TorchLight December Contractor of the Month: Liz Lalumera
Congratulations to our December contractor of the month Liz Lalumera! Get to know Liz – how she got into marketing, her dream travel destination and her best career advice.
Where did you grow up and where did you go to college? What did you study?
I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia. I started my college career at Manor College where I planned to get my Associates Degree in Business Management before going away for college. Life had other plans for me, and I decided to stay local but transferred to Penn State Abington where I completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Corporate Communications.
What did (or do!) you want to be when you grow up? How did you get into marketing and communications?
I always had an interest in writing/content and thought I’d do something that involved writing in some form. While I was in college, I interned at Pep Boys HQ and was lucky to have the opportunity to explore different areas of the business between e-commerce, corporate communications, and marketing. I instantly knew marketing was where I wanted to end up for many reasons! It allows the opportunity to be creative, and forward-thinking and is dynamic and always evolving. It’s so interesting to test out new strategies to see what performs best with customers.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love traveling and spending time with friends and family! I like to always have things to look forward to – whether it’s a vacation, a weekend trip to the beach or mountains, get-togethers with family and friends, a concert, game nights, going out for dinner and drinks, going on a hike or to local breweries with our pup Scotch, etc. I’m always trying to think of fun things to do!
Favorite food? Drink?
It’s so hard to have just one! This can also change from time to time depending on the season. I would say right now I’m loving sushi or Thai and an Aperol spritz!
One bucket list destination…
This is also VERY tough because I have so many places on the list! Since I must, I’ll narrow it down to just one. The Maldives has always been high on the list. I’d love to stay in one of the overwater bungalows.
What’s the best advice a manager has ever given you?
When finding a mentor, seek out someone that you look up to and aspire to be like. Also, go outside of your comfort zone to try new things that you might not be comfortable doing as this will allow you to learn and grow your expertise.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their career?
Work hard but know your boundaries too! Always set time aside for yourself, as needed, so you can recharge. If you’re feeling unmotivated or a bit burnt out, step away and get some fresh air or go for a walk. Sometimes even just ten minutes away can help you come back to what you’re working on with a fresh mind. Remember, we’re all human and you have to take care of your mental health so you can be the best version of yourself both at work and in your everyday life!
What work accomplishment are you most proud of?
I’d say being part of big launches throughout my career so far has been what I’m most proud of. Most recently, our team launched our new credit cards and there was a lot of work that went into it but it’s so rewarding to see it all come together!
What do you like most about being a contractor?
The work-life balance for sure! It’s nice to not have to have a daily commute and to get to check off some home chores while on my break. Also, I get to have my pup as my daily co-worker. Lastly, when I DO travel into the office it’s always so nice because I get to catch up with my co-workers that I don’t see every day and spend some quality time with the team.
What do you like about working for TorchLight?
The people! Everyone is so friendly and nice and I love having our check-ins where we talk about what’s going on at work and in our personal lives which is always fun. I feel very supported by this team.
Congratulations again to our December Contractor of the Month, Liz Lalumera. Keep up the good work! Check out our last Contractor of the Month, Rachel Arnold.