Employee Spotlight: Babette Cram

Employee Spotlight: Babette Cram

Hard money lending hasn’t always had the best reputation. But at Rain City, we’re real people who just want to help investors Make It Happen. Once a month, we’ll post a feature about a Rain City employee, so you can meet staff you might not normally interact with. Starting us off, the first person most people talk to when they reach out to Rain City, our receptionist and resident smiley-person: Babette Cram.

Name: Babette Cram

Title: Receptionist & Loan Servicing Administrator

Years at Rain City: 2

Can you describe what you do at Rain City Capital?

I answer the phones and service the loans: making payments, extensions, statements, and answering the borrowers’ questions. I also help with special projects, such as our recent office move.

Why did you apply to work at Rain City?

Funny thing: I had kept in touch with [COO] Pam Drexler and even though I wasn’t looking to leave my job, the incentives, both monetarily and personally were greater than where I was at.  I had not realized that I had been missing this kind of work (in banking)… and because we’re not a bank, it made it that much sweeter. Besides! Who doesn’t love wearing shorts and flip flops to work in the summer? I’ll tell ya who! This girl right here!!!  I LOVE the environment here. 

What is your favorite part about working at Rain City Capital?

The people. All the people: borrowers, coworkers. Even Fred!

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

Subscription boxes. I now have three. And my grandchildren each have one.

What advice would you give yourself ten years ago?

Same advice I give myself now: Be a good person. Look for the positive things instead of grasping onto the negative.

What’s your pet peeve?

Complaining. Negativity.

Do you have any tips for a good work/life balance?

I think it’s important to keep your work week to 40 hours. Lunch time is given for a reason, and people sometimes need to just get up and walk away. Time away from your desk is important. Take all your vacation. Keep work at work. Take some time away from your desk each day, even if it’s for a 10 minute walk.

What three words would you use to describe yourself?

[Editor’s note: Babette didn’t want to answer, so she asked me to put three words. So these three are from me.] Friendly, hilarious, awesome.

Where’s your favorite place to be?

Going on a cruise with my husband!

If you were stranded on a desert island with two of your Rain City coworkers, who would you choose?

Pam Drexler (Chief Operating Officer).  I feel like we’re sisters from another mother. We’re good work friends in and out of the office.  We do well together. And Sandra Guzman (Loan Servicing Manager). The good times the three of us would have on an island relaxing… oh my god that would be so fun! I wouldn’t even mind being stranded. We might have to figure out how to make alcohol out of fermented fruit, but the three of us could do it.

If you were to win a high school year book award right now, what would it be?

The recent years of my life have been the best. I would win “Person Most Likely to Achieve Peace in Her Latter Years.”

What is the best, worst, or weirdest job you’ve ever had?

One of my first jobs—everyone will laugh because it was way back—I used to solder resistors to the ends into a circuit board. Back in the 80’s! I wasn’t even done with high school yet. By far, RCC is the most fun job I’ve had in my adult life.

 Pam Drexler, Executive Vice President of Rain City Capital (and one of Babette’s potential fellow island dwellers) had this to say about Babette:
I have worked with Babette for over 10 years.  I nicknamed her Bubbles.  I think the reason is obvious.  Both her personality and her sense of humor bubble up all of the time.  She is quick witted.  On a professional level, her dedication to getting things done and being a reliable contributor and team player is nearly unsurpassed. 

Next time you call into our office, be sure to tell Babette hello!