Q: What are your responsibilities at Luminex?

A: I work to ensure our benefit plans and procedures—from medical to dental and retirement—are up-to-date and enhance each employee’s experience, including their wellness. We always try to put our employees first by considering what each policy will mean for them. I think a lot of people don’t pay attention to their benefits until they need them, so I enjoy making sure employees are taken care of.

Q: What drew you to Luminex?

I originally started as a receptionist after a college classmate who worked at Luminex mentioned the job opening to me. I quickly became eager to learn more about biotechnology and realized that by working here, I was able to be a part of something greater—helping save lives. I’ve been fortunate to be a part of our company’s mission for 15 years now.

Q: What were you doing before you joined the Human Resources team?

A: About three months after I started working here, the Vice President of Research and Development approached me and asked if I’d be willing to be his Executive Assistant. Later, I transitioned into the same role working with our former CEO. After that, I joined the Marketing Communications Team, where I managed trade shows and events for about five years. Then, I was presented with the opportunity to join the HR team, and I decided to take on a new adventure. Working here feels like home.

Q: If you could solve any clinical or genetic challenge, what would it be?

A: I’m naturally an empathetic person, so I absorb other people’s emotions and carry that energy with me. That’s why I find mental health so important, especially this year, with so much anxiety and depression in the world. Psychological health can be such a big struggle, and a lot of people feel afraid or embarrassed to talk about it. I would love to find a way to make things better for people affected by mental health challenges, and let them know they’re not alone.

Q: If you weren’t a Wellness and Benefits Specialist at Luminex, where would you be?

A: Right before I joined Luminex, I was thinking about going to school for interior design. My passion is interior design and decorating—I find beauty in simple things. I imagine myself owning a bed and breakfast somewhere on a beachfront with an eclectic design in each room, meeting new people and making them feel welcome during their stay.

Q: What is something about you that no one at Luminex knows?

A: I was born preterm at just three pounds. I think I was in the hospital for about two months as an infant. Preemies have a special place in my heart.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do in Austin on the weekend?

A: We have two daughters—a seven-month-old and a four-year-old—so spending time with my family is my favorite thing. We love being outside, fishing, and taking walks. My four-year-old hooks her own worm and throws her own reel! We are also avid Dallas Cowboy fans and enjoy the comradery of watching the games with friends and family.