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April 2022 General Announcements Events Wellness Benefits Training Development Compliance HR Tips Optima Cares D I Employee Recognition Growth OFG Wins Employee Engagement All the latest news happenings going on at Orange County Phoenix s best company

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS Core Value Ethical we build trust through honesty and clear communication Opti Rewards Program Congratulations to last month s Top 10 Want to learn more about opportunities to earn points Click Here Earn more points and work your way up the ranking Opti Rewards Ranking March Top 10 Client Bill of Rights Honesty in all communication with clear and easy to understand language 1 2 2 4 5 6 6 8 9 10 Maria Cabrera Amber McAdams Santiago Vergara John Pham Kateri Drewes Karina Garcia Tony Solis Armando Rojas Khanh Dang Kevin Kim Want to check where you stand Click Here April s report coming soon

Event Recap Employee Appreciation Luncheon CA offices Friday March 4th 70 Attendees AZ Spring Picnic Saturday March 5th Gilbert Regional Park 80 Attendees Click here for photos CA Color Run Saturday March 19th in Huntington Beach 108 Attendees Click here for photos

Wellness Benefits Fitness First Walking Walking is an ideal form of exercise it s free and you can do it almost anytime and anywhere Walking is also a great way to maintain a healthy weight or to shed those extra pounds Click here to learn more Utilize Teladoc Teladoc lets you see and talk to a doctor from your mobile device or computer without an appointment Most visits take about 10 15 minutes and doctors can write a prescription if needed that you can pick up at your local pharmacy This service is part of your health benefits offered through Blue Shield of CA at no cost to you Click here to learn more

Training Development PD Workshop Series for Q2 UPCOMING EVENTS PROGRAMS Kickoff of Q2 Series Communication April 28th Time TBD Types Elements of Communication Sign ups will open in early April More info to come Optima s Leadership Accelerator Phase 1 4 7 Level 2 Classroom Training 2 Coaching Counseling 4 28 Kickoff of the last Level

Housekeeping Meal Break Policy and Procedures Refresher Timing of Meal Breaks Non Exempt Hourly Employees should take their meal breaks no later than the start of their 5th hour of their work shift Employees who work approved OT should take a second meal break no later than the start of the 10th hour of their work shift Meal Break Waivers 1st Meal Break may be waived if the employee works between 5 and 6 hours 2nd Meal Break may be waived if the employee works between 10 and 12 hours To waive a meal break submit a Meal Break Waiver form to mbp optimataxrelief com For any questions regarding Optima s meal break policy and procedures or to request a meal break waiver form please contact mbp optimataxrelief com or HR via Paycom s Ask Here HR IS HERE TO HELP Did You Know Looking to find how much time away from work you have Check your accruals in Paycom Click here to learn more

Optima Cares Bake sale hosted by Optima volunteers to raise funds for Autism Awareness Thursday April 21 from 11a 1p on the 3100 quad For more than 35 years communities across the world have come together to honor and remember loved ones and take action for lifesaving change Even when facing the challenges of COVID 19 Relayers have found a way to fundraise for a future free from cancer We re asking you to join the movement and sign up to save lives Optima will match any donations and is sponsoring the event Show your support and wear blue for our company photo Thursday April 21 at appx 12p on the 3100 quad Saturday April 23rd from 4pm 10pm Donate gently used clothes shoes and canned goods supporting Shoes for the Homeless and OC Rescue Mission Friday April 29th from 9a 3p Drive thru style

Employee Recognition Anniversaries 10 years 9 years 8 years 7 years 6 years Lauren Collier Blessey Kurien Tim Lin Rosanne Steele Andy Torres Daniel Wright Maly Chhoeun Jose Anaya Karina Arreaga Angelica Sinajon Crystal Tavarez 5 years 4 years 3 years 1 year Eric Marquez Nan Paturzo Luisa Garcia Monica Abido Elizabeth Erica Benjamin Guzman Katrina Haggins Amy Hogancamp Sandra Jordan Hector Marquez Katy Hsia Joselyne Nieto Tiffany Huynh Atia Zafr Andrea Lavie Genesis Martinez Dean Palomares Genesis Alvarez Zee Dockery Rubyt Gonzalez Lluvia Guzman Teresa Herrera Jamile Morales Jacqueline Raya Cynthia Valadez Employee Growth New Hires Happy Birthdays OPEN CAKE FOR BIRTHDAYS

