may be busy working with the people of Ernest, we’re pretty sure he wouldn’t have it any other way. His favorite aspect of Ernest is? You guessed it. The people.

When it comes to learning the ins and outs of a business, there’s no better person to learn from than Chad Maroun. He started at Ernest in 2012 as a client coordinator, then worked his way up to client coordinator lead before moving on to merchandising. Now, he’s the Raleigh division office manager. And while the role may seem pretty straightforward, Chad brings the wow factor to it. He helps with the merchandising team, collaborates with the client coordinators and pinch-hits wherever he’s needed—whether that’s in the office, in the warehouse or out in the field.

But that’s not all this heavy hitter has on his plate.

Chad was one of our first members of the Ernest Brand Council (EBC). Then, he served as chair for three years, helping keep the Ernest culture thriving through COVID. One of his favorite parts of the EBC is creating a lively and fun work environment, building bonds with the team in the process. And, of course, recognizing the hard work his fellow E-Teamers put in every day. After passing the reins to Nancy Ponce this past February, Chad retired his jersey, in a sense. He’s now an advisor on the Ernest Brand Trust—mentoring current EBC members.

A big part of the Ernest culture is giving people opportunities to grow and learn as much as they want. And Chad has hit it out the park–blowing past expectations and entering a league of his own in the process.

So, it’s easy to see why the Raleigh general manager approached Chad about joining the EBC. Where Chad goes, fun and positivity follow—and food isn’t too far behind either. “Work hard, play hard” is a mentality Chad lives by. His ability to solve problems before they become challenges is nothing short of impressive. In fact, it’s how he got his nickname, “The Slugger.”

That name (which is now his official E-Team moniker) was given by his GM, who told him, “I don’t know how you keep it all in front of you—you know the pitch being thrown three pitches away.” As a lifelong Cubs fan, it’s a fitting nickname—and one that quickly stuck.

If we ever get tired of calling him “The Slugger,” we may switch to “Ironman.” Why? For one, it’s Chad’s favorite superhero. Another reason is because they’re both creative, innovative and in it to win. In his free time, Chad can be found outdoors with his family and dog, captaining his own speedboat. With Chad’s wide range of talents, it’s no surprise that he’s a busy guy. So, what keeps him motivated? That’s simple: seeing his team succeed. He’s energized by the big wins, the small wins and everything in between. This can-do mindset reminds everyone that together, we can solve it all. Chad has truly created a family mentality at the Raleigh division—making everyone feel welcome and appreciated from the second they walk through the doors.

Hats off to Chad and a standing ovation for a stellar nearly 9 years on the EBC. Here’s to many more years hitting home runs at Ernest.

Boyet is one of the newest Client Logistics Managers at Ernest. But that doesn’t mean he’s new to the game. In fact, he’s been working in warehousing for over 30 years, most recently for office supply heavy-hitter, Staples. That’s where he got the nickname “Slash,” because he wore so many hats and managed a team of over 400 employees.

Thankfully, Boyet decided to hang his ever-changing hat at our Portland division. PDX is also the place where he hangs another article of clothing: his belt. He comes to Ernest with a black belt in Lean Six Sigma, an operations method that helps teams boost performance, remove waste and reduce variation.

From Day One, Boyet has brought the inspiration. Which came from the most fitting place. The warehouse employees themselves. He encouraged his team to start every week with a new inspirational quote. A recent example? “The worst thing about being blind is having sight, but not vision.” Quotes like this not only get the team talking. They spark action. So much so that the Portland crew is now writing down what needs to be seen to fruition.

Boyet put it best, “When you write it down, you own it.”

Maybe that’s where his positivity comes from. By encouraging people to lead themselves. Always with safety and efficiency in mind, but never losing sight of the positivity, the energy or the fun. These are traits Boyet not only instills. They’re traits he embodies. He’s displayed them his whole life, since moving from the Philippines to the US in 1973, and ultimately calling the Pacific Northwest his home since 1976.

“I’ve never been part of a team more open and welcoming.” —Boyet

When we ask our employees what it’s like to work at Ernest, it’s funny how we keep coming up with the same answer, “It’s like a big family.” Which is fitting, since we’re a family-run business that prides itself on putting relationships first. Boyet echoed this sentiment, saying one his favorites aspects is the family feel. Whether its people bringing in food on a Friday or just taking care of one another in the smallest of ways, those are the big things for Boyet.

