Alyssa Ortiz’s Post

Life after 26 years at D&G can be rewarding.

Tomorrow marks the winter solstice. A rather fitting day to conclude my journey at PeerSpot and announce my new year comes with its own new beginning - joining the family at Point of Reference as the Vice President of Customer Experience. The solstice is a moment when Earth tilts furthest from the sun, a magical moment that means "standstill." It is often connected to new beginnings, encouraging us to self-reflect and welcome new energy to move forward with excitement and purpose. And I am ready. I'm not sure I've ever been more ready, anxious, passionate, and filled with purpose. My moment of clarity came recently - an epiphany that in order to truly take customer-led growth to a place where it needs to be, I need to impact change and ensure my colleagues are supported to move the needle forward, realign thinking about the customer experience, and then implement that change for the benefit of customers. The right people and opportunities find you at the right time, so gratitude to David Sroka for being such a force within this space and completely understanding the value of this addition to the Point of Reference Team. And to Darren Smith, Lara Wells, Jennifer Land, CCAP I, Amber T., Allison Hughes, Andrea Auten, Sara Horle, MA, CCSM, Delaney Tucker, Kelly C., Alison Stellar, MBA, Karin Dix, CCSM 2, M. Ed, and Tamra Hiltz - I can't wait to learn from you and collaborate on exciting initiatives. #peoplebeforeprofessionals #newbeginnings #customerledgrowth #customerexperience

Here’s to firsts. For approximately 16,000 associates around the world, today is the first day of employment at Veralto. For the market, it is the first day that investors can play a role in the exciting story that is VLTO. And for me, it is the first day that I step into the title of President & Chief Executive Officer.   It is an exhilarating day. A humbling day. An important day. It is a day where I feel immensely privileged, fortunate, and dutiful.   But the feeling of this first in some ways is not new to me. From my days as a young chemist to a newly minted operating company leader to a chief executive, I have often walked a path where I have felt like a “first” or an “only.” These experiences had shaped me in two important ways. First, they have made me a passionate champion for the underdogs of the universe. And second, they remind me that one of the great unifying forces of humanity is a common, important purpose.   So for me, today’s most important first isn’t about my new job or a new stock listing or a new corporate logo. It is about launching a company of purpose – Safeguarding the World’s Most Vital Resources™. It is the first day of a new organization devoted to making sure that people all over the world have clean water, trusted medicines, and safe food. It’s about running a company where every day we make a difference, perform with excellence and strive to get better.   So again, here’s to firsts. Today is the first, but definitely not the last.   Watch what we do to change the world for the better.

Some career pathways are linear 🥇 Some are entirely up, down and sidewards 📈 Either is perfectly acceptable. This shows the career heights that can be achieved with focus, loyalty and hard work. But this is also shows how organisations with a great culture, and that recognise high performance and achievements, can have incredible staff retention. Providing the right environment for personal and professional development, coupled with making the right hires, can lead to far more employees like Pano. Kudos to both! #progression #retention #growyourown

What makes Pret a Manger stand out for someone to progress through a company in such a way? What are the qualities that can be applied in every business to see this happen more?

🌞 Reflecting on the First Half of My Summer at MeltTools 🌞 The initial half of this summer at MeltTools has been both enlightening and fulfilling. A few key takeaways: 🎯 Teamwork: Immersing myself with a dedicated MeltTools team, I've come to appreciate the power of collective effort. 🎥 Innovations: Contributed to diverse goals, each presenting its own set of challenges and triumphs. 🔄 Growth: Every day offered fresh insights, shaping my skills and broadening my horizons. ⚙️ Excellence: MeltTools emphasizes quality, inspiring us to consistently aim for the pinnacle in our endeavors. My gratitude goes out to the MeltTools family for such a rewarding experience. Here's to the milestones achieved and the knowledge acquired! #FirstHalfSummerAtMeltTools #Teamwork #Innovation #Growth

Staying optimistic isn't always easy. We've all faced setbacks that leave us longing for the past or fearing the future. But what if we could reframe our challenges and cultivate gratitude instead? As I've grown in my career, I've learned the importance of focusing on the present - the good things, the small wins, and the experiences that bring a smile, even on tough days. This shift in perspective has been a game-changer, allowing me to move forward with a more positive and productive outlook. This week, I'm grateful for working with an amazing Learning & Development team at iPipeline. They are very good at fostering positivity even on the toughest days. 😄 What are you grateful for in your professional life? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's start a conversation about fostering positivity!

Joined Woxsen University, new journey started...

Celebrating is in our DNA at TPN, and this month we're marking the second work anniversary of COO Mark Johnson, who came to us when we merged with Evia in 2023. Anniversaries put people in a reflective mood, so we asked Mark to answer a few questions: The best part of my job at TPN? "Getting the chance to drive company strategy around our sales and servicing of technology for our customers." The worst part? "My distance from the lines of business outside of event technology. We are an incredible production agency, and there is so much that I have to learn about that side of the business. In our jobs, we are constantly prioritizing our focus, and sometimes we miss out on very cool things as a result. It’s a good problem to have." My first live event? "I was attending a play with my mom and sister and the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN. It was important to my mom that I be exposed to some culture other than that of the small mining community where I grew up. I remember being absolutely mesmerized by the scale of the place. It was unlike anything I had ever seen as a small-town kid from the far northern reaches of my state, and it impacted me greatly." Passions outside of work? "When I am not working, I spend my time engaged in the lives of my daughters. Much to my dismay, they are already 11 and 13 years old and I don’t want to miss a moment. Being a girl dad is the absolute best thing ever." #team #teamwork #celebrate #anniversary #events #eventsprofs #eventprofessionals #eventplanners #eventproduction #eventtech #technology #eventcreative #TPNevents

Day 3 of the Hahn-Mason Air Systems Inc Mt Mitchell Challenge = 9,780 steps for this guy. It’s short of my goal - but that’s ok, as things happen. However, I found some success, as I made good use of one of the least productive parts of my day - carpool line! As a parent of two Elementary school-age kids, I lose tremendous productivity waiting to pick up my kids in the afternoon. It’s maddening. You all know the deal … do you get there early and wait, or do you arrive later and risk the kids being annoyed that they are one of the last kids picked up? As my day unfolded, I had a break in my routine and decided to get there early. Typically, I’d mess around on my phone, just sitting there doing mindless activities. At any rate, instead of doing the usual, I parked the car in line and proceeded to walk up and down the sidewalk to get my steps in. I would have been even further behind my step goal if I had not done that. Progress! My why for today is that I’m doing this for healthy competition and accountability to my team. Healthy competition is fun! We have nine internal HMI teams, and everyone on my team is not only participating, they are thriving and making healthy choices a priority. I don’t want to let my team down! After the first two days, my team is in first place, and we want those bragging rights.