125 Years of Family Serving Family – Mary Edu, West Coast Distribution Center

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family.

When Mary Edu thinks about family serving family, she doesn’t have to look far to find an example.

The West Coast Distribution Center outbound manager has served the Exchange for 20 years—surrounded by her work family and her literal family.

Mary Edu has spent her entire 20-year Exchange career at the West Coast Distribution Center, where she works with five members of her family.

“I have been very fortunate to have worked here for so long and made so many great connections,” Edu said. “But to see Exchange values put into action by so many members of my family is a unique reward.”

Edu’s husband, Frankie, is a materials handler who works the night shift at WCDC, along with one of Mary’s brothers, Darwin Domingo. Another brother, Teddy Domingo, is a daytime materials handler.

Sister-in-law Carolyn Domingo is a materials handler who works with clothing inventory, and Edu’s son Michael works in loss prevention at the DC.

“I said, ‘Son, have you thought about what you want to do? And he said, ‘Yes, Mom, I want to work with you,’” Edu said.

Edu has spent her entire career at the DC, starting as a materials handler and quickly moving into an assistant role in receiving, where she spent 10 years.

“I learned a lot about the inbound side, about how to deal with carriers and buyers,” she said. “It was a great way to learn about how warehouse logistics work.”

Edu then spent about four years working in customer service at the DC, then a year as a shipping manager before moving into her current role.

“The thing I remember most about taking on different roles is how good my training was,” Edu said. “Kent Altom, our recently retired warehouse manager, gave me such great insight and taught me so much. I think that encouragement is what has made the biggest impact on me, and I will never forget it.”

And her family won’t be very far away to help remind her.

“I’m so blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care about me and who care about the Exchange,” she said. “We are all really dedicated to the Exchange and love serving our military and their families.”