employee spotlight
KATHY CAMITTA M E E T F I N K ’ S O W N Office Manager The Streets at Southport • Durham, N.C. (919) 281-8407
All things come full circle — at least they have for Fink’s Jewelers’ very own Kathy Camitta. As the office manager at The Streets at Southpoint location in Durham, NC, Kathy’s love for jewelry began at the age of six-years-old, when her father gifted her a Mikimoto three-pearl pendant necklace he brought back with him from a work trip to Japan. There was a rule though, that she couldn’t put them on until her 16th birthday. Today, Kathy runs the entire behind- the-scenes operation at the Durham location, and we wanted to know a little more about the woman who wears many hats! What is it like managing things behind the scenes? There’s never a dull moment and always so many things to do. Basically, we’re the engine that keeps the store running. I have a lot of customer interaction, whether it’s ringing up a sale or helping people pick up their repairs or special orders. We also work to advise on and take in repairs. The face-to-face time with customers is one of the reasons I love working at Fink’s. When I’m not one-on-one with people, I am managing the beautiful merchandise and being obsessed with that. How would you describe the company’s culture or atmosphere to someone new to the company? I come from a retail corporate background, where there were a lot of restrictions and hierarchy. But Fink’s is different, even though it’s a big company.
Of course, there’s still that pride in the quality of customer service, but the real family feel here is unique and different. I remember the first time one of the executives came to visit the store, he showed up in jeans and was hanging around and chatting. And I remember the first time I talked to Marc Fink — He knew who I was, knew I was new, and he made it a point to meet me that day. So, the culture itself really has that family feel. It’s nice. What hidden talents do you bring to your role? I often refer to my education in family therapy. I never used, it because I was offered a management position at William Sonoma after grad school, but that knowledge does come into play when I face people that are upset. I can help resolve situations when they arise. Being able to help solve problems is something I love, especially when I’m able to use that talent.
What inspires you to be better tomorrow than you are today? On the more personal side, my family is key. They are the reason I moved down here — to be closer to my brother and his kids. I don’t have children, and I’m not married, but my nieces and nephews are so important to me. My sister lives in Chicago with her kids, and my other brother lives in New York, but the weather is much nicer down here in Durham! Where is your personal happy place? In an ideal world, I’d be traveling. I’ve dreamed of living overseas in Japan. I started learning Japanese during the shutdown as part of my fantasy to retire and go to Japan to teach English. I would love to live in Tokyo. It’s just so safe, clean, and steeped in culture, and that’s my dream to retire there.
10 ] F I N K ’ S J E W E L E R S M A G A Z I N E
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