Embrace Employee Spotlight: Mary Mack and Katie Barrett

There’s a lot to love about Embrace Home Loans, but one of our strongest assets has always been our employees. We have teammates who have been with us for 10, 20, even 30+ years. And we’ve also been hiring new employees at a furious pace recently.

In this Employee Spotlight, we’ll be featuring two Embrace teammates. Each will give different perspectives on the Embrace experience and a little more personal info so you’ll be able to get to know them better.

Want to nominate someone to feature in a future spotlight? Email Mary Mack at [email protected]

KATIE BARRETT, Social Media Coordinator

What is your official title and what do you do at Embrace?

My title is Social Media Coordinator. I am responsible for almost everything that you see on our corporate social pages. I also work with the Creative team to have new social content added monthly in Total Expert for Retail loan officers. In addition to that, I can be found at Embrace events and snapping pictures of the festivities. 

How long have you worked for Embrace?

I started at Embrace in July 2017. I came on as a Marketing Coordinator, then a Regional Marketing Coordinator for New York and New England, and now my current role.

What made you want to work for Embrace?

I was looking to get out of Sales and pursue a career in Marketing but wasn’t looking for a long commute to Providence or Boston. Embrace was only a short drive from my house and it provided the perfect opportunity for me to kick-start my marketing career.

What’s one of your favorite Embrace memories?

I have so many amazing memories — it’s hard to pick just one! My absolute favorite part of being an RMC was coordinating and attending all of the branch and regional events. So many great memories just from those alone.

One of my favorite memories from the office is Snack Club. It was like “The Finer Things Club” (for those of you that watch The Office) but with junk food. We would meet once a week during lunch and everyone would bring their favorite snack from that week’s theme. Little Debbie day was hands down my favorite. It was such a fun way to decompress in the middle of the day!

A more recent favorite memory was the #bettywhitechallenge fundraiser we ran on the Embrace Facebook page. We were able to raise almost $8K for the Potter League with an Embrace match! I was so impressed by the response that post got from both the Embrace and local community. Dropping off that check was such a great feeling.

How has it been working from home? Has Embrace made it easier for you in any way? Are you back in the office now?

I won’t lie, I am a big fan of working from home. I really enjoy being able to sit in a quiet room in my house, turn on some music or podcast and focus on work. My COVID dog very much appreciates me being home as well.

That being said, I do very much miss the social aspect of coming into the office and seeing my coworkers on a regular basis. I do go in occasionally when I have to film or take pictures and it’s such a refreshing change of pace for the day.

We’d love to get to know you better! Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in Ridgefield, CT. I grew up playing softball and cheerleading. Cheerleading was a HUGE sport in my house. My sister and I were on our public/school teams as well as cheer gym teams. My mom and I coached my little sister’s cheerleading squad all the way through elementary and middle school. They were such a talented group of girls! They earned themselves a few national champion titles.

I went to the University of Rhode Island for a BA in Communications. It was here where I met my current boyfriend, Henry. A year after graduation I moved to his hometown, Newport, RI. We now live in Portsmouth, RI with our dog, Toby.

Those who know me know that my favorite hobby is collecting houseplants. Unfortunately, I am running out of room in my house for them. This has led to me collecting something that takes up less space and requires minimal maintenance — vinyl records.

Two years ago I visited my first National Park and I have been hooked ever since. I have made it my life’s mission to visit as many of the parks as possible. As of right now I only have five under my belt, but hoping to add Acadia National Park to that list this year.

My other hobbies include cooking, baking, gardening, and bird watching. I am basically 31 going on 81.

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MARY MACK, Corporate Content Manager

What is your official title and what do you do at Embrace?

I am the Corporate Content Manager, so I’m in charge of Embrace’s blog (which I’m typing in right now. WhOoOa!), social media, and video. I make sure we’re creating interesting content for not just our customers, but our teammates, referral partners, and recruits.

How long have you worked for Embrace?

I joined Embrace on December 4, 2017 — so just over four years now. And I’m never leaving. You’re going to have to drag me out kicking and screaming. It took me a long time to find the right company to work for and Embrace is just the perfect match for me.

