A Changing Workforce
Remote Working in Lewis County
By Kaylee Tabolt, Marketing and Communications Intern
Lewis County is #TheNaturalChoice for living, for building business, for playing, and for working- but who said all of those things have to be connected? In an ever-changing world, our workforce is following the same trend, reinventing Lewis Life. Take a look at a first-hand account of remotely working from Lewis County below!
Profile: Jessica Clemons, Research Solutions Sales Manager, North America for Ex Libris, a part of Clarivate
Name: Jessica Clemons
Job Title & Employer: Research Solutions Sales Manager, North America for Ex Libris, a part of Clarivate
Headquarters: Jerusalem, Israel
How long have you been working remotely? 3+ years
Why did you choose to live in Lewis County if you were offered the flexibility to live anywhere?
"When I began working remotely I lived in Buffalo, NY. It was great that I didn’t have to move to switch careers. During the pandemic I took some time to reflect about what my values are and what is best for my family. I knew that moving back to the country is where my heart is. I’ve been visiting Lewis County for over 15 years. I have friends and family who live in this area. I considered quite a few different places but when I visited Lewis County during the exploration and house hunt, I knew this was the best spot for us."
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What does your average day look like?
"My day is similar to other folks working in an office, I suppose. I wake up, get ready for work, and spend most of my day on the computer emailing, researching, calling, writing, and meeting with colleagues and customers. Sometimes I’ll have a very early or very late meeting due to time zone differences but the flexibility to do occasional tiny household chores, run an errand in the middle of the day, and stay at home with my kids when on break outweigh any minor scheduled meetings. If I need a change of scenery I can visit the local cafes or libraries because all I need is a strong WiFi connection and my laptop. There are many benefits to having a different kind of “9-5.”"
We are starting to travel a bit more and I find that it is relatively easy and convenient to get to an airport when I need to. Watertown and Syracuse are my typical airports and it is easy to get there and easy to get to where I need to go.
What aspects of Lewis Life do you enjoy outside of work?
I’m amazed at how much there is to do around here! Perhaps it has always been like this and I am fortunate enough to finally have enough time to explore it all. We love to hike, bike, run, and ski. There are a lot of really solid and fun options for eating local and taking a break from cooking. The farmers markets, street fairs, local artisans, food trucks, and live music fill up our weekends if we aren’t in the woods.
How does the flexibility of remote working allow you to be involved in the community?
I can’t remember the first time I heard the slogan “Think Global, Act Local” but I never forgot it. Helping out neighbors is key to a thriving community and there are many ways to contribute in Lewis County. There are boards that I serve on (LCDC) to grow our community in a sustainable way, events that I attend to network and enjoy, and causes that I support financially (such as the local food pantries). There are many opportunities that are close by and I can participate in community events easily. My company supports volunteerism and I have a handful of hours that I can devote to service. This gives me the flexibility to attend meetings during working hours which is something I value about the company I work for.
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How have you perceived your quality of life to change since working remotely?
In Buffalo, I wasn’t unhappy. I could probably be just fine about anywhere. I moved up here so my kids could be closer to nature and live a country life. I am surprised by how much we seem to be thriving. My workday can be hectic but sometimes when I’m on a work call, I can just take my phone and headphones out for a walk. This would be more difficult in an urban setting. One of my favorite experiences doing this was when I was a little too close to my rooster when he was crowing. My colleague said, “did I hear a chicken?” I was surprised that they heard it. But then we had a nice connection over living the country life and how lucky I am. I completely agree.