Black History Month Spotlight: Erica Baker
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In honor of Black History Month, Bristow is shining the spotlight on the company's diverse workforce that delivers safe, efficient and reliable services every day. This interview features Office Manager and Facilities Specialist Erica Baker from our New Iberia office.
Talk about your role at Bristow and what are you currently working on?
I am the facility specialist and office manager for New Iberia; I support the Gulf Coast facilities in Texas, New Iberia Heliport, Venice and Galliano oil and gas and search and rescue.
What in your background prepared you for this assignment?
I started my career with Bristow as a dispatcher/radio operator in 2005. After three months, I moved into the role of administrative assistant in the South America Business Unit until they relocated to Houston. My next step was administrative assistant to the New Iberia facility manager, then I was promoted to facilities specialist and office manager. The facilities manager taught me how to reference as built drawings and source information for repair and maintenance in Construction submittals. I use the skills I learned in this role every day in my current position.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from a colleague?
I have had the privilege of working with great people throughout my years with Bristow. The one thing that stands out is if I keep the order of God first, my family second, then my job, I will achieve great balance and success. I am always mindful of the order.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
The United States began to celebrate Black History Month in February of 1976. I was born in 1970 and as long as I can remember, my family celebrated each other and those who paved the way for freedom and equality in my hometown and beyond.
Both of my parents and my oldest brother experienced segregation in education; desegregation did not occur in Vermilion Parish until 1966. My father served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until the end of World War II. He experienced segregation within the ranks during that time.
Because of my own family's experiences, I celebrate the ordinary and extraordinary achievements of not only black people, but women and minorities in all walks of life throughout the year. I am always hopeful that we will continue to see each other as God sees us; He looks at our hearts not our outward appearances.