A year after majoring in actuarial science and applied statistics and minoring in Spanish and management, Thomas Rotter got a job at American Licorice Company (ALC) in February 2020. With such varied interests evident in his areas of study, Rotter was pleased to find that there was a connection between what he studied and his work as a data analyst.
“The mindset that they taught with how to think through different problems and analyze the data has really applied a lot to my job,” Rotter said. “I work with a lot of sales data, so I’m analyzing to see different trends, cleaning up data, and stuff like that.”
Through his work as a data analyst at ALC, Rotter enjoys discovering new things. His love for the job extends beyond his personal work, however, as he quickly learned the emphasis ALC puts on fostering strong community within its company culture.
“Early on when I started, we had a team-building activity,” Rotter said. “We had a guest come in to help us understand ourselves as employees and how we work together with different personalities. We divided up into teams and did a scavenger hunt. It was really fun to get to know a lot of my new co-workers because that was in my first few weeks.”
This scavenger hunt entailed finding random objects and finding people with certain characteristics, helping Rotter get to know his co-workers. He also learned that he did not have to be serious all the time while at work, but he could have fun and enjoy his job and co-workers.
“I feel valued as a person even more than I am as an employee. They really care about my wellbeing and make sure that I’m feeling good on a daily and weekly basis. They acknowledge that my personal wellbeing comes before my commitment to them as a company,” Rotter said.
This focus on community is something Rotter sought out even before working at ALC. After he moved to the Valparaiso area fresh out of college, he wanted to find a way to get involved with and support his new community. His search led him to Lakeshore PAWS, where he walks, trains, and shows dogs to families three to four times a week.
He shared that he has seen over 3,000 dogs since he began volunteering at Lakeshore PAWS. One of his favorite dogs he has interacted with over the years is Queso, a goofy, loving, not-so-bright pitbull mix. While he does enjoy seeing familiar furry faces like Queso’s at the shelter, Rotter is even happier when they leave.
“It’s always fun to be able to go there and see a dog that recognizes you, and sometimes it’s even better when you go there and they’re not there because a family just took them home,” Rotter said.
Rotter was thrilled after he moved from no-pets housing to an apartment that was pet-friendly, allowing him to bring one of the precious pups home with him. A Lakeshore PAWS dog named Jammer listed as a puggle mix caught his eye because he loves both pugs and beagles and was looking for a small dog that would fit in his one-bedroom apartment.
After spending a little time with Jammer, he was sold and brought him home after a few days. To his surprise, a DNA test revealed that Jammer was actually a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Jammer enjoys going for car rides, getting pup cups, and going to Rogers Lakewood Park while Rotter plays disc golf. In addition to playing disc golf at local parks, Rotter also enjoys winding down by watching Netflix or reading and says he is a big sports guy and particularly enjoys baseball.
While volunteering at Lakeshore PAWS occupies much of his free time, Rotter is happy be part of what he regards as a worthy cause.
“I’m super appreciative of Lakeshore PAWS and the people who keep it running on a daily basis,” Rotter said. “It’s been a great experience to go there and hang out with friends, hang out with dogs, and enjoy a little bit of everything in-between.”
To learn more about American Licorice Company and the community-minded people who work there, visit www.americanlicorice.com/en.
