Our Comcast employees live in the communities we serve, and every day they’re making sure our customers have the best products, best network, and best customer experience. Tarisa Starks, a Senior Installation & Service Technician from South Burlington, Vermont makes sure our products and services “wow” customers from the moment she installs them in their homes and businesses.
We talked to Tarisa about why she loves her job. Read the following Q&A to find out what she had to say:
Q: How did you become interested in being a technician and what do you like best about it?
A: I’m friends with another Vermont technician, Colby Delaire, who told me Comcast was hiring for this role, so I applied seven years ago and have loved it ever since! It’s a good fit for me because I enjoy being outside and working hands-on, which makes the job incredibly satisfying. I also get to meet incredible people, both on my team at Comcast and the customers we serve. I’m always learning more things about our products and the technology and I’ve continued to grow within the Technical Operations field which I find rewarding
Q: Were there any obstacles you had to overcome when you started in this role?
A: For starters, I had to get used to spiders. You come across quite a few doing home installations – and let’s just say, I’ve adjusted to them. Kidding aside, I learned how to carry ladders and other heavy equipment that I thought would be obstacles. I was able to adapt rather quickly, however, and learned how to use my body weight to set up my ladder and handle the various tools used for service installations.
Additionally, some of the things I thought could be obstacles actually worked in my favor. For example, I have found that being 5-feet tall makes it easier for me to work in small spaces. I also wasn’t sure how people would perceive a female technician showing up at their door, but that, too, has turned into a positive. Some of our women customers feel more comfortable having a female technician working in their house. This has also been helpful in situations where women aren’t allowed to talk to men outside of their family for cultural reasons.
Q: What advice would you give to other women and girls who are thinking about being a field technician?
A: I love that more women are coming into this role and the first thing I’d tell them is to not be afraid of the work. It can be intimidating, but once you go through the training Comcast provides and get comfortable with the job, it’s a lot of fun. I’d also say the experience and confidence you gain from being a field technician will carry over into other areas of your life as well.
Q: Who are some of the women who inspired you to become the person you are?
A: I’m fortunate that I can look to my family for strong, female role models. At one point, there were five generations of women in my family, from my great grandmother down to my niece, all living in close proximity. We helped each other and learned from one another, which was a very special time.
Q: How do you give back to your community?
A: I have served as a trained volunteer interior firefighter for the Colchester Vermont Fire Department for 10 years, as well as served as a trained EMT for the department for about five years. The Colchester Vermont Fire Department is one of the busiest stations in the area, and I find it rewarding to teach firefighting classes and to help people in need of our services.
Q: What’s something most people might not know about you?
A: I’m a bookworm and I love to learn. In my free time I like to take classes, usually about firefighting, and I also enjoy relaxing with books about history and mythology. I’ve also participated in a few “Tough Mudder” endurance races that raise money for military veterans and active-duty service members through the Wounded Warrior project.
