At Bay Photo, we are incredibly proud of the strength, talent, and dedication of the women who help make our company extraordinary. From Metal and Framing to Digital Retouching and Print Production, and across every department - including Giclée, Press Printed, Albums, and more - the women of TeamBay are essential to our success. Their hard work, creativity, and attention to detail are what enable us to deliver the high-quality products and services that our clients trust and love.Â
This year during Women's History Month, we want to take a moment to celebrate the women who help shape our company culture and community. They bring their passion and expertise to every project, ensuring that we continually raise the bar. We couldn’t do what we do without the amazing women on TeamBay!Â
We’re taking this opportunity to especially highlight some of the longest-serving women on our team. Together they have a combined 137 years of experience (!!!), making their involvement invaluable, and offering no shortage of stories full of vibrant memories. We asked three questions of each, so we could hear some in their words...
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Christie BoxillÂ
29 Years, Marketing and Business Development
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo?Â
"When I first started, I was studying photography in college so working at Bay while in school was the perfect fit for me."Â
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay?Â
"My specialty is finding the perfect image for each product. When you find the perfect pairing it becomes a masterpiece!"Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory?Â
"I have so many great memories from over the years. We have such an amazing team here at Bay so any event where we can all get together becomes memorable. I'm surrounded by smart, kind and talented people!"
Avis RoseÂ
27 Years, Digital Imaging
How did you get started in the industry and Bay Photo? Â
"In 1993, I decided that in order to earn a living as an artist I needed to learn how to put my love of drawing and painting to work in a practical way. I earned a degree in Graphic Arts at Masters Institute, and went to work for Inverse Ink, a small company in Mountain View CA, doing interactive comic books for Marvel, DC Comics and Fox Children’s Production. I started as a Digital Retouch Artist at Bay Photo in May of 1997. At that time Bay Photo was just transitioning from film to digital."
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay? Â
"Bay Photo Lab is a growing, cutting-edge company with a 40 year history of innovative photographic printing a photo finishing services. I am honored to be a part of and to be contributing to the successful transition of such a small local company to what it is today. I have loved working with so many wonderful and talented colleagues." Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo Memory? Â
"No question about it! My favorite memories are the amazing Christmas Parties that were hosted by Bay Photo’s Founder, Larry Abitbol. Every year Larry opened Neptune Kingdom at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to all employees and their families for a free evening of great food, drinks and fun."
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Sarah BergeronÂ
27 Years, Strategic Initiatives Project Manager
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo?
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"I've always loved photography! I took my first photo at about 9 years old (a Polaroid my mom still has). I took photography classes at MECA (Maine College of Art), I taught photography in a highschool, and I worked at another lab that shall remain unnamed for a bit. I left that because I wanted to photograph everything, so I packed my car with my tent and my photo gear and drove all over the US taking photos. When I ran out of money, I happened to be in Santa Cruz and Bay Photo was the only photo-related place in town!"  Â
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay?Â
"The people! My co-workers are my family and friends! Many of our customers and vendors have become some of my best friends. I have been lucky to work in almost every aspect of the business over the years; customer service, purchasing materials, product development, tradeshows and sales, business development and analytics, and even some production. All of that has been both challenging and enjoyable and means my job has never been boring!"Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory?Â
"After 27 years there are too many to count!! The day I was hired and asked how long I would stay in town, saying long enough to learn how to surf, but being kept too busy to have time to surf. Moving from the original building into a bigger building, then a bigger one, and having a celebration with Larry because we thought we would never have to move again, only to have him tell me 2 months later we needed to start looking for a bigger building, and then moving again. A testament to the innovative spirit our TeamBay has fostered over the years while having a lot of fun along the way."Â
Maria CanalesÂ
24 Years, Print Production Supervisor
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo?    Â
"A friend told me about Bay and he was so passionate when he talked about the photos that I decided to get a job there too." Â
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay? Â
"Being available to learn all types of processes on developing photographic prints and photo finishing services." Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory? Â
"Being with one of the first labs to transform from optical/film development to digital. It gave me the opportunity to learn to convert negatives to digital files."Â
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Tiffanie MorrasyÂ
17 Years, Sr. Customer Service Manager
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo? Â
"I love interior design and home decor and have always been involved in creating, selling, and teaching art so it was an exciting opportunity. I had several friends who worked for Bay so when there was an opening, I had plenty of references. I get to look at beautiful art for a living now!"Â
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay?Â
"Since I started at Bay Photo, we've experienced remarkable growth. Even so, the company culture and our passion for what we do have remained constant. Everyone here loves their work and enjoys collaborating. It's a truly wonderful team to be a part of."Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory?Â
"In 2009 a coworker asked me to a San Francisco Giants game, we will be married for 15 years this August!"Â
Lily ValenciaÂ
17 Years, MetalPrint Department Technician
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo?   Â
"I started working 17 years ago and I love it. We started in a small building and now we're in a big facility."
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay?Â
"The teamwork!"
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory?Â
"All the Christmas parties and the delicious food."
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Angie Dunstan EganÂ
13 Years, Invoicing Supervisor
How did you get started in the industry and at Bay Photo?   Â
"I took photography classes in Junior High and High School, where I fell in love with the dark room and amateur photography as a hobby at a young age. I then took a clerical job at Lifetouch Photography in my early 20's while going to school for Child Development, which ended up unintentionally redirecting my career path. I returned to my hometown area of Santa Cruz, CA in 2011. Wanting to continue working in the same industry I had recently grown to love, I was drawn to the local legend that is Bay Photo Lab, and have been here ever since!" Â
What are you enjoying most about your experience working for Bay?Â
"Having now spent the majority of my adult working years at Bay, I can undoubtedly say that I have grown up here, both personally and professionally. And the coolest thing of all? So have many others. There is an impressively long list of people in this lab who have worked alongside each other for over a decade (or even two). We are truly like a family, and that is by far, the most enjoyable part of my job." Â
What is your favorite Bay Photo memory?Â
"My favorite Bay Photo memory has to be the surprise flash mob that was put together in honor of one of our dearest longtime employees. Seeing the tears of JOY on her face as she watched it all come to life while we danced ourselves silly in the middle of the Shipping department floor will forever warm my heart."Â
To ALL the incredible women in our Bay Photo community (photographers, artists, creators, and beyond)...
Your passion, creativity, and dedication continue to inspire us, and we are honored to support your work through the products we create. From all of us at Bay Photo, Happy International Women's Day!