Meet Us – The Goods

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Max Peña

October 27, 2015

Max Peña, Uncommongoods Associate Supervisor

My hometown…
Right here, Sunset Park. I grew up 5 blocks from UG and now live on Staten Island, but I still visit every day.

I’m passionate about…
Quality time with family and friends, my wife Milly and especially my daughter Gabriella.

When I was a kid my favorite television program was…
Mission Impossible. I wanted to be a spy.

A song I love so much that I played it until I was sick of it…
All of Ed Sheeran‘s music.

The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is…
My little girl experiencing life, learning and soaking it all up. Loving animals, nature, music, and the arts.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Spending quality time with my family and of course my dog Harley. He’s an Italian Greyhound.

My favorite place to go in New York City is…
Plays and Musicals! Absolutely!!!

An uncommon fact about me…
I am a 5 time Champion in the Amateur Bowlers Tour (ABT).
I’m addicted to dominoes and have run a dominoes league.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Rebekah Krikke

October 22, 2015

Rebekah Krikke, Assistant Production Manager, Product Development

My hometown…
A hybrid of central Illinois and Kobe, Japan.

I’m inspired by…
Long walks, new perspectives, gratitude, and the color orange.

What I love about Product Development is…
Seeing a product take form as it moves from concept to reality.

When I’m not at work, I’m usually….
Exploring random neighborhoods in New York, relaxing at home with my husband, or being “productive” at a local coffee shop.

My favorite place to bring out-of-towners is…
Brooklyn Bridge Park.

I’m most looking forward to _______ this summer.
Going to my first Indian Wedding in Bangkok.

An uncommon fact about me is….
I studied Japanese tea ceremony for a few years in high school. I love green tea, so much so that my family named our Boston Terrier “Matcha.”

If I could put my desk anywhere in the world it would be…
An ocean view office where you can hear the waves from your desk and go on occasional swim breaks for inspiration.

My favorite uncommon good is…
Our Personalized New York City subway signs.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Joe Bogdos

October 15, 2015

Joe Bogdos, UncommonGoods A/P Specialist

My hometown…
New York City.

I’m passionate about…
’60s underground rock and ’70s Jamaican dub.

When I’m not working, I’m probably…
Hanging out with my three-year-old son.

Something that always makes me laugh…
Chris Elliott‘s appearances on early Letterman.

Something that always relaxes me is…
Naps (when I’m able to take them, which is hardly ever).

My guilty pleasure is…
I enjoy watching the kids’ show Peppa Pig just as much as my son does, if not more.

My favorite place to eat in NYC is…
The Bounty in Greenpoint. It’s a bistro-type place that specializes in seafood, but also has great burgers and grilled chicken, etc.

An uncommon fact about me…
I was once babysat by the Hells Angels.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Dominique Smith

October 7, 2015

Dominique Smith, UncommonGoods Operations Administrator

My hometown…
I was born and raised in Brooklyn and then lived in the Poconos for 5 years, then came back. Guess I couldn’t stay away.

I’m inspired by…
Music and other people’s personal experiences. I find motivation and loads of inspiration by hearing people tell stories about their life. Mostly rich people talk about obstacles they’ve overcome. I always watch interviews and documentaries to learn more about people overall.

The word or phrase that best describes me…
Different! I’m a little bit of a lot. Awkward, inspirational, ambitious, unfiltered, humble, creative, mature, focused, etc. Most people compare me to other people my age (22) and stare at me in disbelief when I describe the things that I have done and want to do in my life. “You’re so different!” is what I hear the most. I’m sure it’s a good thing as that’s usually followed up with how advanced I seem in comparison. I don’t consider myself advanced; I’d rather describe that as focused.

When I’m not working, I’m…
Always working, lol. When I’m not working at UG, I’m planning out how I’m going to take over the world. Or at least how I’m getting my first million dollars!!

What is something you always wanted to be able to do?
I can do anything. If I really want to do it, I have plans in the works to get it done. If I only kinda sorta want to do it, I’m not going to do it. I only move with passion and purpose.

If I could learn to do one thing perfectly, it would be…
How to analyze stocks in order to make a living off it. Doesn’t seem to be anything better than waking up in the morning, sitting at your computer in your plush loft in Miami with a bowl of cereal and trading stocks making thousands or dollars in a day over the course of a few hours. Solely my opinion.

