09/22/2023
Our team members are the players who make our customers successful. It's important to acknowledge and recognize their hard work and dedication. Which is why we want to unveil the curtain and introduce you to our team! Meet Caroline Arno, our wonderful Account Manager. She was born and raised in Belgium and moved to the US when she was 25 years old. Caroline has worked here, at Monarch Textiles for over 6 years and has 30 years of experience in the corporate world. She knows all the ins and outs of MTI and can answer any question that our new hires, and even our seasoned employees, might have. Always keeping a positive attitude at work, Caroline is one of the many reasons we all love and enjoy working here. Her favorite hobbies include reading, learning, and looking after her dogs and cat.
Q&A with Caroline
- What do you enjoy about working for MTI?
"I had never worked in the felt industry prior to Monarch. My experience was in the construction equipment industry, so I am learning all the time, it makes the position very exciting."
-What’s the best advice you can give to someone who just started their career?
"Enjoy the ride and learn to go with the flow. Time flies and it is very important to enjoy the processes. You can really learn every day and those lessons can permeate through every aspect of your life."
-When you are at work, how do you motivate yourself?
"I love to overcome obstacles and learn in the process, so every day I try to improve my processes and the way I see things and do things. I particularly enjoy challenges."
-In terms of successes, which accomplishments are you most proud of?
"Very early in my career I was fortunate enough to spend 16 years in a large organization. I was very young, and it was my second job in the US; I really grew up in those 16 years. My proudest accomplishment is that when people mention the time working with me, they usually mention that they enjoyed that time and that they enjoyed working in that environment; that is what I would want to be remembered for."
-Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
"I studied business administration. My dreams were to be an archeologist, or a researcher focused on history to help people write books etc. Because of my upbringing in Europe, I have always been learning languages. When I first came to the US I was in customer service and then my next position was in sales internationally then domestically. I became involved in the operations side of the business due to the need to prioritize production etc., that lead in to running different departments and having my group assist in setting up and streamlining processes. That aspect is very fascinating to me because it is a constant quest for improvement."
-Do you have any strategies for dealing with stress at work?
"Focus on the end results it usually assists you in not worrying about the steps… And going to my coworker’s office to vent, LOL!"
-Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?
"Yes, both professional and personal to better myself all the time."
What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
"Nothing is permanent, and nothing is consistent everything is always in flux, so enjoy the good times and don’t sweat the bad times. Things will not remain the same for long both professionally and personally. Everything is a lesson, and it makes life enjoyable."