Also, being a family man himself, he appreciates the fact that his job affords him a good work/life balance. It gives Boyet the chance to spend more time with his teenage son, even more so than at of his past companies. Through his nature of being efficient—and by Ernest being open to trying new methods to streamline processes to save clients time and money—Boyet can focus on the stuff that’s important. Which is bonding with your team on the warehouse floor, then having time to enjoy your life after 5:00 p.m.

Willie Mae Irving and Diane Hughes are the first people you see when you walk through the doors at Ernest headquarters in LA. They’re the first voices you hear when you call us up on the phone. And they’re the first and last name (well, names) in kindness. So how long has this dynamic duo been at the helm with the hands-free headsets? Let’s put it this way. They both remember a potluck party a while back celebrating the birth of a coworker’s twin babies.

Those babies are now in college.

Willie Mae started with Ernest 21 years ago and after her first 12 months, she got employee of the year. Talk about a sign of what’s to come. When Diane joined the ranks a mere 19 years ago, the two began what would be the most celebrated partnership in the history of our company (Sorry, Cornflake and Porterhouse). Sure, it took some time getting used to one another’s quirks. But once they clicked, their bond was unbreakable. In fact, when asked about one of the highlights of her career, Diane remembered one particular Administrative Professionals Day when the VP at the time took the pair to lunch. He said “You two are the best in the industry.” Eight words worth roughly one thousand.

They’re the same age. They love the same songs to send them down memory lane. They drink the same amount of coffee per day: 1 cup. Although Diane likes to sweeten hers up with flavoring, while Willie Mae takes hers black. Diane describes Willie Mae as courteous, friendly and funny. Willie Mae describes Diane as thoughtful, kind and helpful. But the best definition we’ve heard so far is Lucy and Ethel from the comedy classic I Love Lucy. When people walk through the lobby, they sometimes only hear half of the joke or better yet, just find the two laughing, which just adds to the joy of coming to work every day. So who’s Lucy and who’s Ethel? It doesn’t really matter, as long as it’s a hit.

This probably goes without saying, but their ratings are through the roof.

Like many have described, Diane and Willie Mae refer to Ernest as one big family. Which has a whole lot to do with our patriarch, Mr. Charles Wilson. The two women hold him in the highest regard because, well, he feels exactly the same way in return. In fact, one of our most famous on-film moments came about almost entirely by accident. One morning, Willie Mae and Diane happened to say good morning to our CEO at exactly the same time and it came out sounding like a song. This tickled Chuck so much, they made it a regular thing. To date, he’s even known to do a little soft-shoe when they sing their A.M. tune.

He’s also known for the soft spot he has in his heart. Diane remembers the kind words he gave her when her parents passed away, “I promise you’ll get through this, even though you think you can’t.”

Willie Mae remembers his similar kind words when her mother passed away. Diane summed it up in a sentence, “When he gives you words of wisdom, you really pay attention, because he’s been through it all.” Charles’ words meant the world to both Willie Mae and Diane, adding yet another reason why it feels like family within our walls.

These two women are on the front lines. They see clients they’ve greeted for decades and greet new ones they’ve never seen before. They welcome entire teams from sales to the warehouse on a day-to-day and a first-name basis. But just like any great duo, it’s their individual strengths that add the real power to their partnership.

Let’s take Diane. She describe her superpower as making people feel welcome. She takes the extra steps to get to know all the new hires and to make sure they’re doing OK from Day O-N-E. There’s always something new going on and there’s no need to take those bad days home. “You get to start fresh,” she says. That’s what this she loves about her career here: the freshness of the work and the friendliness of her coworkers. When it is time to call it a day, you can find Diane headed home to work on remodeling her house. Or watching HGTV to get more IDEAS about remodeling her house.

As for Willie Mae, her superpower is slightly different: always be helpful. Whether she’s assisting Diane in designing the holiday winter wonderland in the lobby or helping organize an employee party, Willie Mae is all in. Outside of work, Willie Mae is a self-described homebody. She’s an avid reader and an accomplished home chef. So instead of taking out the hand-sander or the SKILSAW, she prefers to do her constructing in the kitchen. There, you can find her making recipes passed down from her family, making for one very lucky husband.

