Taking a Chance on Something New

A Craigslist Posting That Changed Everything

Rosa Raiford's Touch Dynamic story began with a Craigslist job posting. At the time, she was a Rutgers University graduate with a degree in English Literature who was searching for a full-time opportunity. She had been working part-time as a reference librarian, but the role wasn't the right culture fit and offered limited opportunities for growth.

The decision felt even bigger because Rosa was weighing two very different paths. To make things even more uncertain, she wasn't initially hired. Touch Dynamic selected another candidate for the position first. When that employee left, Rosa received a call and a second chance.

"I was either going to move to Connecticut for an opportunity at my sister’s company or take this job if I got it."

That second chance changed everything.

The Early Days in Irvington

Rosa started as an Office Assistant in Touch Dynamic's Irvington office.

Her responsibilities included filing paperwork, supporting reception, placing orders, and helping with day-to-day administrative tasks. Like many new employees, she spent her first weeks learning the basics while getting to know the people around her.

One of the people who had the biggest impact was Kathy, who trained Rosa during those early days.

"I still talk to Kathy today. She's great."

What started as a first job in the industry quickly became something much more.

Discovering an Opportunity to Grow

From Filing to Fast-Paced Operations

Coming from a library environment, Rosa immediately noticed the difference.

The work was faster paced. There was more technology involved. Every day brought new challenges and new problems to solve. Most importantly, there was room to grow.

As she became more familiar with the business, she found herself fascinated by manufacturing, purchasing, inventory management, and the operational side of the company.

What originally began as a job started to look more like a career.

The Decision That Changed Everything

Several years into her journey, Rosa earned an associate degree in Health Information Technology and began thinking about pursuing a different career path focused on data and analytics.

She was preparing to leave.

Instead, leadership saw her potential and created a new opportunity for her as a Purchasing Assistant.

The move introduced Rosa to purchasing, inventory, configurations, and operational planning. It also gave her the chance to apply her strengths in organization and problem solving.

It was a turning point that changed the trajectory of her career, and she realized she could make her own career path here. 

Finding Her Place in Operations

Turning Curiosity Into Expertise

Over the years, Rosa continued expanding her knowledge and responsibilities. She learned purchasing and inventory management, became highly proficient in Excel, gained a deep understanding of ERP systems, and developed extensive knowledge of product configurations and part numbers.

Working closely with Mike Chen, who is now a Touch Dynamic sales rep, she helped build SKU systems and processes that supported the company's continued growth.

Her ability to understand how pieces fit together operationally became one of her greatest strengths.

Learning From Great Mentors

As her career evolved, Rosa learned from leaders and teammates who helped shape her professional growth.

Craig Paritz, the company president, helped her develop her professional communication style, showing her how to structure emails and communicate effectively. She also credits many of her leadership lessons to the examples set by Craig Paritz and Mike Chen.

She learned that if you "show dedication, people will help you grow."

Over time, she developed a simple mindset she still uses today:

"What would Craig do?"

That question helped shape how she approached challenges, decision-making, and leadership.

Growing Into a Leader

Building Something From the Ground Up

Rosa's career continued to evolve from Purchasing Assistant to Inventory Specialist, then Supervisor, and eventually Manager. As her responsibilities expanded, so did her impact.

She created procedures, developed scorecards, established processes, and helped build the structure of her department. What started with a small team eventually grew into a fully developed function within the company. Along the way, she earned the trust to make decisions independently and help guide the future of the department.

One prediction from Dave Graber remains especially memorable.

He said, "One day you're going to have five people under you."

At the time, it seemed difficult to imagine. Today, it feels remarkably accurate.

"Having my own department was my proudest career milestone," said Rosa.

Rosa with a few members of her team, Chris Szczepaniak, Megan Tan, and Hans Geva, pictured above.

 

Finding Her Voice

Leadership wasn't just about learning systems and processes. It was also about finding confidence.

Working in a traditionally male-dominated industry taught Rosa valuable lessons about communication, leadership, and self-advocacy. She learned when to push, when to listen, and how to earn respect while remaining authentic to herself. Today, she often shares those lessons with newer employees, especially women beginning their own careers.

