OFFICE SHOP - Key Persons
My name is DeAnna Murphy and I am project manager at The Office Shop
Canada. For five years, I have been helping Office Shoppers bring their visions to life. I have a passion for design and finding new ways to create a space that is efficient and comfortable. I am a very crafty person and studied Interior Design at Georgian College which equipped me to excel in my career with The Office Shop. My design skills and retail experience has allowed me to shine in this industry, but the main reason I'm great at my job is because I truly love it. This is why I jumped at the opportunity to let you, our valued clients, get to know me a little bit better!
In my personal life, I am passionate about spreading happiness with laughter and spending quality time with my family. When I'm not working, you can catch me dancing and listening to music with them. When we burn out, you'll find us sitting by the fire pit or having a couple of drinks while playing board games and laughing hysterically. My family is on top of the list of things I value the most, especially my grandparents. Their lives haven't always been easy, growing up during the war. They got married very young and raised four kids through tough financial times, yet my mother and her brothers look back on their childhood and only have the best stories to tell. Both my grandparents and parents taught us that all you need is love and laughter to be happy. I choose to live in a positive mindset because of them. My personal motto is to smile at all those you pass by; you never know who needs it.
I was raised with a strong sense of altruism and it will always be an important aspect of my life. Some of the causes I care for are food banks, supporting women and children, cancer research and funding, and Habitat For Humanity. I also like to participate in runs for different causes and donate food at food banks when possible. When I'm not supporting a cause or working, I enjoy reading the National Kitchen & Bath Association magazine on the couch with a glass of wine. Right by my side is my common law partner of seven years. We love to watch movies together, but don't be surprised if you find us dozing off early. I like to be as energized as possible for my next morning workout and spending time with incredible clients like you.
My name is Franca Greto and I am in the sales department here at The Office Shop. I am excited to share a bit about myself to help you get to know me a more personal level.
I studied at Ryerson University and Humber College. I didn't always want to be in sales, in fact, my dream as a child was to work on-air as either a TV or radio host. Hosting seemed like a great job for a funny gal like me. Seemingly life took me in a different direction and alas, I found sales and I couldn't be happier where I am! I am very dedicated to my time and take so much pride in providing my customers with the best possible service. I am deeply passionate about my work, so let me guide you through my typical workday: I am an early bird as I wake up each day between 4 and 6 before I head to work. As I mentioned, I'm in sales, which I have been doing for 20 years and I love working with The Office Shop. After working a full day, I head home to my husband and 14 year old daughter for family dinner. After dinner, we head over to my daughter's hockey practice, the girl can really skate! No day of mine is complete without chatting with my friends and family, reading a bit, and ending the day with a little bit of reality TV. My days are usually jam-packed, but I have so much love for my job and my family.
As soon as it is safe to travel, I'll be booking my first flight! That's all that I want to do. I love it and my goal is to see as many places around the world as I possibly can in my lifetime. First stop, you may ask: lying on a beach in Italy with my family. A fun fact about me is I'm a huge foodie! My friends and I are always on the hunt for new restaurants. We are constantly checking out new places to enjoy a wonderful meal together and catch up.
Discovering a new place to eat is the perfect addition to a movie night with my husband. As a mother, a wife, a sister, and a friend, prioritizing those closest to me is of the utmost importance. Each person in my life holds a special place in my heart. Those who recognize my loyalty and value me are the most important to me. Having a daughter who is an only child is truly inspiring for me. She is a strong, independent, driven, and confident young woman, and I just could not be more proud of who she is and the woman she is becoming. I admire her dearly.
I am the type of person who is dedicated to everything in my life which is why I just cannot wait until I can get back into the office with all of my coworkers. They're the best, even when they know I'm being a pain in the butt! I am looking forward to being back and joking around in the office when this is all over, and of course, seeing all of our wonderful customers. My work, family, and friends always take priority in my life. So, as I eagerly look towards a safe future when we all return to our new normal, I urge you all to stay strong during this difficult time - we really are in this together.
My name is Helen and I am Partner at The Office Shop.
For those of you who don't know, my name is Joanne and I am a Partner at The Office Shop, alongside my sister Helen. We thought we could take this calm time as an opportunity to let our valued customers get to know us. I'm excited to share this personal part of myself with you and to walk you through the journey I have taken to become a partner at The Office Shop:
I have always been voracious when it comes to my career. I was raised by a traditional European family and began working at a very young age. My work experience taught me the value of hard work and earning my own money at a very young age. They also made me passionate about obtaining an education.
