Celebrating Milestones at The Lab Depot
March 1, 2023
The Lab Depot recently had the pleasure of celebrating two employee milestone anniversaries. As a vital member of the Accounting department, Shelli Allison has been with the company for fifteen years. Matt Marshall, Shipping & Receiving Manager, has been with the company for a total of fourteen years. When asked about Matt and Shelli, CFO Jere Allen said, “We are extremely proud and grateful to have employees that have made such a commitment to our organization. They both epitomize the concept of dedication and team effort. We are a better company for their contributions over the years.” Our Content and Communications Officer, Susan Csomor, sat down to speak with Matt and Shelli about their experiences at TLD.
Q: What brought you to TLD originally?
Shelli: Due to the economy’s fall, the previous company I worked for closed its doors in 2008. I knew of The Lab Depot because they leased an office in the same complex as my previous employer. They had been working on the building in Dawsonville, and, as it turned out, they had a role they needed to fill. I had a good rapport with the owners through contact with them in Alpharetta, and Dawsonville was much closer to home. I went in for the interview, and the rest is history.
Matt: I was looking for a position in shipping and receiving at a local company, preferably a small business. I started working part-time in 2009, and as the business grew, I eventually went full-time in 2012.
Q: What is your favorite memory from your time at TLD, so far?
Shelli: I don’t know that I have one favorite. One that comes to mind involves an employee who used to sit on a yoga ball as a chair. She would bounce on it, and there was a constant squeak when she did. It was SO annoying. One day, while she was bouncing, there was a very loud “BOOM!” Like the shot heard around the world, the ball was no more. Kind of makes me think someone sabotaged the ball.
Matt: There are several. I love all of the marketing videos we have made over the years. My favorites are the videos introducing Maggie and our Arise Champions video. Another fun memory is of our owner John going around the office and giving us ice cream. We also have some great events. The holiday events are always very nice.
Matt and Shelli both agreed there have been a lot of funny, unusual situations that arise in the everyday course of life doing business. They agreed on one that occurred just after installing a new keypad entry on the building doors. At first, employees were frustrated and irritated at what seemed inconvenient. One day, an accident occurred on the road above the office. The passenger was apparently a fugitive who fled the accident scene when he realized the police were on their way. He ran down the hill to The Lab Depot and tried to get into the building. The keypad lock prevented this from happening. Instead, he ran behind the building and hid behind the large hedge of bushes until the police found him.
Q: Looking back, how do you feel that TLD has helped you grow professionally and personally?
Matt: Honestly, I can say TLD has helped me in every way. It has helped me grow professionally and personally through stability, support, and consistency. This company fosters a culture that makes us feel like a community through leadership and friendship.
Shelli: Professionally, this job has helped me learn how to navigate personalities, stay kind, and practice restraint when dealing with fellow employees and clients. Personally, TLD’s focus on company culture and how to shift and maintain it has helped me understand how a healthy business functions.
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Matt: I love seeing the different companies who are the end users of our products. I sometimes receive orders and look up the companies to see what they do. We have so many different, interesting customers. I enjoy helping get the products they need into their labs.
Shelli: I would say watching this company grow the way it has. When I started working here, we were a much smaller company. Seeing how things have grown to a much larger staff, capacity, and sales is incredibly rewarding because I have witnessed this growth first-hand.
To learn more about The Lab Depot, please visit our About Us Page.
Pictured above: (left to right) Shelli Allison, Matthew Marshall
Author: Susan Csomor
