maria schaner smith

I took advantage of our mentorship program to explore opportunities in People Operations. With the guidance and support of my amazing mentor I gained promotion to the Employee Experience & Engagement team. My transferable skills in resident support, event planning, & vendor management yielded a smooth transition. Under managers and colleagues willing to teach beyond a quick answer coupled with curiosity, I quickly strengthened skills in Excel, Jira, & Google Workspace and realized potentials in powerful HRIS systems. Delighted to perpetuate our progressive diverse & inclusive culture, I provided compassionate comprehensive employee life cycle support & engagement while leading collaborative projects, outlining policies and procedures, and prioritizing harmonious cross-functional workflow.

My Eureka moment!

In learning the Workday system and assuming ownership of HRIS data changes and audits in averaging 75 actions per week, I found the intellectual challenges I was missing since leaving my work in the vehicles. Partnering with People Analytics exposed me to a team filled with brilliant data scientists and IO psychologists having incredible conversations that I never knew existed. I discovered the power of data as a driving force to bring about organizational changes in diversity, inclusion, gender equality, and well being that I have always been passionate about and realized this is where the change begins! With a newfound appreciation for the importance of data accuracy, I became passionate about implementing collaborative methods to ensure it. This lead to my increased interest in exploring automated processes to help realize HRIS potential.

Having carved out a solid path towards continued growth in a company creating brilliant technology towards a mission I believed in, surrounded by amazing people in a culture I was proud to perpetuate, I lost something I loved with the closure of Argo AI.

Relentlessly optimistic, I am keeping my chin up & mind open as I'm searching for that next doorway to a world of possibilities! Could it be yours?

Intrigued by the title, I initially took on a part-time Scotch & Whiskey Mentor role, which combined my newfound love of golden spirits & passion for connecting with people to share new experiences. Evolving to include increasing brand awareness & sales for a full spectrum of top tier global wine & spirits. Consistently met or exceeded sales goals at 100% of tasting events, while creating engaging customer experiences, forging strong vendor relations, and ensuring marketing standards are being met. After pausing during the pandemic, I have re-entered the scene with a new company!

Pausing to reflect, I was unsure of my next steps having just made an industry leap thwarted by the pandemic. In looking for out of the box opportunities, I knew I wanted:

* Preferably Remote or hybrid, however, onsite was considered for positive impact that couldn't be done remotely

* A diverse & inclusive culture that valued employee well being

* A mission with profound impact & values that I believed in

* Growth opportunities with a culture that perpetuated it

I found everything I was looking for and more as I joined the Fleet Operations at Argo AI! Testing mind blowing autonomous vehicle software, I found myself working at the forefront of technology I never dreamed I would be a part of. The training was intense and required me to step way outside of my comfort zone. My family thought I was insane pursuing a job as a highly skilled professional driver. However, once I set my mind to something, I rarely accept defeat.

This role required extreme forms of: focus, communication, analytical skills, patience, and the ability to perform under pressure. Supported by an absolutely amazing group of trainers, colleagues, and managers, I was able to persevere to become a contributor in the ground breaking testing, training, and development of our Single Driver platform & a proud member of a brilliant team!

Following my no fault layoff during property sale, I took a leap to the Corporate Travel industry on the advice of a resident whose job I always envied. With no previous experience, one year in a high volume call center was required, after which there was much room for growth as well as remote work. Following rigorous training in Apollo GDS, a global distribution system, I provided stellar client relations for employees of Canon Medical, PPG, Toshiba, & Westinghouse. Success meant efficiently utilizing the travel management software to complete all inclusive corporate bookings. My ability to effectively communicate on all levels while maintaining composure and offering quick resolutions during stressful travel disruptions proved valuable. Growth opportunities were being explore after only 7 months which were unfortunately derailed by the pandemic. Having experienced my second no fault layoff as a result, I decided I could not wait for the industry to recover.

Honored Best of Best Apartment Excellence Awards 2016, 2018!

• Resident Services Manager, 04/2017 to 06/2019
• Leasing Manager, 10/2015 to 04/2017
• Resident Concierge / Leasing Consultant, 06/2015 to 10/2015

I grasped an opportunity while touring this complex to ask the manager if she was hiring (much to my then 16 year old son's embarrassment). With no prior experience I successfully assumed leasing for this 376 unit luxury apartment starting an amazing four year journey with an amazingly supportive manager to ultimately partner in all aspects of managing this property from construction to a flourishing community. Charged with growing and occupying a huge complex in a down market, effective corporate outreach and creative marketing initiatives were vital. A small team in a huge complex dedicated to providing stellar resident experiences made collaborative efforts, creative problem solving, and efficient resolutions paramount in meeting sales goals. Leading re-assessments and process improvements I increased Market Rents by 7%, and decreased turnover rate by 50%. Living onsite, my tenacious dedication as proactive liaison and critical touchpoint for after hours issues, forged strong mutually beneficial relationships with management, construction heads, and property owners. Following a no fault lay-off during the property sale, I was ready to spread my wings. I packed up the plethora of skills and incredible memories gained through this experience and confidently soared into the travel industry!

I could not have created a more perfect opportunity if I tried. Finding it is one of my core lessons I have carried throughout my career as it was all possible because I took a chance!

While walking down a music filled tree lined street on a sunny day in a newly developing area, I found myself staring at a "Help Wanted "sign in the restaurant's window. Feeling dejected at having no luck finding a corporate role, I thought, "I would love to walk down this street to work every day...why not?". I joined the Startup team for the upscale eatery and had a blast opening it! Re-entering the workforce after being a stay at home mom and engaging with people while providing a memorable dining experience was invigorating. Not to mention the confidence boost from being able to balance a tray for a five top on one hand after being one of the clumsiest people I know!