“Inside the Mountain”: Storing an entire library becomes a game of inches

Christine Espartero, Operations Supervisor – Bay Area, California

For two years, you could say that Iron Mountain served as a university library, with Christine Espartero as head librarian.

While a university in the Bay Area remodeled its library, Christine and her team stored their entire collection of thousands of books, documents, and artifacts in three warehouses, ensuring that the contents were kept in order, so they could return to the library’s shelves easily. That is, until the team found a few misplaced pieces that hadn’t been shelved.

No big deal – just slide a book or two down to make room – right? Wrong. The shelves of material were packed tight and there wasn’t enough wiggle room. Everything would have to shift to make space.

“Shifting an entire library can either make you or break you,” Christine said. “But I said, ‘This is not happening on my watch.’”

At first, the customer was worried about whether their collection would come back as perfectly organized as they hoped. But Christine and team did the math, shifted the collection, and got the pieces where they needed to be with 12 inches to spare – all in one day.

“We finished the entire project a week early, and the university was so impressed that they invited us to see the final, remodeled library with everything back on the shelves.”

Meet Christine Espartero

In 10 years, Chrstine has risen from a temporary data entry employee to a full-time Mountaineer taking on special projects and working with customers in the field. In 2024, she was promoted to Operations supervisor, managing three buildings. “Her communication skills, problem solving, and people skills really impress me,” said her manager, Bob Bullard. “I have all the confidence in her that she will continue to learn and thrive in this environment.”

Question: How do you describe yourself as a Mountaineer?

Answer: I’m the type of person to ask questions. “What's right? What's wrong? Why are we doing it this way?” I’m naturally curious.

Question: How did you find your footing once you became a manager?

Answer: Honestly, it took me a while to break out of my shell, and for my team to break their shell. Now we’re super open and they confide in me.

I did it by being myself. I'm a straight shooter. I say it how it is, you know? I tell my people what's expected. But I have a soft spot, too. I love giving kudos to my team. And I go out of my way to spend 1-on-1 time with them to learn about them, their motivations, and their backgrounds.

Question: What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

Answer: My team’s growth is everything to me. For me to make a positive impact in their productivity and development, it's rewarding. And that extends beyond my direct team. I'm a transportation hub. So every morning, we do our huddles. I involve my transportation guys. I treat them like they're part of my team because they're out of my building.

Question: How do you describe Iron Mountain to friends or family when they ask what you do for work?

Answer: It’s so funny. We service my daughter's doctor's office. And they were, like, "Oh, you shred all of our documents." And I'm, like, "Um, another team does that. I store it for you. It’s so much more than paper!"

So they asked, “Well, can I store my boxes with you?" And I reached out to our sales team to take it from there.

Question: How do you make safety a priority?

Answer: My warehouse, my team, they know when I'm out in the warehouse. It's like, "Oh, it's Christine. She has her clipboard."

If it takes you an extra five minutes to bend or push or pull correctly, take the extra five minutes. Staying five minutes late is going to hurt a lot less than injuring yourself.

I tell my team, “The same way you come in is the same way that I want you to go home.” That includes their mental health and wellbeing. I always tell them, take some time off. I always tell them, it's sometimes good to take a day to rest.

Question: You were recently promoted. What tips would you give Mountaineers who want to succeed here?

Answer: Never be afraid. Be open to learning new things or taking on roles, even if it's not exactly your end goal. I also found a mentor who helped guide me through learning new responsibilities.

Question: What’s been your favorite moment as a Mountaineer?

Answer: We did a pack, prep and move job for an NFL football team and they were super welcoming – and I’m a fan of their rivals!

For me, I love going out in the field and meeting new people, creating that bond, learning something new every day. I love engaging.