TempWorks customer comment about Melanie Kramer

Yesterday I spoke with Laura at Excel Staffing. She wanted to let me know that she thinks Melanie Kramer, our Support Center Manager, does a great job.

Melanie joined the TempWorks team in 2001. Melanie wears many hats. She leads our support center and helps out with customer trainings and demos. She is always willing to jump in at a moments notice to help our customers, as well as fellow co-workers.

Thank you Melanie for all that you do for our team.

Thanks also to Laura for your raving review. I enjoying getting feedback from our customers, especially when they tell me one of our team members is helping to make their job easier.

Thank you note received

Last week I attended an event for Saint John's and Saint Ben's. Today I received a thank you note in the mail from one of the management students I met.

Dear Cory,

I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you at the networking session for alumni and current students. The insight you shared about your business and what you do was very interesting. I will think about the internship we discussed. It is always a pleasure to meet St. John's Alum's and hear what they have to say, and you are no exception. Your passion for your work and insight into TempWorks was enthralling. I wish you all the best and hope to talk to you again sometime in the future.

Thank you,
Stanley

Thank you Stanley for the note and the kind words.

A blog I enjoy reading

One of TempWorks customers is Solutions Staffing in Columbus, OH. I would like to highlight the writing of S. Anthony Iannarino, who is their President and Chief Sales Officer. Mr. Iannarino writes a blog called, "The Sales Blog" which I read.

Recently I read the post about Taking notes for the Road Warrior. I especially liked the section on thank you notes (being I wrote about this recently too). Anthony also has a few application suggestions for taking down notes while you are out of the office which is worth taking a look at.

TempWorks management team has over 60 years of experience

A commercial I had seen recently mentions, "You are in good hands with..." I am not going to mention the commercial but you probably know which one I am referring to.

I believe that to be true at TempWorks too. You and your team will be in good hands. Our management team all have three or more years of experience with TempWorks or the staffing industry:

• Gregg Dourgarian - Founder and CEO
• David Dourgarian - President (started in 2001)
• Mark Baratto - Executive Vice President (started in 2004)
• Cory Hintz - Vice President (started in 1998)
• Paul Czywcynski - Chief Technology Officer (started in 2001)
• Melanie Kramer - Support Center Manager (started in 2001)
• Sairah Tran - Implementation Manager (started in 2002)
• Derek Nicholls - Web Services Manager (started in 2004)
• Jathan Moline - TempWorks Select Manager (started in 2005)
• Kevin Prow - Operations Manager (started in 2006)
  

I feel very lucky to work with such a great group of devoted people.

Please continue to let us know how we may be able to help your company.

Happy 4th Anniversary at TempWorks Dan!

Dan Brandel celebrates his four year anniversary at TempWorks this week.

Dan has been the System Administrator during his tenure at TempWorks. He makes sure all of our computers, printers, and phones are operational. He also takes care of all of our hosted servers, their maintenance, as well as their redundancy.

Congratulations Dan! Thank you for your dedication to our team.

Imagination is more important than knowledge

On my way into work this morning I was listening to the audiobook by Seth Godin called "Tribes: We need you to lead us." You can download it at ITunes or you can buy the book at Amazon.

Seth mentioned a quote by Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge" which I believe to be very relevant today. I have had many conversations in the last few months with our customers concerning upgrades to our latest software version. Our new version has many efficiencies. A slowing economy certainly is a good time to get people trained on the new software, so staff know how to use these software enhancements when things turn around.

Just yesterday I had a conversation with a long time TempWorks customer. I told him we would do whatever it takes to get their upgrade plan put in place. Imagination and creativity will certainly be used to get this upgrade plan rolled out.

We are here to help our customers during these tough economic times. I have mentioned to many of our customers that TempWorks is committed to helping customers get the latest version of our software, as well as install our ancillary products. We are also offering our time and resources to help our customer's sales team learn about our WebCenter portals and Time Clock advantages. We are all in this together, and we want to help.

We are ready and willing to think outside the box and listen to your imagination.

More than 30 of TempWorks customers upgraded to latest software release last week

Jathan Moline put in a few extra hours last week upgrading our TempWorks Select division to our latest software release. This is another big step for TempWorks in rolling out our Enterprise product to our customer base.

I hope Jathan is able to relax a little this week. He deserves some time off. Maybe he is able to spend some time at a pool similar to one pictured.

Jathan has been leading our TempWorks Select division for a number of years. He came to join TempWorks from a quality assurance career in manufacturing. He is relentless when it comes to improving our software to make the user perspective better for all of our customers.

Thank you Jathan for everything you do for us. Thank you also to our TempWorks Select customers for your suggestions on how we can continue to improve our products.

A couple of TempWorks unsung heroes

I just wanted to take a moment to recognize a couple people at TempWorks who do a great job, and don't always get the recognition they deserve.

The first is Laura Atheosen. Laura's friendly voice is the one you most people hear when you call our office. She has been working for TempWorks for a couple years. She does a great job with the phones, as well as helping out with different projects around the office.

Mari Kautzman is another I would like to mention. Mari has also work for us for a couple years. She started off helping out in our tax department. Currently she is a key member of our funding and payroll processing department.

Thank you both for your hard work and dedication.

TempWorks attends Saint John's and Saint Ben's event

Last night I was able to attend the Saint John's/Saint Ben's Alumni gathering and job fair. It was a chance for me to connect with some people who I had not seen in over ten years. I had not attended this event before, but I will certainly plan on representing TempWorks there in the years to come.

It gave me a chance to talk to some of the students at SJU/CSB who just graduated or will be graduating in May. It was nice to visit with the students and reflect back a few years when I was in the same position they are currently in. I enjoyed talking to them about what they were interested in from a career standpoint. I also enjoyed talking to them about Tempworks and technology in general.

