THE VITAL ORGAN

If we look at TRI as a human body, every department plays an integral role in order for it to function and thrive. The Sales Department might be the voice, and Production is certainly the muscle, but the Purchasing Department is the Vital Organ that sustains the entire system. They are the company’s metabolism—the ones who take in the raw elements from the outside and convert them into the life-saving, vital energy that flows through every first aid kit we sell.

Such a serious and heavy role you might say, but walk into their corner of the office, and you’ll find that our trio is powered by something much more human than just spreadsheets, costs and vendors:  they are apparently  powered by Boba (oohh they do know what is good in life), and a “Mamba” Mentality (fist bump!).

Now let us meet the people behind the department further; first off is Mark, Purchasing “MAMBAnager.” Mark has been with TRI for 19 years! (That is seriously a looottttt of years!) and he is essentially the department’s DNA.  As the Manager, he’s the valve that regulates the company’s blood pressure. He understands what’s at stake: “Other departments either like us or… hate us,” he jokes. “Because it’s always our fault when there are supply issues!”

But Mark does not let this hinder him from doing his job, instead he works with a “Mamba Mentality,” a Kobe Bryant-inspired drive to be real and exceed expectations. Behind his desk sits a Mamba symbol—his “basketball therapy”—and photos of his family, his “first ministry.” Both of which inspires him and keeps him on the game, day in and out. Mark is the heart that always keeps the timing on beat, ensuring the company never overcommits or falls short.

Next in line is Samantha, or “Sam,” as she likes to be called. She may be the youngest member of the team (in age and company years) but don’t let that fact fool you into thinking that she is someone to be taken lightly.

If Mark is the pulse, Sam is the nervous system. With an admitted coffee-driven personality (or should we say coffee addiction?), and with apparently, extremely exceptional hearing (she has a secret superpower, people), she is considered the department’s radar. “Be careful whispering around me,” she warns with a wink. Sam makes use of her super senses to read a vendor’s tone or sense a shipping delay before the rest of the company even feels it.

She’s also the department’s immune system. Having learned the hard way about the consequences of poor vendor vetting, she is fiercely picky about supplier audits and certificates. To Sam, a bad vendor is a toxin the TRI body just doesn’t need.

Rounding up this super trio is Winnie. The soul of the team, she is the spiritual anchor. Coming from a quality control background, she doesn’t just see price tags; she focuses on the integrity of the “cells.” Having been with the company for 16 years, she does not think of purchasing as just a department—Mark and Sam and the rest of TRI are instead family members.

With a Jesus statue on her desk and worship music playing in her head, Winnie brings a rare sense of calm to an otherwise high-pressure room. While the others are crunching numbers and deadlines in the system, Winnie is often providing the peace. When the supply chain gets congested, her remedy is simple: Pray, communicate, and stay together.

What makes this trio truly vital is how they handle a crisis. When a shipping delay spikes the company’s stress levels, this organ doesn’t malfunction. Instead, it activates its recovery ritual.

The unspoken support system in Purchasing is built on a legendary “supplement menu” freshly baked Pineapple Buns, Dim Sum, Coconut Jelly and BOBA (their number 1 go to!). These are  a few of their favorite things, or should we say, medicines to keep the stress away and the calm at bay.  They are the fuel that keeps on going on a daily basis. However, all jokes and happy tummies (and an astronomical Doordash bill) aside, they all agree that faith in the Lord is what grounds them most.  When things are at their direst, they leave it to God.

Sam said it best: “We just like to eat.”

Despite their independent, unique personalities; down to how they spend their time off the clock. Mark on the basketball court, Sam with a martini and a true-crime mystery, and Winnie in prayer. All three return to the office every Monday morning as a single, synchronized unit, ready to tackle whatever lays ahead of them. All three are also humble to a fault, insisting that the Production Team is the real “MVP” and “Backbone” of TRI. But we know the truth: without the Vital Organ of Purchasing, the heartbeat of the company wouldn’t be nearly as strong.