Employee Spotlight: Emily Lauro

No matter how you know us – whether you’re a client, considering becoming a client, or interested in joining our team – there’s a lot about Ceeva you may not know.

That’s why we continue to create a series of spotlight posts about the people on the team. In this post, we sat down with Emily Lauro, who shared with us her dream of becoming a surfer, her favorite TV show, and the life lessons she’s learned while at Ceeva.

Are you ready to dive in and meet Emily?

1. Name

Hi, I’m Emily Lauro!

2. What’s your job title?

I am the Business Administrator and Bookkeeping Specialist.

I started out as only the Business Administrator, up until about six months ago. Then, I also became the Bookkeeping Specialist. I was already handling the quoting and ordering. I wasn't expected to work with QuickBooks, our bookkeeping system, but then I picked it up fast in my day to day. So now, I do our bookkeeping too!

Overall, I do everything at Ceeva that doesn’t have a technical focus. I’m not going on-site, but I'm handling everything else when it comes to clients, vendors, orders, and our books. 

3. What does your position entail?

My position entails a little bit of everything: Administration, procurement, invoicing, bookkeeping, inventory, quote creation (both vendor and client facing), and general office duties.

For example, I order all of the hardware that Ceeva uses to distribute to our clients. I handle all the internal orders for Ceeva’s equipment as well.

I also handle accounts receivable/accounts payable (AR/AP). For accounts receivable, that’s mostly client invoicing, making sure everything goes smoothly, and ensuring that recurring invoices go out and are accurate. For accounts payable, I’m making sure we pay our vendors. Some of the bigger vendors we work with are Dell, Ingram Micro, Datto/Kaseya, AppRiver and Blackpoint Security. 

My general office duties include ordering supplies, contacting the building manager if needed, and even ordering coffee!

4. How long have you worked at Ceeva? What did you do before?

It'll be four years this January, which is crazy to think about. 

I actually lived in Chicago a couple years prior to getting hired at Ceeva. I was in administration for a creative recruiting company, for technical roles like graphic designers. It was all women. It was fantastic! It helped me figure out what I enjoyed and the type of environment I wanted to be in.

Then I came back to Pittsburgh and worked for an investment banking firm called BPU. I decided I didn't want to become an accountant, per se. And then I interviewed with Ceeva and I’ve been here ever since! 

Apart from those roles, I have been a waitress for pretty much my whole life.

5. What’s one thing you’ve learned while working at Ceeva?

It’s hard to quantify everything that I've learned into just one specific thing because there's so much I learn every single day. But I’ve learned that asking for help when you need help is okay, and even encouraged.

When you have a healthy and happy work environment, asking for help is not going to be an issue. Don't be afraid to ask the people you work with for details or for more information. That was really hard for me at the beginning.

In the grand scheme of things, this is probably the most important thing I've learned from my team at Ceeva.

6. How would you describe the Ceeva team? 

The people at Ceeva are some of the best people I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. Ridiculously talented and hardworking, and my second family. They're truly the greatest humans I've ever met. I love my team and I love the company.

7. What show or movie are you currently obsessed with?

Peaky Blinders. Cillian Murphy – all the way! If I had to watch one show for the rest of my life, it'd be Peaky Blinders. I'll stand by that until I die. 

8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

It might seem silly, but I wish I could professionally surf. I wish I had the ability to live on the beach and surf every day.

I love the water and I've been to the ocean. We have a cottage up in Northern Wisconsin on the chain of lakes up there. My dad loves water, my sisters love the water, I love the water.

When I was younger, I would watch YouTube videos of professional surfers and I thought it was so cool. I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and I always kind of wished I would have been born in a beach town.

9. What’s your favorite restaurant in Pittsburgh?

I know Pittsburgh is having a little boom at the moment for food, but I much prefer my dad or my partner's cooking. My dad's quiche is beyond insanely good. It was my birthday dinner for 20 years of my life. 

My partner makes the most amazing sweet potato pie from scratch. It's unlike any other. It's so good. I’d never had it before I met him and I felt as though I missed out on a huge part of life.

As far as restaurants in Pittsburgh go, I do loveAiello’s Pizza. It's so good. I get the mushroom and banana pepper pizza. It gives a little kick, but it’s not too overwhelming.

If you want to learn more about the real people at Ceeva, check out one of our other spotlight posts for Ashley Davis or Sean Cassley.

Emily’s dog!