Shoutouts Debtmerica Forward Tax Shout out to Bernie Melendez for finishing a strong month with 25 deals followed by Roberta Settle with 19 Shoutout to Monika Espinosa with a job well done for placing top producer in March for team Forward Tax Thank you all who participated in our virtual lunch this past month It was great catching up Vincent Nguyen TALENT ACQUISITION SPECIALIST Vincent is super engaging and makes you not feel lost instead supported Although he likes to say he stays in his office a lot he is never discouraged about helping people in the office of even making sure they are on the right track

o t g n i Gett ow you n k LE L E I R MA ETT DURR My name is Marielle Durrett I was born in Honolulu Hawaii as my dad was stationed there with the Navy We moved to Vallejo CA when I was a year old and I spent 7 years there I spent the remainder of my childhood in Fullerton CA I attended University of California Irvine after high school and graduated with a degree in Information and Computer Science I will have been married to my husband Bobby for 30 years this August We have 3 adult daughters ages 20 25 and 27 We have lived in Florida Louisiana and South Carolina and have been in Arizona for the last 11 years I started my career as a computer programmer but made the decision to be a stay at home mom which I did for 17 years When my youngest was 10 I started working part time as an Administrator and have had several different jobs with various companies as an Administrative Assistant In the last company I worked for Ingram Micro I was able to perform a lot of HR functions which made me want to make a change to working in HR I have been very happy to be working at Optima as a Human Resources Coordinator for the last 3 months My faith is very important to me I became a Christian when I was 18 and my relationship with God is a significant part of my life My family and I attend New Valley Church in Chandler and enjoy the community we experience there I serve on the Deacon Team volunteer monthly in the baby nursery and my husband and I co lead a small group Bible study I enjoy reading mysteries and other fictional stories paddleboarding and hiking in my free time My daughters Hannah and Lydia and I are also quite addicted to home remodeling shows with House Hunters Renovation and Grand Designs being our favorites I m excited to be part of the AZ team and look forward to getting to know everyone

Client Reviews Resolved my back tax issues with efficiency and ease I couldn t be happier to know that this one big problem is no longer a problem at all My experience from start to finish was exceptional Everyone I worked with at Optima was knowledgeable and courteous From the very beginning they were very helpful and kind They answered all of my questions and were available to help me through this process Even after my case was closed they kept in touch to ensure everything wrapped up as planned I would definitely recommend them I was in despair on what to do and how to get started on my back taxes I called and they listened they broke everything down to me on how they could get me back on track than we went to work The personal experience is wonderful The resolution team assigned to my tax problem gives me confidence and hope that I will have a positive outcome and put this nightmare behind me I m very pleased with the Optima Tax team of professionals At every step of this ongoing process I ve been fully informed on how my tax situation will be solved I received my full tax refund for 2021 when I thought I wouldn t get anything back What a great surprise

Leadership fun facts KIM CARSON Where is your favorite place to travel I still have a million places to visit but out of where I have been I think my soul belongs in Hawaii The first time I went there I immediately felt at peace I love to go hiking in the jungle and walk swim in the clear beaches and just meditate in nature I always feel centered when I am there What is your favorite thing about working at Optima I love the culture of giving at Optima I have always said I wanted to do more charity work and at Optima there are so many opportunities to volunteer that I am able to do something bigger than myself now and I feel fulfilled in doing so What is your favorite sports team LAKERS I grew up watching the Lakers while I played basketball and always tried to mirror my game after Shaquille O Neal Needless to say I fouled out a lot trying to be like him What piece of advice would you give to your high school self Save at least 50 a month that you invest and do not touch I have made financial mistakes in my life and have the financial understanding of the benefits of saving while you are young What would you do if you won the lottery Depending on how much I won I would give at least half of it away to family friends and those in need I would then take the rest and travel the world while I built a financial plan to include what business es I would invest in what charity initiatives I would participate in and how I can ensure that the money lasts Aside from businesses investments and giving money away the only large purchase I would make would be a home on the beach somewhere

Employee Engagement Enter your answer to our monthly question in the link below by no later than April 15th Anyone who participates will receive FIVE Optima Rewards Points You will also be entered in a raffle for a chance to win a 25 gift certificate The gift card winner will be announced in next month s newsletter