Although this duo’s strengths may differ, there’s one subject where they’re absolutely on the same page. When asked who’s the quirkiest at Ernest HQ, they responded in unison: Brian Porter. You always know when he’s in the building. You count on him to keep you laughing. And you can also always ask him a question, because he always takes the time to listen.

It’s different at Ernest. As we’ve said before, it’s like a big family. That’s what makes it so special, both to Willie Mae and to Diane. So with 40 years of combined experience, how would they sum up the whole journey in just one word? Diane took a nod from Chuck for hers, “Terrific.” While Willie May settled on, “Fun.”

We needed two words, though, to describe their dedication and unparalleled kindness.

The first one is “Thank. The second one is “You.”

When you meet Nancy Ponce, three things become clear right away: she’s caring, she’s passionate and her fashion sense is next level.

To our first point, she cares about her team and wants them to succeed. As the Corrugated Merchandising Manager, she leads the Corporate Merchandising Team at Ernest—a team of nine who collaborate with the sales force and solve problems left and right. With Nancy leading the team, we’re confident they’ll become the next generation of merchandising greatness.

The second thing? She’s dedicated to the corrugated world. Nancy took her first job at age 18 as a two-week temp, then stayed there for 15 years before joining Ernest eight years ago.

And lastly, she’ll always have better shoes on than you. More on that later…but we’re not kidding. She dresses for the success she brings to Ernest.

So, how did Nancy’s journey with Ernest begin? Well, we were one of her customers. When the opportunity presented itself, it took Ernest a while to convince Nancy this was the place for her. A combination of our charm and Nancy’s ambition eventually led to her joining our team as a merchandiser, before climbing the ladder to become a lead.

Nancy craves a challenge, cares about workplace culture and always wants to learn more, so naturally, we asked her to join the Ernest Brand Council. The EBC is all about creating a positive and fun work environment for Ernest employees—and it’s our culture that first caught Nancy’s eye. Like everything Nancy does, she fully embraced the EBC—and will officially become the Chair of the EBC next year. She’s come a long way…especially since this self-proclaimed “shy person” is now an all-star when it comes to public speaking.

The fact that Nancy always steps up and is an amazing leader shouldn’t come as a surprise. She’s a first-generation American raised by two important women—her mother and grandmother. They came from Mexico and worked hard to give Nancy a great life. And they succeeded. Having strong women raise her gave her a stronger appreciation for women in the workplace. When Nancy came to Ernest, she was thrilled to see so many women in leadership positions. She calls Greta Gaskin her “corrugated momma” and one of her role models, along with Linda Rodriguez, Anne Sioson and Beverly Hennessy.

Oh, and we have another strong woman to add to that list: Nancy’s favorite superhero, Wonder Woman. Like Wonder Woman, Nancy faces problems without fear and provides quick solutions…while wearing a killer pair of shoes. In Nancy’s case, it’s always high heels. And we’re not kidding. She LOVES her shoes. When we asked her what’s something surprising about yourself, what would you bring to a deserted island, what do you want the next Cardboard Chaos to be…all of her answers included—you guessed it—high heels. She has almost 100 pairs and can do anything in them. In fact, pre-pandemic, she raced Brian Porter while wearing heels and she beat him. Proof she can’t be stopped.

But the most important thing in Nancy’s life is her family. She’s married with two adult children and they keep her motivated to give her best—both at work and outside of the office. In her free time, she loves taking hikes and getting out in nature. And she also likes the open road. On the weekends, you might see Nancy on the back of a Harley, as she and her husband take a ride out to Huntington Beach.

Nancy’s work ethic is second to none. She has unmatched drive and meets every challenge with immediate momentum. It’s a mentality she picked up from her mom and one she still uses to this day. And she’s always hungry to learn, so it’s perfect that she leads a team of individuals who feel the same way. They bring her questions all the time, and she may not have the answer right away…but she will definitely find it for them. Her corrugated team has evolved over the years, all for the better. That said, it hasn’t come without some challenges. They’ve weathered COVID, price increases and supply chain issues together, which only improved their bond and made them stronger. With Nancy in your corner, she’ll kick challenges to the curb, then stick her stilettos into them.

