Kathy Caplinger enjoys her work. She enjoys it so much that she endures a hellish commute (up to two hours one way!) every day to be there.

"I don't dread coming to work. I look forward to it, which is nice," she said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't worth coming in."

Kathy was promoted to Mercury Air Group's Controller in July 2015, and before that had spent 14 years with the company as the Accounting Manager. She said that much of the work she does on a daily basis includes tasks she has been doing for years: things like account reconciliation, administration for the company's financial system and being the backup for the payroll, accounts payable many of the other departments within the Mercury corporate group.

"I've just always loved playing with numbers," Kathy said. "I like software - getting it to do what I need it to do…there's a satisfaction in getting things to balance," she said.

Kathy began her career as a stat typist at a savings and loan. It was there she realized that working with numbers was more satisfying, and she was able to take classes to learn accounting.

"I've always been very fortunate and worked for people who've been willing to mentor me. They recognized my abilities and were willing to give me the opportunities to prove myself ," she said.

She spent 16 years as an accountant for Baskin Robbins, and another five years as an accountant with an eyeglass company. When the eyeglass company sold, she began contracting, which was how she was introduced to the Mercury family.

In 2001, Mercury Air Group hired Kathy as a contractor to help implement their financial software. Her expertise with the software, combined with her accounting background, led to a permanent position with the company. She said that the people at Mercury are the biggest reason she enjoys her work.

"I like the people. The management here has always been very good to me," Kathy said. "They have always been very supportive. Joe has been great, and the bosses he's always hired for me to work with have also been great."

"It's not just the work, it's the management of the company I really enjoy," she said.

In her spare time, Kathy enjoys reading, going to the movies, and spending time with family and friends.