Team members from around the globe are making a difference in their local communities by using My Purpose. My Time.—an employee volunteer day paid for by Enterprise Mobility. Discover how Anthony L., Senior Financial Analyst at Enterprise Mobility is strengthening and energizing his community by giving his time and making an impact.
In every kitchen, there’s more happening than cooking. It’s a place where stories are shared, skills are learned, and confidence grows. For Anthony, Senior IT Financial Analyst based at Corporate Headquarters in St. Louis, the kitchen has become a place to give back. Anthony spends his Monday nights leading Table for Lou, a weekly cooking class in his hometown, where kids and young adults learn much more than recipes.
“Every week, up to 30 children, teens and young adults join volunteers from 12 different countries to prepare, cook and enjoy a nutritious meal together,” Anthony explains. “The initiative is centered around food, but the life lessons go well beyond cooking. We see kids learn about other cultures, build self-esteem, work as a team and open up to new experiences.”
Anthony uses his My Purpose. My Time. day to go even further—reorganizing and cleaning the kitchen, prepping the space for lessons, and setting up for special events, like the celebration after he received the Show Me Service Award for Adult Missouri Volunteer of the Year in the St. Louis region.
“To me, My Purpose. My Time. shows that helping others is part of our culture and gives us the chance to make a real difference. It means a lot to work somewhere that truly values giving back.” says Anthony.
By using his volunteer day to support a cause he is passionate about, Anthony is helping Table for Lou keep running strong—and showing how small acts of time and effort can create a lasting impact in the community.
We connected with Anthony to learn more about his career journey, advice for volunteering, and what inspired his amazing work at Table for Lou. Read on to hear what he had to say.
Can you share your career journey and what inspired you to join our organization?
I started my career at Enterprise as an Enterprise Fleet Management Business Management Intern in February 2013. I grew up in St. Louis and always heard about the wonderful things Enterprise Mobility was doing to support our city through philanthropic giving via the Enterprise Mobility Foundation. I saw that the organization was hiring an accounting intern, and I couldn’t wait to apply. When I learned I was selected for the role, I was ecstatic! This was my first office job, so I was a little nervous, but I had an incredible supervisor and a fun HR team who made sure I had everything I needed.
After graduating from college, I applied and was accepted for a full-time position at Enterprise Fleet Management, where I managed our fleet’s personal property taxes. After a year, I transitioned to work in our Corporate IT Accounting department, where I managed our Accounts Payables while guiding teams through making strong financial decisions. I was promoted to a Supervisor in Corporate Accounting soon after and led a small team, where I continued to provide accounting guidance, now to entire divisions, including Enterprise Truck Rental, Enterprise Car Sales, and supply chain management.
After a few years, an opportunity to become a Cloud Financial Analyst came up, and I jumped on it. Today, I spend most of my time advising IT teams on operating in the cloud. The work is challenging but rewarding.
What advice would you give to others interested in getting involved in community volunteering?
Find something that you love doing or want to learn about and plug into an organization that needs help. I got started as a treasurer, in part, because I wanted more experience on my resume. If you enjoy event planning, art, web design, or social media management, I can guarantee there is a charity in your area that would love your help.
What I see every time I volunteer is that people are missing a human connection. When I arrive at our cooking class, our students can’t wait to tell me about what is going on in their lives. Just this week, one of our students was beaming and couldn’t wait to tell me that he was accepted into his dream college (pursuing Accounting! 😃). Other weeks, students need to vent about their math class or their dating lives.
I am very proud of how many students we’ve taught to cook, as well as exposing them to new foods, but being there consistently for our students and giving them a safe space to open up and talk may be equally important.
That said, while volunteering seems intimidating, what is needed now more than ever is being there for your neighbors who need help. I go home each week after volunteering feeling rejuvenated and proud of everyone who enables us to make a small difference in our community, while making a big impact on some students who just need a good role model or someone who listens.
What inspired you to start teaching free cooking classes?
I’ve always loved cooking! I remember spending Saturdays with my grandpa just cooking and listening to classical music. I’ve been passionate ever since!
Our teams would regularly hold potlucks, where everyone would bring in a favorite food to share. I gained a reputation as a foodie based on the items I’d bring in and my enthusiasm for talking about everyone’s dishes.
A friend and coworker, Adrienne (who passed away a couple of years back), was starting up a nonprofit with some friends and asked if I would be interested in doing their accounting as treasurer, knowing my love of food and accounting skills. I couldn’t wait to help. We built the cooking class in 2018 at the homeless youth facility, where I still teach, and I fell in love with serving our community.
Cooking is alchemy—you take simple ingredients and turn them into magical feasts. Our students are often amazed that all you need for hash browns is potatoes and oil, or that broccoli can taste delicious! Society has put less emphasis on cooking at home these days. Dining out is expensive, and often we aren’t eating real foods.
Teaching kids and young adults how to prepare simple meals at home has a big impact on their wallets, as well as their mental and physical health, and better prepares them for feeding their families one day. I know we are making a very big difference. I can see students gaining skills and confidence each week, which is an incredible feeling.
Through the My Purpose. My Time. volunteer benefit, Anthony channels his passion for cooking into meaningful mentorship, teaching life skills and nurturing confidence among young people. His story embodies the spirit of giving back and demonstrates how Enterprise Mobility supports its team members in making a real difference beyond the workplace. Looking for a career where you can grow personally and professionally? Explore careers here.