“I’m hungry to learn and up to any challenge. I’m big on building relationships, so we’ll see where that will take me.”

When you meet Anne, four M’s come to mind. Mentor, multifaceted and “Man oh man, is there anything this woman can’t tackle?”Oh, and the fifth: Mom. From helping out the new recruits, to helping everybody figure out a new back-end system, to helping raise a beautiful family, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Let’s take a look at the journey Anne took and see what continues to drive her success.

Anne was born in the Philippines, then moved to the US when she was four. Her father made the difficult decision to move from a very comfortable life in the Philippines. With both a commercial fish farm and commercial real-estate business, life was good. But the politics at the time were anything but. This meant her father traveling between the US and the Philippines constantly while Anne was growing up. Meanwhile, her mother was in charge of raising three daughters while he was away. Oh, and working a full time job herself, too.

It’s no surprise that when asked who her heroes are, Anne’s quick response was “My parents.” They instilled a sense of responsibility and sticktoitiveness that stays with Anne to this day. It also drives her to live up to the three words that describe her best “Positive,” “Hardworking” and “Thoughtful.” Maybe that’s also why the superhero she relates to most is Captain Marvel. 

Before we get into Anne’s vast and varied achievements, there’s one thing that’s important to note: there’s no limit to how far you can grow at Ernest if you’re determined and stay hungry. When it comes to determination, Anne is a bona fide superstar. She began her professional career in medical device sales, which gave her the opportunity to travel the world on business.She began her tenure at Ernest as a Client Coordinator Manager, creating processes to help both her clients and her team. Always keeping in mind that establishing and maintaining relationships was key.

She then went on to become a Customer Relationship Development Manager, first working with the seasoned sales team, then focusing her efforts on helping the rookies find their footing. This is where the first M came into play: mentorship. She loved the opportunity to show the new recruits the ropes, making them stronger salespeople and client partners.

Next, Anne made her way here via Amgen, a part of Ernest Business Services. There, she honed her leadership chops by managing a team of 30 to develop marketing materials for clients.

In the meantime, Anne felt like there were just too many hours in the day. So she decided to take on a couple (OK, five) side projects. Again, deep breaths and try to keep up. She’s a member of the Ernest Brand Council. She volunteers for countless committees across the company. She tirelessly promotes Ernest culture.

AAAAAAND…SAP.

Yes, that transition to a new back-end system which was a huge pain in a lot of peoples back-sides. But Anne was undaunted by this difficult but necessary upgrade. In fact, she jumped in feet-first to create training programs, work process documentation and platform testing to make sure all the teams were set up for success.

In case you didn’t notice, we just covered the second, third and fourths M’s: the multifaceted and the man oh man.

Now, to the final M: Mom. Anne and her family recently moved to Reno, where she is currently Director of Operations. Which means at work and at home, she’s in charge. At work, she’ll roll up her sleeves in any of the Ernest arenas, whether it’s doing a delivery, cutting a PO. Literally, anything (see above). On the family front, she’s drastically cut her commute, which she now gets to spend with her husband and two sons. The kids can ride their dirt bikes, there’s more open space and Anne can enjoy time with her two boys, who are her main source of inspiration. Plus, she’s just a short hop back to LA to see family and friends.

So whether you’re down in LA, up in Reno or way over there in Raleigh-Durham, you’re likely to see and hear from Anne. If there’s a new challenge to be solved, a new committee to be formed or a new initiative to be tackled, she’s in. And if you ever want to run an idea by Anne or need a hand solving a problem or just chat, she’s in for that, too.

When you work at Ernest, you become part of the family. But when you work at Ernest for 26 years, you become part of the legacy.

Linda Rodriguez joined Ernest Packaging Solutions on the warehouse floor in the early ‘90s. She didn’t have a college degree, but she outworked everyone and demonstrated leadership skills from the start. Today, Linda is our Director of Corporate Accounting and a “Fore-mother” of the Ernest Brand Council. Some people claim she bleeds Ernest orange.

