If you’ve ever enrolled in benefits, had a question about coverage, or needed help navigating a life change, there’s a good chance someone like Shay Mitchell was behind the scenes making sure you felt supported. Shay is JK’s Director, Benefits Operations, and while she’s only been here seven months, she’s already become a thoughtful advocate for our team members and their families.
How Shay found her path in benefits
Like many great career stories, Shay’s started with a bit of serendipity. Fresh out of college, she was applying to roles on Indeed and landed a position in Human Resources and Benefits. At the time, she was also enrolled in graduate school, pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. That experience opened her eyes to how much she cared about helping people navigate important, personal decisions.
Over time, Shay discovered that HR, especially the benefits side, was the perfect blend of her interests: supporting people, solving problems, and making complex information feel manageable.
Why JK?
When Shay first learned about JK, she was drawn to the company’s story of growth and evolution. JK’s ability to identify new business opportunities while still staying grounded in its values impressed her. Every conversation during the interview process reinforced that feeling. “I genuinely enjoyed each conversation I had,” she shared. “From the beginning, I could see myself being part of the team and was excited about the opportunity.”
Her favorite part since joining? The people. Shay appreciates how passionate everyone is about their work and how the team’s diverse professional backgrounds lead to creative, well-rounded solutions. That variety of experience, she says, makes the work more dynamic and collaborative.
A legacy that makes her proud
When Shay talks about her proudest achievement, she doesn’t start with a work project; she starts with her family.
She’s the first person in her family to attend college and the first to join a historically Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. One of her proudest moments was pinning her baby sister when she joined the same sorority. “Since I don’t have children, that experience feels like my way of creating a legacy,” Shay says. She hopes her niece, and eventually all the women in her family, will want to follow in those footsteps and continue the tradition.
Shay’s advice for someone starting in her field
If you’re just getting started in HR or benefits, Shay has simple, powerful advice: Be curious. She encourages people to say yes to opportunities: Join projects, sit in on meetings, and observe new initiatives whenever you can. “Every experience is a chance to learn, even if it reveals that a particular field or project isn’t for you,” she says. “That in itself can be a big revelation.”
Goals on the horizon
Outside of her day-to-day work, Shay has a personal goal she’s excited about: She wants to get into gardening. Whether it’s growing herbs, flowers, or vegetables, she’s looking forward to the calm, intentional rhythm that comes with tending to something over time and seeing it grow.
Shay outside of work
When Shay’s not at JK, you’ll often find her back home in Arkansas, spending time with the people who matter most. “My family means everything to me,” she says. She especially cherishes moments with her grandparents, niece, and nephews.
In her downtime, Shay loves attending stand-up comedy shows, browsing farmers’ markets, and, proudly, taking naps. She even keeps tabs on her sleep with a sleep score, and regularly hits 90 or higher, which she wears like a fun little badge of honor.
One thing you might not know
Shay was a cheerleader for more than half her life. She competed on all-star teams, cheered in college, and still stays connected to the sport by judging cheer competitions from time to time. “I try to look like the stern judge,” she jokes, “but in reality, I’m probably giving out the highest scores.”
What inspires Shay
When Shay needs a boost of inspiration, she turns to the film Hidden Figures. The story of the brilliant Black women mathematicians at NASA reminds her that her dreams aren’t out of reach. “If they could hand crank mathematical equations to help put a man on the moon,” she reflects, “I should probably be dreaming bigger!”
Shay Mitchell brings that same spirit of care, curiosity, and ambition to her work at JK every day, keeping our benefits programs running smoothly so our people can focus on what matters most, at work and at home.
If you’re interested in a career with JK Moving or know someone who might be, please visit our Careers site for more information!