Through personal struggle, Unifi Station manager maintains her drive and devotion

Ana Richardson is the embodiment of strength and perseverance.  

In early 2023, Ana and her family faced financial difficulty and had to give up their home. With four kids, including a newborn, they moved into a spare bedroom at a friend's house.   

"It was not easy - six of us sharing one room," she recalls. That same year, Ana started working for Unifi.  

"I started as an agent in the Delta mailroom. I was hired in February 2023, but after about a month, I began having some health issues that had me in and out of the hospital. By April, I was getting better and was told there was a position in Delta Commissary (a Unifi line of service).

Ana took the job and was quickly promoted to Supervisor. 

"I like the job a lot but my shift at that time was at night, and that was tough to handle with a baby and three other kids. My leadership at Unifi understood, and I was able to transition to work on the Spirit Airlines contract as an Admin."  

But after three months, the commissary came calling once more. "The team wanted me back, and there was an opening for Duty Manager. By then, my housing situation was back on track," says Ana. "My husband also found a job, and we got our apartment back." 

Three months ago, in April of this year, Ana was promoted to station manager at Delta Commissary. "It's been a hard journey, but I'm so grateful today to be able to provide for my family and have a job where I can be a leader," she says. "My daily focus is to bring out the best in people and connect personally to what I can as a leader to help them." 

One example is how she forged relationships with the refugee hires on her team. "I've learned a little bit of their language, and they show me their culture, and we show them ours. It helps us work together and teaches empathy."  

Ana says that her future, for now, is in aviation.  

"Every day, I come in, and I learn something new. It's impossible to ever feel bored in this job because there are constantly opportunities to learn and get better," she says. "I thrive because there is so much to do and so much happening." 

She's thriving elsewhere, too—Ana and her husband just purchased their first home. "Things are much, much better."