“The culture here makes you never want to leave.”

Linda knows our business and culture backwards and forwards. She started as a warehouse expediter, then learned the ins-and-outs of routing and product deliveries. And when it comes to the financials, she definitely knows her way around a calculator. But it’s been her work on the Ernest Brand Council that holds the most meaning for her.

“What we created with the EBC is really remarkable. Tim had a vision and we really ran with it.”

But Linda, or “L-Rod” as she’s known within these walls, is just being modest. In 2011, she took the reins and helped create a team of passionate individuals that are truly the keepers of Ernest culture. This group of volunteers represent every Ernest division as the eyes and ears of what’s going on within the company. And they do much more than preach culture. They fuse Ernest into one great community. By creating goals, turning small ideas into big realities, and making sure that each and every voice is heard. EBC members actively live it and inspire their peers to do the same.

Inspired by none other than Linda herself.

Linda and her co-members were responsible for creating the MVP peer recognition program, which is a special way to recognize individuals across the entire organization. And when they come together to tackle challenges big or small, they stay focused on how to boost morale, to give something back to the community, and how to encourage and educate others.

Linda’s passion for Ernest spans every aspect of her life. Her kids have enjoyed their summer jobs at the company and she even jokes that she’ll have her coffin bubble wrapped when the time comes. With her enthusiasm and uniquely Ernest spirit, she’s not only created a legacy here. She brings that same passion to her friends, her family and the community as a whole.

But it’s probably best summed up by Linda herself:
“We’re all just trying to make the world a little more Ernest.”

When a recruiter tried to sell Vanessa Dichari on a box company, she rolled her eyes and thought, “Don’t waste my time.” Then she went in for the interview. The people were great, the challenge was exciting, the fit felt right.

As a Client Relationship Manager in Portland, OR, Vanessa has fully embraced all things packaging. But what gets her most excited are the ways Ernest challenges expectations and pushes the limits. “It’s a very open-minded culture,” Vanessa said. “The people here are what make it different. And I love sharing our creative solutions with our clients, like Cardboard Chaos. Who would have thought you could build a surfboard or a guitar from corrugated?!?”

“This is a company that lets you really capitalize on your strengths.”

In just six years, Vanessa is on track to becoming a top-tier CRM, but the journey wasn’t easy. After a decade in the telecom industry, she faced a big learning curve. But Vanessa has a lot of E-Team in her, so naturally, she faced the challenge head on. In true Ernest-like fashion, she innovated to solve problems for our customers, which made her story compelling, and opened a lot of doors.

Vanessa continues to build a successful book of business that’s breaking records month after month. She loves helping her clients find solutions for their unique problems or just simply giving them better options. Her story is living proof that you should never underestimate the power of perseverance.

Today, Vanessa remains focused on building her book, but is equally focused on finding balance in her life. Which is why she takes time out to pursue one of her top personal goals: traveling. Her favorite spot? Thailand. She loves the people, the serenity and the quality of life. Not to mention the fact that it’s a place many people wouldn’t expect her to go.

This makes complete sense, of course, because delivering the unexpected is one of her true strengths. It’s all part of staying committed, staying balanced and going above and beyond for her clients. With Vanessa, that’s one thing you can always count on. When it comes to exceeding expectations, expect her continue to lead the way.

For our Las Vegas-based client relationship manager Kyle Hand, the keys to success in sales are work, routine, and discipline. “If you put in the effort,” he says, “you’ll see the rewards.” When you’ve spent six years in the military and earned a Bronze Star like Kyle has, it’s pretty clear that putting in the effort is in your blood.

While Kyle doesn’t like to talk about it, his military service record is impressive—and humbling. He joined the Army after going through a rough patch in his teens, clashing with his parents, and being kicked out of the house before eventually dropping out of school. He went on to earn his GED, but soon found himself at a crossroads, unsure of what to do next. Living in San Diego and having both a grandfather and stepdad who were in the military, he decided to join the Army. After completing his basic training, Kyle was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, when the 9/11 attacks saw his fourth infantry division deployed to Iraq. He was 21.

