The holiday season is a wonderful time to slow down. To take a few moments to appreciate the beautiful things that happen every day in the communities around us — at home, at work, in town, and across the globe. And it’s lovey to learn about different, and new ways to celebrate these small, special things.
Keep reading to learn about some of the unique and lovely ways a few of our Autura team members celebrate their holidays.
Sara Douglass — Head of People Operations
Autura Tenure: 1 year
“Every spring my extended family and I make wine together. It’s a great team-building activity with all
50+ of us.
On Christmas Eve we open the wine and drink it with our Christmas Eve dinner.
It’s something I look forward to every year. Why? Because we get to enjoy something we all collectively put a lot of hard work into together, as a family.
This personal tradition has inspired me to bring similar experiences into my professional life, too.
At Autura, we work hard to build a culture that is community based. We do this with virtual and in-person team events like coffee meetups and games, wellness challenges, and both on- and off-the-clock activities. This fosters relationships and help us work toward common goals.”
Benton Barnett — Product Manager
Autura Tenure: 1+ year
“Every winter, my husband and I take public transit downtown to see Portland’s Christmas tree.
We pass Christmas lights on neighbors’ houses, decorated store windows, and trees strung with twinkling lights thoughtfully installed by city crews. This year we got hot tea from a local bakery and visited the 75-foot Douglas fir in Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Each decoration we pass represents someone’s effort — neighbors climbing ladders, shop owners staying late to arrange displays, workers braving cold nights to hang lights.
It reminds me that even mundane things can be beautiful when people work together.”
Kylie Money — Events Manager
Autura Tenure: 8+ months
One of my favorite holiday traditions that my husband and I started is making a large batch of homemade vanilla.
It takes a full year to be ready. Each Christmas, we give our families a fresh bottle. Then we start a new batch for the next year.
It’s a small ritual, but it reminds me how meaningful it is to invest time in creating something special for others. In a way, it mirrors what I love most about working in events at Autura — which takes thoughtful planning to build experiences that leave a lasting impression!
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From all of us at Autura: Thank you for being part of our community and for the work you do to keep communities moving. We wish you a joyful, restful, and meaningful holiday season — however you choose to celebrate.
