Please join me in congratulating Christina Solheim for being chosen Houston’s 4th quarter Employee of the Quarter! While Christina will coyly tell you that she thinks her patience, computer skills, and love of being busy are what prompted her being chosen, her manager tells a much bigger story: Christina takes a lot of initiative in her position, and has tackled increased duties in Inside Sales with an energy that matches her conscientiousness. She sees the big picture and helps lead the way by training new employees, tackling new challenges, and all the while staying on top of her workload. And as an outsider looking in, I can tell you that if Christina’s Halloween costume this year doesn’t demonstrate her acute attention to detail, then I don’t know what will. Dressed as a Crazy Cat Lady, no minor element was overlooked, nothing was forgotten—from the tiny stuffed kittens placed in her skirt pockets, to the cat attached to the top of her head, to the t-shirt that reminded us “Because. Cats.” Christina’s costume had it all. If only a fraction of this fastidiousness translates into the work she does at Houston’s, it is easy to see why she is so appreciated!
Christina’s awesome “Cat Lady” Halloween costume
It benefits both Houston’s AND Christina that she truly enjoys her job, too. She says the key—and she also tells new employees the same thing while training them—is to not stress so much. Her advice is to take the job seriously but don’t make yourself sick over it. New employees especially put too much value on being perfect, feverishly working to not make errors. But everyone makes mistakes, Christina points out. No one is perfect, and therefore no one should put unnecessary pressure on themselves to be flawless.
In her spare time, Christina loves to read (anything and everything, she told me) and to play video games, board games, and watch movies on Netflix. Jewelry-making is also a favorite hobby. She knows how to bead, and she is learning wire work, but eventually Christina wants to learn more about working with metals. Additionally, Christina likes to cook, she adores her cats, and she loves spending time with her family.
I asked Christina who she would most like to dine with and why. Her thoughtful answer was the biblical Esther. She recommended I watch “One Night with the King,” the story of how Esther safeguards the Jewish nation from their demise, gains the affection of King Artexerxis, and becomes the Queen of Persia. Christina admires Esther’s strength in the face of adversity, and her spirit and tenacity in saving her people from death.
It is easy to see that the 4th quarter Employee of the Quarter has it all—Christina consistently demonstrates a genuine love of her job that is evident in her attitude, performance, and work ethic. Keep up the great work, and congratulations on being chosen Houston’s Employee of the Quarter!
