Entering the newly refurbished Campus Store, patrons are not only met by a wider variety of merchandise — from apparel, to a gift corner, to student-created items — many will be greeted and helped by Karla Gibbs, the store’s director of retail operations.
With her warm, friendly demeanor, her steadfast commitment to customer service and her desire to provide every student, staff or faculty member with a truly memorable experience, Gibbs is our latest Meet Your New Colleagues feature. And she’s the first one to be featured in both English and her native, Spanish language — a special attribute, she said, that helps her relate even more personally to Hispanic students and their families in particular, in their native tongue.
“The truth is that being director of retail operations for the SBU Campus Store is not really a job,” said Gibbs. “I love it here and what I love most is trying to bring a feeling of warmth and hospitality to every person coming to this store. Yes, I want to sell everything here but this is not just a retail business for me. I want the students and their families to take home a beautiful memory of this place. I want them to feel something. And to know we care about and respect them. That’s my idea for this place.”
Read and see more — in English and en Español.
— Ellen Cooke
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