A Recipe for Team Bonding

A regular Friday took a flavorful turn when IES Virginia team members whipped up fresh fish tacos. 

At our Suffolk office, Juston Ellis, Division Safety Manager, and, Ray Thompson, Talent Acquisition Specialist, brought Taco Tuesday energy into the office on a Friday with homemade guacamole and fish tacos. “A family that works together, eats together!” said Ellis. Food, a globally recognized love language, has influenced team bonding at IES Virginia since 2022. “A couple years ago, during our Thanksgiving Potluck, everyone was asked to bring in a dish,” says Juston, “that’s when we realized our home team is full of culinary experts.”

The Friday fun began short before noon when Thompson headed for the office kitchen with a handful of grocery bags. As Ellis diced up the fresh-caught Cobia fish, Thompson set up the taco toppings. Soon, the smell of a home-cooked meal filled the office, drawing in both office and warehouse members. “What a way to end a productive work week and reaffirm our team in all their hard work,” said Thompson.

It wasn’t long before there was a line out the kitchen! In true Master Chef fashion, both eagerly anticipated reactions as members packed their tacos with flakey fish, fresh guacamole, and mango sala. “This was the best taco I’ve ever had,” Nicole Jones, IES VA Controller, exclaimed.

The impromptu lunch served as more than just a work break—instead Taco Friday seized an opportunity to celebrate our successes, appreciate each members contributions, and strengthen our teams connectivity. Not to mention, Taco Friday was a delicious conclusion to the work week!

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