Kamille Pea has been with Peckham for seven years, rising from her first role as a packager to Team Lead at the Linden facility in Flint, Michigan. Her career pathway reflects steady determination and a willingness to grow through hands-on experience across multiple areas of operation.
She started at the packaging table, then moved to the spread table, worked on bulletproof vests, handled shipping and receiving, and returned to packaging before stepping into leadership. “I’m the type of person that likes to learn everything so I can help wherever the help is needed,” she explains. “I can’t sit in one spot too long.” That curiosity led her to observe coworkers with strong rhythms and attach herself to them, absorbing their techniques. She credits the supportive environment where team members readily share knowledge.
Kamille’s approach stands out in how she connects with others. She greets new team members first, offering reassurance when they feel overwhelmed. “Don’t get in your head,” she tells them. “It is not a hard job. This is a family.” If someone appears tense, she cracks a joke or offers a hug—drawing naturally from her experience as a mother. She recalls her own early days, feeling out of place without anyone reaching out, and now makes sure others know they have someone to lean on. “Just one person saying hi or ‘you can do it’ makes a difference,” she notes. “It lets them see they’ve got somebody if they’re feeling overwhelmed.”
Her journey includes personal challenges. A recovering alcoholic who drank for 20 years, Kamille struggled to hold steady employment before Peckham. She applied during her recovery with modest expectations, but the organization hired her and provided stability. “This has been my home,” she says. Peckham supported her sobriety, offering a consistent routine and a place to talk when anxiety or overwhelm surfaced. She mentions Vocational Services Specialists as part of that safety net.
The organization also helped build practical skills and confidence. Kamille was among the first to participate in the Dream to Drive program, which assisted with paying off tickets, teaching road signs, and preparing her for the Secretary of State test—reducing her anxiety and enabling her to earn her driver’s license. She has learned sewing tasks she once avoided, stepping in to support production lines as needed. As team lead, she focuses on keeping workflows smooth and reducing bottlenecks by mastering additional steps herself.
Kamille extends the same encouragement to younger workers and students who come through for packaging tasks. She listens to their struggles, sets a positive tone, and reminds them to leave outside issues at the door. “We smile up here,” she says, offering affirmations and a steady presence. Her own children have watched her progress with pride, especially during recertification periods when positive feedback from coworkers and supervisors highlights her reliability—no arguments, no write-ups, and consistent performance over seven years.
She expresses deep appreciation for the opportunities. Peckham taught her new skills, helped through financial hardships, and built her confidence in speaking with others. “They let me be me,” she says, “but they are so willing to teach me new things and show me how I can get to the next level.” Her father and the father of her children were veterans, along with uncles, so she takes pride in contributing to products that support those who served. “Even though I didn’t fight the war, I feel like I’m keeping them warm and comfy.”
Today, Kamille arrives each day with a clear goal: to work with a smile and ensure her team members leave the same way. She eyes future growth toward roles like case manager, where her natural ability to calm others and translate their concerns could help more directly. Her story at Peckham illustrates how consistent opportunity and practical support that takes place in a nurturing workplace can transform someone’s trajectory—one zipper, one inseam, one bullet-proof vest at a time.