The Power to Build Stronger Communities and Workforces

Melissa Morris is business development and marketing manager at Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace..

By Melissa Morris

In both my professional functions as an adjunct professor and a marketing manager at my family business, I have always been proactive and initiated changes meant to improve the quality of life for other people. I pride myself as a professor on my ability to engage students in a collaborative environment that seeks to maximize participation among students. I strive to make my classroom a safe zone where students are free to express their thoughts and ideas, engage in discussions, and collaborate on different projects. This has improved not only their learning experience but also helped them gain collaboration and communication skills.

At Sam's Caribbean Marketplace, I have spearheaded several impactful changes. One such change was the policy I designed, which let employees get a free lunch on-site. Prior to this, employees had to buy their own lunches, which, over time, became unnecessarily expensive. I knew that by providing a free meal, we could dramatically improve employee morale and satisfaction, and the lunch was well received by the staff, which contributed to a more positive and hospitable workplace.

Another venture I championed was the launch of Sam’s ‘Bread and Butter Express,’ a door-to-door delivery service based in Jamaica. A customer had asked us if we provided any delivery services on the island. Then, I had a co-worker propose the question, “Why don’t we?” At that point, I knew this was a service we needed to provide. I discussed the idea with my father, Andrew Morris, the CEO of Sam's Caribbean, and we were able to devise a strategy that allowed us to implement the service. In addition to wider demographic reach, we were able to gain recognition as a new-age business for the community and cater to a previously untapped market in Jamaica.

Melissa Morris is Business Development and Marketing Manager at Sam’s Caribbean Marketplace. https://www.facebook.com/Sams247/ ; https://www.instagram.com/samscaribbean/?hl=en ; https://sams24-7.com/