"There is a time and place to be softer, but you also have to learn how to be tough if you want to be taken seriously."

A Company That Grows With You

Why She Stayed

Throughout her career, Rosa received opportunities with higher salaries and different organizations. But every time she evaluated those opportunities, she returned to the same conclusion.

Touch Dynamic offered something more valuable.

It provided growth.

It provided flexibility.

"TD gave me the opportunity to be my own boss," said Rosa. "I stayed because I could continue growing here, both professionally and personally."

And it provided a support system that allowed her to continue building the career she wanted.

Through Every Stage of Life

Rosa's connection to Touch Dynamic goes beyond her career. Over the years, coworkers celebrated her wedding, supported her through major life milestones, and surprised her with a baby shower when she and her husband Mike Raiford, the Production Manager at Touch Dynamic, were preparing to welcome their first child.

"The support for family life was a big reason I stayed."

As she prepared for her second maternity leave, teammates continued to check in, ask what she needed, and help ensure a smooth transition. Those moments reinforced what made the company feel different.

The Stories That Still Make Her Laugh

The Famous "MoFo" Email

Every long career comes with a few memorable and funny moments. One of Rosa's favorites happened early in her career while sending an update about a motherboard shipment.

She intended to write:

"This MoBo (motherboard) will ship soon."

Instead, she accidentally typed:

"This MoFo will ship out."

What could have been an embarrassing mistake has become one of the stories she still laughs about today.

Learning the Phones the Hard Way

The phone system wasn't much kinder. As a new receptionist, Rosa hadn't been fully trained on transferring calls and accidentally hung up on customers more than once. At one point, she even hung up on Craig.

"The phone has always been my ADHD block."

Fortunately, both the phones and the people around her were forgiving.

Typing Faster Than Everyone Else

Rosa was also known for quickly flying through work.

In fact, she typed so fast that coworkers occasionally struggled to keep up.

"Craig told me to slow down."

It's advice she still laughs about today.

The Legacy of Helping Others Grow

Building More Than Processes

While Rosa is proud of the systems, structures, and procedures she's created, those aren't the things she talks about first when reflecting on her career. Instead, she talks about people.

She has mentored team members, helped employees develop professionally, and worked closely with Touch Dynamic's first formal intern, Eva Guastella.

Rosa pictured with Eva at the Touch Dynamic HQ in South Plainfield, New Jersey. 

Whether managing a team, training a new employee, or helping someone navigate the next step in their career, Rosa believes growth should be shared.

What She's Most Proud Of

"The people I helped along the way and the connections I made are what I’m most proud of," said Rosa.

When Rosa reflects on what she's built over the past decade, she doesn't focus on inventory systems, purchasing processes, or operational improvements; she thinks about the people she helped along the way, the employees she mentored, the teammates she supported, and the relationships she built.

For Rosa, that's the legacy that matters most.

Worth Staying For

From filing paperwork in Dave's office to leading a department she helped build, Rosa's journey embodies the spirit of TD Homegrown. Her story is one of opportunity, persistence, growth, and believing that a career can be shaped over time rather than planned all at once. It's also a reminder that some of the best career paths are the ones you never expected to take.

And for anyone considering their own future at Touch Dynamic, Rosa offers one final piece of advice:

"If you're looking for growth and people who will support it, this is the company for you."

After more than a decade of growing alongside Touch Dynamic, Rosa’s story is a true example of what it means to be TD Homegrown. Her journey is proof that when people are given the opportunity and support to grow, there’s no telling how far they can go.

 

About Touch Dynamic

Touch Dynamic is an internationally recognized, U.S.-based, ISO 9001:2015-certified manufacturer of advanced POS touchscreen technology, including touchscreen computers, self-service kiosks, mobile POS systems, compact PCs, and touchscreen monitors. Since 2001, we’ve delivered award-winning, purpose-built hardware backed by on-site manufacturing and global reach. What sets us apart is our ability to provide fully modular, configurable solutions tailored to each customer’s specific business needs across various industries, including retail, hospitality, restaurants, gaming, government, and more. For more information, visit www.touchdynamic.com.

Media Contact

Rachel Denton
Creative Marketing Director
Touch Dynamic
732.382.5701 x136
rdenton@touchdynamic.com