Embrace Employee Spotlight: Susie Dame and John Bouakhasith

Embrace Employee Spotlight: Susie Dame and John Bouakhasith

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 this year — new employees that many of us haven’t met yet as we continue to work remotely during the pandemic.

In this Employee Spotlight, we’ll be featuring two Embrace teammates each week — one new employee, and one employee who has already been with us for a while. 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]

JOHN BOUAKHASITH, Jr. Systems Administrator

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

I am a Junior Systems Administrator for IS Support. My role is to provide Level 1 technical support for all 700+ of Embrace’s employees. If you have trouble logging into Citrix or can’t get your monitors to work, I am your guy.

What made you want to work for Embrace?

I always had a passion for computers and technology. As a teenager, I taught myself how to create websites and build personal computers. However, it wasn’t until COVID-19 struck that I realized I could turn my passion into a career.

I worked hard for months building my resume and applied when Embrace had an opening for an entry-level IT position. I never had any IT job experience prior to joining Embrace, so I am very grateful and appreciative that I was given this great opportunity.

How has it been starting a new job during COVID? And just working for Embrace in general?

I’ve been with Embrace for three months now and it has been nothing short of amazing. Everyone I work with is awesome and I am learning new things and cool stuff every day. Most of our teams members have been working in the office since I’ve been here, but we’re preparing to begin working from home very soon. I have never worked remotely before so it will be an interesting experience.

What did you do for a living before you came to Embrace?

Before joining Embrace, I was a store manager at a family-owned business in Boston. I worked for them for four years and it was a great experience. I have learned so much from managing a store and it helped me grow mentally.  

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

A few years ago, I decided to travel and go on an adventure and learn about myself. I had friends living in Seoul, South Korea and chose to stay with them for over a year. During my stay there, I met a lot of cool and interesting people from all over the world. I also got the chance to visit Tokyo, Japan, and Hong Kong since all three cities are very close. The greatest part about that is the airfare was very cheap and affordable. Living in a country with different cultures and language barriers was definitely a once in a lifetime experience, and I would love the chance to do it again.


SUSIE DAME, Mid-Atlantic Processing Manager

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

I’ve held a few different positions at Embrace, but as of one week ago, I am the Mid-Atlantic Processing Manager! My job entails managing a team of 11 ROCKSTAR processors and supporting them as much as I can. Our goal is to close as many loans as we can within the calendar month while keeping our borrowers, loan officers, third party contacts, and colleagues happy.

How long have you worked for Embrace?

I have worked for Embrace for 7.5 years. My mother worked here for 7 years before I started, so I like to say I have been part of the “Embrace Family” for 14 years!

What made you want to work for Embrace?

Real Estate and homeownership have always been intriguing to me, and I was excited to become part of that industry. Embrace offers so many opportunities for you to learn about all different aspects of the business.

What’s one of your favorite Embrace memories?

My favorite Embrace memory was last year’s Christmas Decoration Contest. Each department had to choose a Christmas movie and decorate their office space accordingly. The Branch Managers who were in town for their quarterly meeting were able to vote on the best display — so things got competitive quickly! Everyone went over the top with bright, loud interactive displays and there was such a clear sense of Christmas spirit all throughout the office building. It was a really cool event to be part of!

How has it been working from home this year?

It amazes me to think about how quickly everyone adapted to working remotely. Embrace was extremely supportive of making sure everyone had the right equipment and support to experience minimal day-to-day changes while working from home. While I really miss seeing all of my co-workers every day, I have to say I have enjoyed the freedom that comes from working in my home office.

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

I live in Newport, RI with my husband, Brandon, and our chocolate labrador, Bowen. Last year we had a destination wedding in our favorite place in the world, Rincon, Puerto Rico, with 110 of our favorite people in attendance.

We love to fish, swim, kayak, or anything that gets us onto the water — so we feel very lucky to live here “on the island” (as us Rhode Islanders say)! I grew up in Newport, went to college at URI, and moved to San Diego, CA for a little while after graduation. I love live music and traveling, both of which have been a little difficult during this pandemic. I’m looking forward to enjoying these things as soon as things get back to normal!

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