As the new MRS BPO LLC senior vice president of human resources and part of the LGBTQIA+ community, Kevin Mendenko shares what acceptance means during Pride Month and beyond.
06/09/2022 3:15 P.M.
5 minute read
ACA International’s membership and the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry are increasingly diverse. In June, ACA is highlighting member voices as part of Pride Month.
Pride Month is recognized in June each year to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, according to the Library of Congress: “The purpose of the commemorative month is to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.”
It expanded in 1994 when a coalition of education-based organizations in the U.S. designated October as LGBT History Month. In 1995, a resolution passed by the General Assembly of the National Education Association included LGBT History Month within a list of commemorative months. National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11), as well as the first “March on Washington” in 1979, are commemorated in the LGBTQ community during LGBT History Month.
For Kevin Mendenko, who recently joined the MRS BRO team as senior vice president of human resources, Pride Month is a time to be accepting of who people are. Mendenko started at MRS and in the ARM industry six months ago after connecting with the company’s Director of Recruiting Jennifer Barquero.
“She really sold me on the ARM industry and MRS as a company,” Mendenko said. “While I’ve only worked in this industry for six months, I absolutely love it.”
Here, Mendenko shares more about the meaning of Pride Month, his family, and diversity and inclusion programs developed at MRS BPO.
Q. What does Pride Month mean to you?
A. The biggest thing about Pride Month for me is showing people who are not comfortable being their authentic selves that it is OK to be you. Whether in the workplace, at home or with friends, many people in the community are still scared to be who they are. There are people all over the country and the world who support and accept you. Find those people and gravitate toward them. Be the best that you can be by living your authentic life. Pride Month helps to show people who are still in the dark and can’t see the light that the community is strong, supportive, and accepting of who you are.
Q. What does it mean to you to embrace LGBTQIA+ Pride?
A. To embrace Pride is to be accepting of who people are. You don’t have to do anything in particular to embrace Pride. You don’t need to change your company logo to a rainbow. All that people need in the LGBTQIA+ community is acceptance and the ability to feel they can be free to be who they are, without judgment. Create an atmosphere that allows for inclusivity, whether at home, in the workplace, or with strangers you meet. Be open and accepting of who people are without any preconceived notions you may have. At the end of the day, we are all human and should treat each other as equals.
Q. What is an issue the LGBTQIA+ community is facing that many people might not know about?
A. For me, at least, one of the bigger issues I see is being told I am a “victim” due to being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. For me, and I’m not speaking for anyone else in the community, I don’t want to be treated or feel that I’m a victim to circumstance because I am gay. Many news networks and social media posts paint a picture of victimhood for people in the community. I’m not a victim for living my life for who I am. I respect people and companies who don’t treat members of the community this way, but instead treat us as equals. In order to do this, we need to put aside our differences, accept each other for who we are, and move beyond the mentality that we are somehow “lesser than” anyone else not in the community. We are strong as individuals, we are strong as a community, and we can accomplish anything we set our minds to.
Q. How are you planning to celebrate Pride this year?
A. I’m celebrating Pride like I do every year—continuing to live my life as I have been, openly and honestly. I’ll spend time with my husband Tom and our three dogs as I always do. Nothing about Pride month changes how I spend my day to day or entices me to attend any special events. Having Pride extends beyond the month of June, even when companies remove their rainbow logos on July 1. Living your true authentic life every day is what creates Pride. If along the way I can help someone who is struggling with coming to terms with who they are, then that is what Pride truly means to me. Picking up others who are down, showing people the way, and being an example for others to eventually feel comfortable being who they are as an individual.
Q. How is Pride Month recognized at your company?
A. In 2022, we have started to recognize various honorary months. In June, we will be spotlighting team members who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community. This gives them the opportunity to show who they are and be open about their lives without fear of judgment. We’ll expand on these programs as we gain more traction, embracing inclusivity and diversity throughout the organization. MRS fully supports all our team members and encourages everyone to be who they are.
Do you know a member you would like to see featured in ACA Daily’s Member Spotlight or Collector magazine’s Origin Story? Would you like to share your story? We are also looking to highlight our international members and new members of ACA. Reach out to our communications team at [email protected] with your ideas. We’d love to hear from you!
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