Rebecca Allen

Where are you based?
I am based in Louisville, Kentucky, and work for Radial’s Tradeport 2 facility.

What is your role at Radial?
I am an Operations Systems Specialist, also known as a super user.

How long have you been with the company?
I’ve been with Radial for nine years and ten months.

How has your career grown since starting at Radial?
I started as a seasonal packer in the fall of 2012 and worked throughout the peak season. After peak season, I moved around departments as needed and ended up in Tradeport 1 in the returns department. In 2013 I was hired full-time and assumed the seasonal peak lead role for Tradeport 2.

After I assumed the role of onboarder, I worked closely with seasonal employment agencies. For instance, I gave new hires a tour of the facility and ensured that all our systems had their personal information. I was also in charge of showing new employees our safety videos before their first day on the floor.

In 2016 I transitioned into a pack lead role and became a wave planner the following year. The wave planner role is very complex. It entails grouping incoming orders for picking, packing, and slotting placement. Then in 2019, a position for an operations systems specialist became available, and I jumped at the opportunity.

Are there any notable mentors or peers you feel have contributed to your growth/ success?
Many come to mind, but I’d like to highlight Bill Black, Resolution Supervisor, and Chris Epley, Site Director. Bill is helping me learn structured query language (SQL) and has been available to troubleshoot building reports and explain data and key trends. Chris has given me some excellent guidance on the role and is continuously supporting me grow in my career.

What does your day-to-day look like? What are the primary responsibilities of your role?
The operations specialist’s role is very technical. The central part of this role is to monitor the systems we use throughout the warehouse and troubleshoot them if needed. We’re resident troubleshooters.

I begin my workday by inspecting that all our systems are running smoothly and aim to prevent any halts from occurring that may suspend activities. At the facility, we have a voice-activated system that our pickers and packers use; we also inspect the system to ensure it is functioning properly. Then I typically dive into research from the previous day, particularly looking at orders and unit volumes. We use this data for historical purposes and reference it to predict similar sales. Afterward, I send out a metrics dashboard that captures productivity from the previous day. Throughout the workday, I always look for any issues and aim to troubleshoot them.

I work closely with our client, a health and beauty brand, to set up our warehouse in zones for upcoming sales. For example, when this client has semi-annual sales, we map out hot zones throughout the warehouse as orders are processed. We also work with the corporate Radial offices to test any new implementations or system changes at our site.

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?
I have a strong work ethic and am passionate. My role requires a lot of expertise, and I enjoy tackling the challenges that emerge along the way. There’s always something new to master and being an operations systems specialist allows room for growth and development.

What is your favorite part of your job/ what do you like most about working at Radial?
Every role at Radial has challenged me in one way. Every time I overcome an obstacle; I have learned something from it. It offers me the opportunity to look back and gain a greater understanding of how Radial works. I also like that I’m constantly learning.

Where do you see yourself within Radial in the next few years/ what are your goals?
I am a technical person and who would like to continue learning and hone in on my expertise. I just started learning SQL, which helps me build reports, queries, and data more efficiently. I am huge on sharing knowledge with other people, so I see myself continuing to share my skills and experience with my colleagues.

What is your favorite non-work-specific thing about your job? (i.e., breakroom games, onsite activities, awards, colleagues, etc.)
I enjoy our awards ceremonies and the annual picnics. It’s lovely to meet and engage with colleagues outside of work and get to know them as individuals outside of a workplace setting.

What is one word you would use to describe working at Radial?
Rewarding. I have grown so much since I’ve been here. I’ve been able to fulfill many roles and gained so much knowledge. I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had.

What is the best career lesson you have learned so far?
The best career lesson I’ve learned so far would have to be – work smarter, not harder. I am always open to exploring new ways of getting projects complete, all while using the resources I have available to me. If I’m ever stuck, have difficulties developing a report, or am ideating on running new reports but am unsure where to start, I can ask around. Most of the time, someone else likely has a way of doing said task.

What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?
I love taking pictures of nature and being outdoors. I go on hikes and love photographing cloud formations, waterfalls, etc.

What is one thing you can’t live without?
Aside from family, I can’t live without music. Music can tame you and bring back memories. I love oldies from the 50s or 60s, 80s rock, country, musicals, and acapella to name a few.