Veronica Pous
Benefits & Payroll Supervisor
I graduated in Mexico City as a Bilingual Executive Assistant. I moved to United Stated when I was 17. I have two daughters (23 and 13). I love arts and crafts. I work an art technique called metal embossing. I come from a family of artists (Mom, daughter) and if I could, I would open and art gallery.
I consider myself a people person, that’s what I really like about my job: being able to assist people in any way I can and getting know all kinds of different personalities. There’s no one person alike and that’s what makes each and every one of my team members unique. You just need to learn how to deal with each individual character.
How you got into this line of work?
I got this job by pure luck and coincidence. But again I am a truly believer that things happen for a reason. And God places the right people at the right time in our lives. In 2010, Gulf Winds needed a temp file clerk for one week in the Safety Department. And I got the offer. I was asked to stay another week, so I did. I was then told there was going to be a new job position in the Executive Department and was asked if I would be interested in applying and interviewing for that, which I did and with my Legal Assistant background of 14 years, I thought I was the best candidate for the Executive and H.R. Assistant position, which I did for 3 years. I am now the Benefits & Payroll Supervisor.
What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
I bought myself a car. I have been working at my new first professional job at a Law Firm for a six months when I bought my Ford Escort. I loved my little red car!!!
If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve seen before, what would you paint?
Coming from a family of artists, I want to paint every scenery I see. Whether is a road surrounded by trees, a palm tree with the ocean as a background, my backyard showing the wet fence and green trees right after a heavy rain... a yellow rose
Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be for the best?
Actually yes, two things: I became a mother when I was 18. It was not easy and definitely challenging. I sacrificed too many things, but I don’t regret any part of it at all. There are no words to describe the relationship that my daughter and I have now and how truly she makes me feel as a mother and as a woman. She is my best friend, my hero, my fan, my support. I have been a single mother of my two daughters my whole life and whether it saddens me that their fathers have never been involved in their lives, as selfish as this sounds, they are all mine. To them I am Mom and Dad (and yes, they celebrate Father’s Day for me)
The second thing, I was married for a very short time (one year and a half) and I think making the decision of leaving my ex-husband was one of the hardest things I had to do since I got married to stay married for a very long time. But this just helped to mature in so many ways and to get to know myself and what do I want in life and for the future of my daughters. But most of all, I learned to value myself and never lose my dignity.
What was the happiest moment of your life?
I have too many happy moments, but I will never forget the day I signed the papers to our new house (a year and a half ago). I never thought that day would come. Just been able to provide my daughters with their own home was one of the happiest moments of my life.