*Quick rambling story*

I actually interviewed at Embrace for the first time in 2009 with Dana Fortin. I didn’t end up getting the job, but I stayed in touch with Dana and checked in with her over the years. At one point, she called me about a job opening, but I didn’t think it was right for me. Then, a few years later, I interviewed for another job at Embrace — again, not right for me.

Finally, eight years later, there was an opening for a Copywriter at Embrace and I knew that it was my time to shine. I contacted Dana and I also asked my landlord/Embrace employee John Bronson to put in a good word for me.

Spoiler alert: I got the job.

Moral of the story: Build relationships. Keep trying. Don’t settle. If you haven’t found the right job yet, you will (possibly even at Embrace. Check our current job openings!)

What made you want to work for Embrace?

I grew up on Aquidneck Island (where Embrace HQ is located) and I had heard through the small-town grapevine what a great company it is. I also knew a few people who worked at Embrace and loved it.

I’m also about to sound totally shallow, but I had also heard that they throw the most amazing Christmas parties and let their employees take home FULL, REAL Christmas trees. I had never purchased a live Christmas tree as an adult up until that point and I was so excited by the idea that someone would give me a tree to bring home.

All the rumors were true. Embrace is an amazing company, I love it, and I got my Christmas tree.

What’s one of your favorite Embrace memories?

It’s so hard to choose! I’m just going to list off whatever pops into my head right now.

• My very first day when I walked in the lobby and they had a big welcome message with my name on the huge monitor. And when I got to my desk, they had a fun box of goodies for me with a card that everyone in the Marketing department signed — all welcoming me and telling me how excited they were to have me on board. It seems silly, but I had never experienced anything like that before.
• SNACK CLUB. As Katie mentioned above, Snack Club was the best thing ever. Little Debbie week was one for the history books.
• Past Orange Weeks with the Marketing team when we did landscaping at the Norman Bird Sanctuary and helped paint Cardine’s Field.
• Hosting one of the monthly award ceremonies with Dana Elliott!
• Climbing up on the roof of 110 with Colby to get a photo of everyone on the ground.
• Sitting next to Morgan and Pam and going to get coffee in the morning (insert crying emoji here)

How has it been working from home? Has Embrace made it easier for you in any way? Are you back in the office now?

I’m in an interesting situation. I was living in Rhode Island and working at the home office, but moved to the Los Angeles, California area in August 2020. So, even though our office is open again, I am still fully remote since I’m in CA. I miss being in the office with all of my friends and co-workers and I get sad sometimes when I think I’m missing out on something fun — but I do also enjoy working from home with my husband and dog 🙂

We’d love to get to know you better! Tell us about yourself.

I’m a big fan of bullet points, so let’s just stick with that theme:

• I was born and raised in Newport, RI. Not rich, don’t own a boat, but I did give tours of the Newport Mansions (more specifically, The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms) once upon on a time.
• I started college at Fordham University in NYC and then transferred to Emerson College in Boston. My degree is in Visual and Media Arts with a concentration in TV/Video. I also have a Master’s degree from Full Sail University in Internet Marketing.
• I scooped ice cream for Ben & Jerry’s for ELEVEN YEARS in both Newport and Boston. When I was in college I did a video about Ben & Jerry’s and THE Jerry sat down for an on-camera interview with me. At my wedding, I had a Ben & Jerry’s sundae bar instead of a wedding cake.
• Speaking of my wedding, I got married on 11/11/11 to my husband Andy. He does voiceovers for a living, which is really fun. I also have a stepson named Kyle — he’s 20 and in the Air Force. My dog, Kenny Powers, is my soulmate. He’s a pug/basset hound mix and 12 years old.
• Yes, I’ve heard of the hand-clapping game, Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack (all dressed in black black black). You don’t have to ask me.
• For the love of God, please don’t ask me.
• I gave a shout-out on Total Request Live (TRL) on MTV in 2001. I was an extra on The Bold & the Beautiful when I was interning there. I was also an extra in the movie “Irrational Man” starring Emma Stone and Joaquin Phoenix (it was filmed in Newport). I’ve found my way into a variety of studio audiences, but I’m realizing how crazy I sound, so I’ll stop now.
• I’m a Scorpio sun, Taurus rising, Capricorn moon.
• Michael Scott is my favorite television character to ever exist, but the entire Real Housewives franchise is an absolute masterpiece (especially Real Housewives of New York).