The best luck I’ve had in my life so far was…
I don’t really believe in luck; however, some pretty awesome things happen to me sometimes. For example, a few months ago I went to a real estate workshop. The teacher was trying to teach us how important having a mentor is. At one point he asked a question and no one knew the answer, so I asked one of the guys they designated as mentors to help us. When I related his answer to the teacher, he handed me a $100 bill. The same thing happened the next day. $200 for doing nothing!

If I could meet anyone, living or not, I would choose…
Bill Gates or Warren Buffet. Whichever one had about an hour of knowledge to give me. That’d be the longest, most exciting hour of my life!!

An uncommon fact about me…
I want to be able to retire by the age of 35. I won’t actually retire. I’m just saying I want to be able to at that age, and then travel the world as a motivational speaker. I have 13 years to do it!

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Elise Waugh

October 1, 2015

Elise Waugh, UncommonGoods Public Relations Manager, Marketing

My hometown…
Can be pointed out on my hand: Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I’m inspired by…
Reading. Whether it’s Fast Company, Metropolis, Refinery29, or Harry Potter – I’m inspired by it all.

I’m passionate about…
Feminism, mid-century modern furniture, sustainability, and writing.

When I was little, I dreamed of…
According to my parents, being a clown or a veterinarian. I guess PR is somewhere in between.

If I could travel back in time, I’d…
Turn and face the strange – in other words, see David Bowie on tour.

If I could meet anyone, living or not, I would choose…
Prince.

My favorite quote is…
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Something that always makes me laugh…
The girls from Broad City and Michael Scott from The Office.

An uncommon fact about me…
I used to work for an awesome aquarium.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Laura Rounds

September 27, 2015

Laura Rounds, UncommonGoods Photo Retoucher, Creative

My hometown…
A small town in New Hampshire.

I’m inspired by…
Everything, including countless hours of Pinterest.

The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen is…
A field filled with wildflowers in Yosemite.

My relationship with Mother Nature is…
Always having fresh flowers on my desk.

A piece of music I love so much that I played it until I was sick of it…
Any song by The Kooks.

If I could meet anyone, living or not, I would choose…
Pablo Picasso. I’m a huge art history lover and Picasso was involved in a lot of art movements. Just imagine the stories he would tell!

My favorite place to go in New York City is…
Governors Island. It’s a little escape from the city. Especially during the Jazz Age Lawn Party, when everyone dresses up like it’s the 1920s; it feels like you went back in time!

An uncommon fact about me is…
I used to do competitive roller skating. It’s just like ice skating but less cold.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Reggie Philbert

September 25, 2015

Reggie Philbert – UncommonGoods Security Officer

My hometown…
Brooklyn.

I’m inspired by…
Every time I play the drums, whether it’s for a concert or just practice. It’s one of the few times I actually feel free and relaxed.

When I was a kid, my favorite TV show was…
Hey Arnold! When I was growing up all the characters on the show reminded me of people in my life one way or another. I liked the morals that every episode consisted of, such as the value of friendships and hard work. It was also a way my younger brother and I would bond.

The word or phrase that best describes me is…
Loyal.

When I’m not at work I’m probably…
Reading a Stephen King novel, practicing on the bass guitar/drums or playing basketball in the park

If I could become an expert on one thing it would be…
Playing piano. I gave up on it when I was younger

One thing I’ve learned from working at UncommonGoods is…
The value of communication, teamwork, and patience.

An uncommon fact about me…
I’ve never learned how to whistle.

The Uncommon Life

Uncommon Personalities: Meet Nikki DeSautelle

September 17, 2015

Nikki DeSautelle, UncommonGoods Senior Graphic Designer, Creative

My hometown…
Rochester Hills, Michigan. Suburban sprawl, with lots of trees.

I’m inspired by…
Every dog I’ve ever petted.

When I was a kid my favorite television program was…
Mr. Dress Up, the craftier Canadian version of Mr. Rogers (actually Mr. Rogers was the U.S. Mr. Dress Up, if we’re talking who came first) that we picked up from grainy CBC reception. Most of my favorite shows were on that channel; the children of the north enjoyed some A+ Canadian programming.

If I won the lottery, I’d…
Book a one way ticket to Italy and wing it.

In my next life, I want to come back as…
A pink pigeon.

The most amazing thing I’ve ever seen is…
The Grand Canyon. Me and my brother visited on a road trip in 2011. It gave me chills and I couldn’t stop saying “Wow!” the whole time we were hiking around.

If I could meet anyone, living or not, I would choose….
Whoever built the pyramids (aliens?)

An uncommon fact about me…
I perform on an improv team called 2Chinz.

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