Nicole Hamm | Sales Coordinator, Eastern Quality Foods
As a sales coordinator for Eastern Quality Foods — a company specializing in the wholesale distribution of poultry, beef, seafood, pork and other products — Nicole manages day-to-day operations and strategy. Outside of the office, she can be found volunteering with various organizations in her community, including the Rotaract Club, Urban League Young Professionals, Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (B.E.A.M) and Women’s Center of Jacksonville. She’s passionate, she’s gritty, she wears a whole lot of hats, and we’re excited to share her story today.
The Basics:
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Current city: Jacksonville, FL
Alma mater: Howard University
Degree: N/A
Very first job: Cashier, Justice
Hustle: Sales Coordinator, Eastern Quality Foods
The Interests:
Babe you admire and why?
Dr. Lisa Williams! She was one of the first successful Black women in corporate supply chain management. She continues to uplift young, Black women leaders and supports the education of supply chain at HBCUs. I think it’s so important that when we make it into certain spaces, we enhance them for those that are bound to come after. She’s done an amazing job at doing just that.
Last great book you read?
”Becoming” by Michelle Obama
What's one essential item in your workday?
My pen that says "Keep going, you've got this"
What would you eat for your very last meal?
Spicy tuna rolls and pan fried gyoza!
The Basics:
Tell us about your hustle, providing a summary of your roles and the work you do daily as a Sales Coordinator at Eastern Quality Foods + beyond.
As a sales coordinator, I work with our company’s beef import division managing day-to-day operations and strategy. It’s my role to make sure that our sales team is doing what needs to be done to run our business at a profitable margin and support the logistics of how we do that. In my spare time, I volunteer in various capacities with organizations dedicated to serving and supporting the Jacksonville community. I have the honor of serving as President of the Rotaract Club of Jacksonville Beaches, Senior Vice President of the Jacksonville Urban League Young Professionals, and community representative for the City of Jacksonville Citizens Planning Advisory Committee. I also serve on the Board of Directors for Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (B.E.A.M) and the Women’s Center of Jacksonville. All of these roles allow me to connect to our community and strengthen it’s collaborative efforts to a better Jacksonville.
How have your past professional and academic experiences and lessons prepared you for the work you do today? How have they not prepared you?
From a conceptual standpoint, I use almost everything I learned in school when it comes to the distribution and operations sector of my job. I learned accounting, procurement, logistics, and I utilize that on a daily basis. What school did not (and could not) prepare me for was operating in a pandemic with strained global operations and human capital. That was the hardest period I ever experienced in this work. As employees, we were mentally drained and overly busy while as humans we had our traditional way of going through the day-to-day uprooted from us. As hard as it was, however, I will say that it taught me the importance of food security, financial wellness, and innovative thinking. It gave me clarity on what I truly want to do in my career and how to make it as impactful for others as I can.
What inspired you to run for City Council in 2020? What lessons did you take away from your campaign?
I was inspired to run because I wanted to give myself the option to be what I wanted represented in my community leadership. I wanted to give people the chance to see someone just like them, working for them. Being raised in the very district I ran for, I have a special connection to it. I’ve seen how it's grown, how it's changed, and how sometimes people get left behind in that progress. I figured, if I see it, I know my neighbors do. I have the resilience, passion, and ideas to get it done. So let’s go for it! The biggest lesson I took away was that it is not only okay but necessary to show up for your community, no matter what. I often say the quote “leadership is an action, not a position.” Even running for office showed my community that I am a leader and can still be of service even though I am not an elected official. That I can uplift the voices of my community in a different way and that is just as necessary and valuable as being a council member.
What do you enjoy most about working on the Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry (BEAM) board? Are there any special moments you’ve witnessed that shed light on the impact BEAM has had on the community?
I am extremely honored to be on the board and work on efforts that are close to my heart. I work in the food industry, so I feel a personal connection to making sure that EVERYONE has access to food as well as food education. I truly believe that most people are doing the best they can with what they have, and that food shouldn’t be a factor in financial decision making. I have witnessed single parents get fresh produce from our garden and say thank you because they knew ramen wasn’t the best option to feed their child, but it was all they could afford. I have witnessed little ones point to different vegetables and share the colors, what it tastes like, how they like to eat it, etc. It’s amazing to see how impactful this work truly is and how those little things will stay with them as they grow and move forward.
You wear a lot of different hats, juggling work, leadership positions, and community involvement. What does your ‘work/life balance’ look like? What do you like to do in your “free” time?
I strongly believe that having boundaries and a morning ritual have allowed me to do all of the wonderful things that I get to do and be a part of. It’s important to me to take care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally so that I can be present for others. I have had to try different things to find that balance, but since I have, my life has been so much lighter. I use the time blocking method of scheduling with no meetings going past 10pm on any workday. I don’t touch my phone until after I’ve meditated in the morning and have my water. I also schedule time to watch Netflix or any other free time activity. I love to relax with my dog, cook, read, and explore the city. A good nap never hurts anyone either ;)
How has being a woman impacted your professional experiences? What can we collectively do to support and empower women in your industry today?
Being a woman in the supply chain sector of this distribution business has pushed me to be more vocal, headstrong, and confident in my work. This industry is male-dominated and has often left me as the only woman in a space, and furthermore, often the only Black woman in this space. I work with a team of three men, and I have had to not only work with them but also lead them. I think we need to keep holding space for ALL women in these certain industries, make these spaces accessible and safe, and encourage women to lead in them.
What’s one thing you’re proud to have accomplished in your career thus far?
I’m proud that I was asked to lead an open conversation about race in the workplace amongst my colleagues. In a personal sense, it allowed me to share my experiences and how that may show up at work in various circumstances. In a professional sense, it was a great experience of guiding conversations and moderating other perspectives and challenging topics.
Who are some women in your field that you look to for inspiration?
Ann Drake, Jacquelyn Howard, and Ann Tracy
What would you like your legacy to be? How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone who was willing to do the work. I want people to think of me and know that Nicole works hard for the things not only she cares about but that others care about; that I was willing to be a voice for those that needed one; that I was willing to build a bench for the next; that I was willing to do what needed to be done to leave this world in a better place than how I entered it.
Career and/or life advice for other babes?
Don’t be afraid to take up space! Trust yourself and know that you have everything you need to accomplish your dreams and goals.
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