During my post-secondary schooling, my career path guided me to major in Business Computers Systems at Seneca College. I worked at a software company during my academic career and graduated in 1995. My sister, Helen, worked for OE Direct and recruited me; I sold office furniture in Markham for almost 2 years before they closed their stores. It was then that Helen and I had the idea to open The Office Shop. We saved money and put all of our devotion to opening our own store - I was 23 years old at the time. In November 1996, staying in our hometown of Markham, we were open for business. We worked 7 days a week and assembled our own furniture so that we could fill our empty showroom (I am very handy!). Helen took the administrative and book-keeping role in the business, while I was responsible for product and operations. Still both living at home, we were fortunate to have the financial support of not paying rent and always having food on the table.
Since then, I have gotten married to my husband Nick, and we had our son, Louie, in 2000, just two years into our marriage. Starting our family happened a little sooner than planned, although it was truly a blessing looking back. A few short years later, we welcomed our daughter, Stefanie in 2002. Having a family and running a business was not always easy, but we put in the time and dedication to make it work.
All of these experiences have made me the person I am today. When asked, the three words that best describe me, I would say I am compassionate, outgoing, and dedicated. A few fun facts about me are I have loved to travel from a young age. As a child, my parents would take us camping all over the map from Atlantic City, Cape Cod, to PEI - just to name a few. I am fortunate to travel now as a family of 4, making new memories each time. In my downtime, I love to relax by swimming or simply reading by the pool, and listening to music. Among my hobbies, gardening is the one I love most. I grow almost all my vegetables in the summer. Even though I love to ski, I do favour the summer outdoor activities most. The best lesson I have learned between my professional life and my personal life is to give it all you got and be happy doing it.
My name is Teresa Casahonda and I am an account manager here at The Office Shop.
I have been working here since 2012. I earned an Interior Design 3-Year Diploma from the International Academy of Design and was the Fitwel Ambassador in 2018. I didn't always want to work in this field, I wanted to be a writer. Alas, I love working at The Office Shop and I wouldn't change it! At work, no day is the same, which makes each day an adventure. I have many responsibilities that require me to be in our showroom or venturing to various locations. For example, one day I have meetings in either our showroom or one of our vendor partners showrooms. While other days I meet with clients at their offices to do a consultation and take site measurements if necessary. There are also days when I attend networking events or seminars.
My workdays are never predictable, but I always get to spend time with my family who means the absolute world to me. Every day, I pick up my girls at school and bring them to their extra-curricular activities. I put away some time for myself every day to have tea time. I have become somewhat of a tea connoisseur ever since my first pregnancy; my favorite is Earl Grey which I sip as I listen to Andrea Bocelli. My alone time or tea time as I call it is important to me but I love being surrounded by my family. I cherish every moment of the evenings spent with my husband and daughters, I am always happiest when I am with them.
When I'm not working I love to spend my time cooking! I love to try out new dishes and I always put a twist on the recipe so that it is uniquely mine. I have become so confident in the kitchen that I trust my sense of smell and don't taste a dish until it is on our plates. Seriously, I could recreate almost any dish without the recipe. Being in the kitchen, creating a dish that I know everyone will love brings me so much joy. I cook dinner for my family every night and I look forward to hosting dinner parties so I can serve as many people as I can! When I cook for my friends and family, their full plates and stomachs are my way of showing each person how much I care for them.
My family means the world to me, they are who I admire the most in the world. Especially my wonderful parents and in-laws who endured difficulties but managed to ensure we grew up loved and successful. I was born and raised in Mexico and my parents separated when I was very young. My mom raised my two siblings and I gracefully. My father lost his mother when he was a child and even with his father hardly present in his life, he was able to become a successful doctor in Mexico. My in-laws escaped Vietnam in the 70s searching for a better life. As refugees in Canada, they were able to thrive and be successful. Our parents are the reason my husband and I are who we are today.
I am very passionate about interior design, furniture, and organization in and out of The Office Shop. Walking into a blank canvas I can see its potential, picture how I can make it organized, and functional. I enjoy interior design so much that when I am at home I love watching renovation shows; it keeps my inspiration flowing all day long! I also have a great passion for sustainability, human rights, equality, and how our actions in the present will affect people in the future. I teach my daughters about these important topics by having open conversations as I try to lead by example.
"Be the change you want to see in the world," Gandhi. I love that quote and try to live by it every day.