I started out with Voyant Beauty in January 2018 as a level one operator of a high-speed retail liquid soap line at one of the Cortland, New York plants. I spent the next four years mastering all aspects of production on all fifteen high speed liquid lines in the building. I was also able to expand my training to include the smaller amenity lines at our sister plant, which was also located in Cortland, New York. I excelled in documentation, quality inspections and testing, troubleshooting, basic maintenance, coworker relations and customer interaction. I was well known for my positive attitude, motivational energy and constant drive to improve and break records, while consistently producing a quality product. I was even given the opportunity to learn some of the more in-depth mechanical skills during changeovers and the addition of new equipment. I had the motivation to learn how things worked and a love of learning that was greatly appreciated and encouraged with the company.

After the closure of the Cortland, New York sites in December 2022, I was given the opportunity to transfer to the Olive Branch, Mississippi plant as a level two operator in January 2023. I had the pleasure of assisting with the training of staff on the operations, documentation and maintenance of the amenity liquid soap lines that I had come to love. I also had the chance to assist with the revisions of the SOPs, paperwork and training lessons for all the departments. I was able to blossom with my own energetic style of production and training. In less than a year I had been promoted to a level three operator, and then in February of 2024 I was promoted again to the sanitizer/clean room technician. I had the opportunity to expand on my mechanical skills with the disassembly and assembly of the liquid fillers. I was able to cut the production downtime by 50% with the streamlining of the sanitization process and the trouble shooting of issues during the production run of fillers while on line.

Unfortunately, life sometimes has a way of putting unforeseen forks in our path and in June 2024 I had to make the difficult decision to leave my beloved position at Voyant Beauty and return to New York. I was able to find work at a different kind of packaging manufacturer as an operator and then as a QA line auditor. After being with this other company for just a few months I found myself extremely unhappy with the way they conducted business. I continued to stay hoping that things would improve but they only became worse. The truth is the grass is not always greener on the other side and I had come to realize that the standards that Voyant Beauty operated by were not common among all manufacturers. Realizing how much I missed the work that I had been doing at Voyant Beauty and considering that the fork was no longer in my path I made the decision to contact the production manager at the Olive Branch, MS plant to see if there were any positions available. I was told that there was a level two operator position available and after that conversation I made the decision to leave the company I was working for and apply for the operator position at Voyant Beauty. It was one of the best decisions of my life. After submitting my resume, I was contacted almost immediately and offered the level two operator position which I happily accepted. In August 2024 I started my position as a level two liquid soap operator. The journey back was a rewarding one and I was welcomed back with open arms, it felt like I was returning home. I am excited to be back with a team that takes pride in quality driven products and being back with a company that treats their employees with respect and recognition for a job well done. I’m also excited to see the addition of a new high-speed line, the increase of efficiency on the lines and paperwork, as well as the potential of new customers and products.

Whoever said you can’t go home again never had the pleasure to work for Voyant Beauty. So, if there are any other alumni considering a return to Voyant Beauty…home is waiting for you.