Imagine a Company as a Car. A well-oiled shiny machine running smoothly along its path of success. As for the motor that powers this car/company, one can also imagine that the engine of any good company is its Accounting department.
An Accounting department consists of many moving parts: Accounts receivable, accounts payable, financial reporting, payroll and auditing. With so many different teams, it may sound complicated, but if you step back and look at the big picture, it’s fairly simple. Money goes in, money goes out, waste is removed and you’re always looking for ways to use your money better.
Presiding over many of those moving parts at the Lewis Group of Companies is Adriana Drake. Employed by Lewis since 2013, Adriana is our Vice President Controller and has her office at the California corporate office in Upland, CA. She’s a graduate of San Diego State University where she earned her Bachelors degree in Business Accounting. She’s also a Certified Public Accountant.
A self-described “puzzle-solver”, Adriana supervises a department of over fifty people and is well liked, not only for her ideas and thoughtfulness on company business, but her good nature, openness and sense of humor. With all of these qualities, we felt it was a good time for an employee spotlight. Let’s meet Adriana.
What's your role on the Lewis team?
I’m the Vice President Controller at Lewis. It’s funny because when I tell people my title I tend to get the strangest looks. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s because they’re not sure what that means or they’re just shocked because I don’t look like your typical accountant. Just in case you fall in the first category, I oversee all the business operations accounting.
What are you most passionate about in your career?
I’m most passionate about taking on new projects that make an impact. It sounds crazy but I love problems and trying to find the solution. When I first started at Lewis that was pretty much all I did. I was in charge of special projects which basically meant the projects that no one else wanted to do. I love a good puzzle.
What do you do for fun when you're not at work?
When I’m not working, I love hanging out with my family. I have 2 boys, 9 and 11, and they are very active in sports. I love watching them play. I’m definitely that crazy football mom!
What is one recent project you're most proud of?
Honestly, I’m most proud of how my team has come together during this current crisis–the Covid-19 pandemic. If you have visited our accounting department, you know there is a small army up here. We don’t necessarily have the ability to work from home and we know how important it is that we support the business and are here to keep things going. My team has really stepped up and made sacrifices in their shifts and workloads in order for us all to be a safe distance and continue to get work done. I’m just really proud of all of them.
What keeps you coming to work at Lewis?
That’s easy, it feels like family. I just really love it here and I’m so happy that almost 7 years ago my husband forced me to apply for a position I was (at the time) not very confident that I would get. I love my team and feel really lucky to work with all of them.
David Draper is the Director of Talent Acquisition for the Lewis Group of Companies. David is proud to be a part of a successful, stable, and winning team dedicated to its projects, its people and its community. Follow David on Twitter @LewisRecruits.