Employees

Claudia Hernandez Blog

01 Nov: Kentucky Agent blends Mexican culture with art

Tradition is everything to Geek Squad City Agent Claudia Hernandez. Claudia — known in the Louisville community as Clay Mata — is a proud Chicana self-taught artist who spreads her culture with each brushstroke.

Claudia’s inspiration comes from the colorful and culturally vibrant Día de los Muertos holiday, also known as Day of the Dead. The Mexican holiday is observed annually from Nov. 1-2 with a joyful celebration to remember and pay respect to friends, family members and loved ones who have died.

Election Day Blog

28 Oct: Best Buy employees serve their communities on Election Day and beyond

Best Buy is committed to support employees in using their voice and exercising their rights, whether it’s through voting, volunteering or becoming an elected official.

With Election Day just around the corner (Nov. 8), we talked to a few employees to learn about how and why they’re getting involved to serve their communities.

Volunteering at the polls on Election Day

Voting locations all over the country are looking to recruit thousands of individuals to help keep polling sites open and available for in-person voting.

Jeremy and Team Blog

20 Oct: Best Buy employee develops new board game

One of the best things about Best Buy, according to decision science senior manager Jeremy Geenen, is how the company encourages employees to bring their interests and passions into the workplace.

“I love getting to be part of the FINs (focused involvement networks) and other groups around Best Buy and having the support from my team to pursue those passions,” he said.

Jeremy leads the Best Buy Talent Show steering committee, is a leader of the Best Buy Auto Club FIN and loves participating in the Gaming FIN.

JohnnieMerritt BBBS Mentor blog.

03 Oct: Minnesota mentor shares life lessons with next generation

Growing up, Johnnie Merritt felt like there weren’t many Black male role models for him to look up to. That’s what inspired him as an adult to sign up with the Twin Cities Big Brother Big Sister mentorship program. 

“I thought that this would be a good space to fill that void for someone else,” Johnnie said. 

Five months ago, the marketing analyst was matched with his 10-year-old mentee, Ayden. Coming into the match, Johnnie was curious and nervous, but he knew he wanted to give back to youth of color.  

Ray blog

03 Oct: Store culture gives Massachusetts employee confidence to be himself

On his first day at Store 1532 in Burlington, Massachusetts, Ray Gao’s leaders told him their priority was for him to feel safe and comfortable at work so he can be his fullest self.

While simple, the statement meant a lot to the sales advisor. As a gay man who has autism, there have been multiple situations throughout his life where Ray has had to hide or hold back part of who he is. This immediate affirmation from his leaders gave Ray courage to ask for accommodations and talk openly about his background.

MERG award blog

28 Sep: Best Buy recognized for support of military employees

Best Buy was recently recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Defense for benefits and assistance available to military employees with the Above and Beyond Award.

In addition, multiple leaders across the company have received Patriot Awards for their personal support of an employee serving in the National Guard.

The Best Buy Military Employee Resource Group (ERG) leadership team accepted the Above and Beyond award on behalf of the company at the Minnesota State Fair on Aug. 30.

“We are genuinely honored to receive this award,” said ERG chair Nikki Kukla.

yardbird blog 2

20 Sep: Best Buy, Yardbird provide outdoor furniture for Minneapolis cancer nonprofit

While undergoing treatment for illness, spending time outside in fresh air can be a respite for a patient and their loved ones. And it’s even better when enjoyed with a comfortable place to sit.

That’s why when Katie Berens, a Best Buy senior product manager, saw on her social media feed that the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Minneapolis needed to replace its damaged patio furniture, she wanted to see how we could help.   

The Hope Lodge provides a home away from home for cancer patients and caregivers who must travel more than 40 miles for treatments.

Hugh_Blog

14 Sep: Best Buy’s Hugh Cherne makes sustainability a lifestyle

Over 50 years ago, on April 22, 1970, the first celebration of Earth Day took place. More than 20 million Americans gathered to celebrate a day that would mark the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement.  

Hugh Cherne was in the crowd that day, and at the time didn’t know the profound impact it would have on his future career or that it would lead him to Best Buy. Now the company’s associate director of sustainability, the day lives on in Hugh’s memory as one that helped shape him into who he is today.

Braynell latinx blog

13 Sep: Attorney’s Nicaraguan roots drive him to help immigrants in U.S.

Editor’s note: Best Buy is proud to honor Latinx Heritage Month and celebrate our Latinx employees and communities. Read on for the story of one of our employees.

Braynell Estrada Britton began serving his community as early as elementary school in his hometown of Managua, Nicaragua. His parents and teachers taught him the importance of volunteering his time and how to use his talents and skills to help others.

Decades later, these values continue to shape the associate corporate counsel’s life.

Taina Sisters Murals Blog

01 Sep: Philadelphia sales advisor celebrates her Puerto Rican heritage through art

Editor’s note: Best Buy is proud to honor Latinx Heritage Month and celebrate our Latinx employees and communities. Read on for the story of one of our employees.

Philadelphia sales advisor Lily Vega and her sister, Vanessa, were introduced to art at a young age. They would often watch their father draw cars in notebooks, learned of their uncles’ famous sculptures in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and followed along with their aunt’s New York fashion business.

This family legacy led to the sisters’ passion for art and drawing.

Jay Minyety photography day

19 Aug: Retail supervisor captures picture-perfect team culture

Jay Minyety never took his photography skills seriously until someone expressed interest in purchasing one of his pictures. That’s when Jay, then an associate in the digital imaging department of Best Buy Store 1028 in Midtown Manhattan, New York, decided to focus on his passion.  
 
Today, Jay is a retail supervisor at Store 821 in Raleigh, North Carolina. As the “culture captain” in the store, he uses his camera to foster a fun and inclusive environment for his team.  
 
“The feeling of capturing a moment with people, I feel satisfied knowing that I’m able to tell a story through pictures,” he said.

TTC internship blog

17 Aug: Best Buy Teen Tech Center members take their learnings to summer internships

For Garrison Graham, now a Best Buy product flow specialist in Virginia, what started out as weekly visits to his local Teen Tech Center has now evolved into a paid, in-store internship experience.  

Earlier this year, Garrison was given the opportunity to become one of 20 in our Career Pathways program, which focuses on the career development of the members of Teen Tech Centers, where he transitioned from Teen Tech Center member to Best Buy intern.  

Best Buy Teen Tech Centers® provide safe, after-school spaces where teens can get hands-on experience with the latest technology alongside adult mentors and volunteers.