The Heart of the Zoo: Tana Emerson, Serving Guests and Teamsters Alike
I’ve worked at the Zoo for 39 years, most of those years as a senior Merchandising Salesclerk, all of them as a proud Teamster at Local 481. I have worked in every merchandise location in the zoo, including some that no longer exist.
If you have ever worked retail you know that not all experiences with guests are pleasant, but working retail at the zoo has always been different. It’s so rewarding because people are on vacation from so many places, I am always interested in learning about them, where they are from, what made them decide to visit the zoo and how they felt about their experience. I feel honored to be part of an organization that people have added to their bucket list to visit.
The most rewarding part of my long tenure at the zoo is the honor of being a Teamster, and serving all of you as a shop steward and Trustee. With such a strong local as ours, our benefits package including health and welfare and retirement plan is unmatched. I love educating our members about our incredible benefits negotiated on their behalf by Victor Torres and others over the years. It’s an honor and a privilege to help a brother or sister when they have challenges.
I am honored to serve our brothers and sisters of our great local and I look forward to many more years of service.
Tana Emerson
Local 481 Trustee
