I’m not saying it makes it all worth it, but a shiny check in the mail reminds me that working at Abraham Harrison is actually a job, and not just fun and games as I regularly assume.
Thanks to Sheila Papaleo, those checks are written, processed and sent out on the regular to all Abraham Harrison team members. But that’s not the whole of Sheila’s bread and butter, she’s the operation behind all bookkeeping and finances.
On most days she works with Sara, COO of Abraham Harrison, keeping track of client accounts for invoicing and payments. She’s the gatekeeper of the bookkeeping system and accountable for ensuring that every penny is counted. She also spends a lot of time working with Chris and Mark (of Abraham AND Harrison fame), having deep talks about cash flow and other financial shenanigans.
Sheila is no stranger to bookkeeping, she’s been at it for almost 27 years now. Abraham Harrison has brought Sheila her first employment from home, which she relishes. It’s quite a transition from working in fields like manufacturing, construction and property management but Sheila says that she’s gained a ton of great experience and knowledge from working for a social media firm. I’ve also been informed, (not by Sheila, she’s far too modest) that she’s a wee bit of a movie/Hollywood/all things theatrical Goddess. If she chooses a different career path, we may just have to look for her on the silver screen.
It seems to be a common refrain among AH employees but when asked, Sheila is quick to agree that there are many “best parts” to working from home. Casual Friday becomes casual everyday with a business wardrobe of pajamas, shorts and tees. (Don’t be fooled, we’re all very stylish.) Time to to groan at your schedule for the upcoming week? Not so, since Sheila can pick her own hours. Sheila points out that this job is perfect for the current economy. “In today’s economy, working from home not only benefits the employer (very low overhead costs) but the employee (saving money on gas, business clothes, and take-out lunches).”
I’m sure all Marketing Conversation readers have noticed that President Chris Abraham can be kind of a hoot from time to time. When I asked Sheila about any past stories, she was quick to recount how she discovered Mr. Abraham’s sense of humor.
“This past January, I got to meet Chris in-person when he was in Houston. Being new to the area, I had no idea what kinds of restaurants were around, so I picked the Rainforest Cafe in Katy, Texas. I think I was a little nervous about the meeting because I totally forgot how loud it can be in the Rainforest Cafe. So, amidst the sounds of waterfalls, thunderstorms, and the animatronic animals and insects, we had a nice lunch and a great conversation (even if we had to speak a little louder than usual). I apologized about a hundred times, but I think Chris was amused at the whole situation.”
Thanks, Jenna! I’m blushing. :)