Meet Jessa, Meat Clerk

As we continue our celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Desi Heritage Month, we're excited to introduce Jessa, Meat Clerk at our Willoughby Commons Giant Eagle!

We're thrilled for you to get to know more about Jessa here.

What is your job title? And what do you love most about your job?

I am a Meat Clerk. The thing I like the most about my job is that as a Meat Clerk, I get asked a lot about which cut of meat is more tender or how to cook certain types of meat. Therefore, I get to cook and try all different cuts of meat and give our Guests my opinion.

Please describe your career path with Giant Eagle.

Three years ago, I joined Giant Eagle as a Meat Clerk. My Store Leader has approached me a few times to ask if I want to grow into a new position; however, I’m still learning and know that when I’m ready, the opportunity is there to move into the next role.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest moment was when I was still in the Philippines, and I was only 18 years old, but I was able to financially help my parents renovate our house. Being able to help and seeing my parents happy is always a big accomplishment for me knowing that I had a good use of my hard-earned money.

What are some significant cultural holidays or family traditions that you celebrate? What makes them special to you?

My favorite tradition is the Fiesta. People that are from the village but work in another city or province would come home to celebrate it. Some friends and family who live in different cities and provinces or villages also come over to celebrate the day or in my village, a three-day celebration of Fiesta. Aside from being able to catch up with family and friends, there’s also a feast of delicious foods, tuba (coconut wine) and a two-night disco in a basketball court which everybody loves.

Explore Opportunities to Join Our Meat Department

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What is Asian Pacific Islander Desi (APID) Heritage Month?

May has been designated as Asian Pacific Islander Desi (APID) Heritage Month. It is a time to honor and celebrate the rich history and culture of Asians, South Asians and Asian Americans, as well as the successes, the hurdles overcome, and the hurdles that still exist. The Desi community, also referred to as the South Asian Community, represents the members and culture of the Indian subcontinent. In addition to celebrating the role this community plays in American culture, this month is an opportunity to continue to build a common understanding among our global workforce.

Giant Eagle's Asian American Business Resource Group (AABRG) invites all Team Members and our neighbors to come together in appreciation of Asian culture, which is comprised of many, many nationalities, languages and cultures. Our AABRG is also excited to offer a variety of activities to commemorate and educate our Team Members, including voluteering events, community partners, poetry discussion and much more.