“It was an eye-opening experience,” says Kyle, who was deployed for three of his six years of service. Just two months into his first tour, his unit came under “active engagement” while on night patrol. Kyle pulled in a wounded buddy while under fire, gave him first aid, and called in medevac—all while fending off the group of 10 to 15 men attacking them. Kyle’s actions that day earned him the Bronze Star, a medal awarded for heroic achievement or service in a combat zone.

Despite how hard being deployed in an active combat zone was, it wasn’t all bad. At the same time Kyle was in Iraq, his brother was off the coast on a Navy ship and his stepdad, who was in the National Guard, was also on the ground in Iraq. About six months into his tour, Kyle was on a mail run when he got word that a nearby unit was under attack. He went to help suppress the enemy and provide first aid. When he saw the license plate of the vehicle that was under attack, he realized it was his dad’s unit. He ran around to the other side of the truck, and there he was.

“I ran up and gave him a big hug,” Kyle says. “After that experience my relationship with my parents did a complete 180. I earned their respect, and all our problems went away.”

While his actions were heroic, his time in Iraq also left him with PTSD. After his second tour, during which he lost several friends, he left the Army to pursue his education. He continued to give back though, working as a military analyst at the national training center for six years where he helped prepare soon to be deployed troops for what to expect. He was even promoted to the Department of Defense. But after meeting his wife and having his two sons, Kyle was ready for a change. “I didn’t want to be defined only by being military.”

Kyle completed his degree online and moved his family to Las Vegas, where he worked in HVAC and as a maintenance engineer at Bally’s before finding his place at Ernest. While he still talks to vets in support groups, today his focus is on the future, not the past. “It’s something to be proud of, but not something to brag about. You push on, work your best, and provide for your family. I just want to make sure my boys are raised with respect and dignity.”

We’re proud to call Kyle a member of our family and we couldn’t have more respect for what he’s accomplished—both then and now. As for the secret to his success in sales, that’s easy.

“My customers trust me because they know I’ll take care of them. If I tell someone I’m going to do something, I do it.”

On behalf of everyone at Ernest, we want to thank Kyle and all the men and women who’ve served in uniform.

Faye Buchheister is not your average client relationship manager. In fact, when it comes to sales, she’s in a league of her own—endlessly energetic, passionate, dedicated, and driven. Maybe that’s why her team calls her the Mickey Mantle of packaging. Many of them will tell you that they wouldn’t be where they are today without her leadership and support.

Faye is the first one up in the morning and the last to leave at night. She’s friendly, resourceful, independent, and has more integrity in her little finger than some folks have from head to toe. Despite the fact that she’s our number one client relationship manager—not just in her division, in the whole company—you’ll never hear her boasting about it. And that makes her success even sweeter.

Just like Ernest’s founding fathers (or rather, brothers) Faye built her business from the ground up. She got her start in packaging as a secretary for Union Paper Co, where she learned the ropes by doing the work—hers and everyone else’s. She recalls, “I was the ‘Girl Friday’ with three sales people. I’d make outside calls, then I’d go back in and do everybody’s paperwork for them, too.” She was quickly promoted to be a salesperson, and when they needed a new manager she raised her hand. That meant in addition to spending hours each day making sales calls, Faye was buying product, handling trucks, negotiating deals, and running the whole organization.

When Union Paper was sold, Calvey Packaging in Sacramento contacted Faye to see if she wanted to open a division in Reno. Always committed to her clients, she started working her territory from her house (more Ernest parallels). Once again, Faye was doing it all—selling, buying, ordering and organizing. Her operation soon outgrew her kitchen, and she started hiring administrators and sales associates who were as driven as she was. She found a warehouse to move into and officially opened the Reno branch.

Many of the folks she brought on board at Calvey stayed with Faye for the long haul. Her sales partner, “Big Al” Dart, who worked with Faye at Union Paper Co, Calvey, and Ernest, says, “Faye always gave everyone a chance, and a lot of people here wouldn’t have been successful without her. She treats everyone with great kindness, no matter what position they’re in. She’s so good to us all.”

Twenty-two years ago when Ernest acquired Calvey, Faye decided to “see where this goes” out of dedication to her customers and her team. (What a lucky day for Ernest.) It’s that commitment that got her to the top, and her drive to do the right thing for her customers that keeps her there.

Faye loves getting up early to get her paperwork out of the way so she can hit the road and start making her rounds. “I love people,” Faye says, “and I love my customers.” She makes sure she sees all of them in person at least once a week, often more, and has long relationships with many of her accounts that span years, sometimes decades. Faye loves working for Ernest because no matter how big we get, we still have what she calls the, “independent Wilson flavor.” (Sounds a lot like her.)

“All my customers know when it’s Faye Day.”

Working with people for over 30 years has taught Faye a thing or two—not just about people, but also about life. Like how to enjoy it while also doing the best job you can. These days Faye is a dedicated grandmother as well as a golfer, a watersports enthusiast, a traveler, and a chef. Once upon a time she was even a competitive speed skater. (She’s originally from Grants Pass, Oregon.) She’s been to almost every state in the country and is looking forward to even more traveling and golf in the future.

So what’s the secret to Faye’s success?

“It’s simple: Tell people what you can do. Give them true expectations and follow through. If you have an issue with a customer, go deal with it right away—no matter how hard it is. They’ll respect you, you respect them, and you can have a few laughs along the way. It doesn’t have to be difficult. It’s all about being a team and seeing what you can do.”

Sounds like good advice to us.

Kristin is the Manager of the new Corporate Communications department at Ernest and her drive has become the stuff of legend at HQ in LA. She’s driven by her immediate family. She’s driven by the strong women who’ve inspired her to keep striving for excellence. She’s driven by the need to see her team succeed. And if you’ve ever bumped into her in the breakroom, you know she’s driven by something else, too: coffee. Although with her positive energy, it might actually be the coffee that’s getting a boost from her.

Raised in the small beach town of Santa Barbara, Kristin was the oldest of five children. Which meant babysitting. Which meant missing out on some stuff that other sibling-less tweens and teens could do. But those lost hours at the mall or the movies pale in comparison to the life lessons she gained from being a big sis. It taught her independence and responsibility. And of course, the importance of family. Which, like so many others, is the word she uses to describe working at Ernest.

So as Corporate Communications Manager, what does Kristin do, exactly? Short answer: she communicates. In fact, she holds a college degree in it. Which comes in extraordinarily handy when dealing with campaigns, marketing collateral, event planning, graphics and text, company announcements, launches, initiatives, travel and Insider content. It’s also very useful for another, much simpler reason. It helps her connect with people. Especially her very small team of three. Her words about them were this, “I wouldn’t be where I am without their support. I love them.” We have the sneaking suspicion the feeling’s mutual.

One of the reasons could be that Kristin has held every job in Corporate Communications. And, little known fact: she started at Ernest as a temp. This background of starting from the ground up helps her relate to the ones she works alongside.

Because she’ll never ask for something that’s unrealistic. Simply because she’s done it before. Hers is the type of story that’s so completely Ernest. Proof that humble beginnings, hard work and hands-on is a real recipe for success. To this day, Kristin prides herself on keeping an open line of communication with her team, collaborating with open arms across divisions and always staying open to new projects and opportunities to grow.

Now, let’s get down to the fun stuff. She was stumped by one of the interview questions, “What is your E-Team name?” So what did she do? She opened it up to her team. And they gave her one with some serious muscle. KV-12. You know, like V12. Like the engine. When asked what the next Cardboard Chaos creation should be, Kristin fielded that one all by herself: a cardboard robot. But not just any paper-and-epoxy android. She suggested a BARISTA robot to brew and deliver coffee to the employees of Ernest. When you put those two answers together, you understand what makes her inspirational engine roar.

When she’s not working with her Ernest family, she’s still surrounded by family. With a loving daughter and a husband who’s one of seven kids (that’s 12 in-laws and outlaws total, if you’re keeping count), there’s a lot of love to go around. And being in LA, there a lot places to go to spread it. Kristin loves going the beaches, parks, museums and sporting events to take full advantage of what the City of Angels has to offer. In fact, ever since she was a little girl from the sleepy little seaside town, she’s always been attracted to the big city.

We’re thankful for that. That she made the two-hour migration down the coast 10 years ago. That she walked through our doors nine years ago. And that we’ll be able to keep learning and growing with her for many, many years to come.