Many of the students were concerned they were graduating at a bad time because of the economy. Certainly it may be more difficult, but people in general need to continue to be positve.

I feel very fortunate to have worked for Gregg Dourgarian for more than ten years. He continues to promote technology. I have learned a lot from him as well as the many customers I have been at over the year. I have been converted over to a techie, and I love technology.

I also feel very fortunate to be living now. It is a great time to be alive. Things are changing on a daily basis and so is the technology. There is so much information at our fingertips. I look forward to all the future has in store.

Thanks to all the alumni and students that were there last night. I certainly wish everyone the very best the future has to offer.

A few travel tips

I have been on a trip this week for TempWorks. We believe it is very important to get out and talk to your customers as often as possible. It helps to understand them and their current situation. You will also be able to learn about the individuals at the company, how their company got started, why they got started, what continues to keep them motivated, and the list goes on. These aren't always things you can read about on their website.

While traveling I recommend:

1. Get your shoes shined at the airport if you get there a little early. It doesn't take that much time and it makes a big difference on your appearance.
2. Gentlemen - Wear a suit. It is always better to be overdressed. I recommend the Men's Wearhouse. They have a nice selection of suits, shirts, ties, and shoes.
3. Make sure your shoes and belt match.
   
4. If your shirt is wrinkled and you don't like iron, steam it. Don't go out to the customer looking like you just got your shirt out of the suitcase. Turn on the shower a couple minutes before you get in. Steaming the shirt will make a big difference. It will take most of the wrinkles out without much work on your part.
5. Stay at a place that has a work out room. Typically it is difficult to eat well while out on the road. It has been my recent experience that hotels have spent money on better equipment (treadmills, elliptical machines, weights). It will help even if you are only able to get in there for 15-30 minutes.
   

"We are ALL sales people"

I have been traveling through the midwest this week visiting our customers. In a visit with The Arnold Group, in Wichita, Phil Hayes mentioned, "we are all sales people, especially these days."

The economy is certainly on the minds of most staffing companies. Thus, I certainly believe Phil's statement to be very accurate. Everyone who interfaces with your customers is a sales person for your company. Not that everyone is selling your products or services, but they are representing your company. Every phone call, email, and on-site visit. All of these reflect on your company. I don't know that most people understand this or its importance.

The Arnold Group has been a customer of TempWorks for over ten years. I have had the pleasure of working with Vice President, Phil Hayes all of these years. He represents their company very well.

I also got to sit down and talk to their President, Jill Staats. I thanked Jill again for letting me attend their holiday party years ago. I had been doing a software upgrade for them. It was a very nice gesture on their part to let me attend. I wanted to make sure that Jill knew I remembered their kindness.

There are times you just have to try it, commit to it, and stick with it to get results

I know we have all uttered the phrase, "I wish I would have done that sooner."

I said those words recently. For over 10 years I battled with contacts. Every year I went in to the eye doctor hoping that technology had gotten better. I was hoping I could see with contacts as well as I could with my glasses. I would get the eye exam. I would try the contacts for a couple weeks and then I would stop trying (I didn't try very hard because I just figured they should work without me having to do really anything). I couldn't see as well with the contacts as I could with my glasses. I would stop trying and I would think to myself, "next year the technology will be better."

About nine months ago I decided to change the pattern. I committed to wearing contacts at all cost. I was going to take the time to go to the exam, make the multiple trips into the doctor's office to get checked and re-checked no matter how long it took. I was going to wear my contacts during the day, night, at work, for play, etc. If 125 million people in the world can wear contacts (according to Wikipedia), then so should I.

It wasn't easy. It didn't happen in a couple days. I didn't enjoy the process. But now I am very happy I stuck with it. Now I really enjoy the freedom contacts provide.

I wish I would have done it sooner.

You may be asking why I am writing about this on my TempWorks blog. This has nothing to do with TempWorks or things going on at TempWorks.

Actually it does.

Quite often I talk with people about technology and advantages of our latest version of our products. These customers are hoping with every passing year technology will be better. They are hoping this newer technology will improve their staffing company's needs. Many times they find out it makes sense to do it sooner rather than later for many reasons. But converting data, installing software, working out the work flow and new processes aren't easy. They take time, money, and a lot of effort.

Make the commitment. It is worth it.

If you have questions about TempWorks technology, please feel free to contact me. I can help. I want to help.

Nice job, Brandon.

I saw an email yesterday from one of our customers stating that Brandon Johnson was the "bomb-diggity." I was unfamiliar with this term, but I hear it is meant as a compliment. Brandon jumped in and helped the customer with their TempWorks Mobile application.

I have been working closely with Brandon the last few months implementing or upgrading almost a dozen customers to our latest version of DocCenter. He continues to make our DocCenter product more user-friendly and easier to install.

Thanks Brandon.

Happy Anniversary

Kevin Prow celebrates his anniversary with TempWorks this weekend. Kevin has been a key piece to our funding and payroll processing over the last year.

Before stepping into his current position, Kevin worked in our development department. He helped develop some of our ancillary products, one of which is our time clock solution.

Recently all of our customers have been looking for efficiencies with their software. Many have been impressed with the effectiveness and cost savings from the time clocks once they have installed.

Thank you Kevin. We appreciate your dedication to our team.

Call of Appreciation

Yesterday I listened to a voice mail from Brenda Morgan, who is the IT Director at Northwest Staffing Resources. Brenda called to express her appreciation for the help she received from Jon Schachtele. Jon helped her with a finish up their end of year processing.

Jon has been a key part of the TempWorks team since 2001. Jon and I both worked together at Paychex before joining TempWorks. Jon is currently our Payroll and Tax Research Manager. He knows the TempWorks payroll and tax engine better than anyone on our team.

Thanks Jon for all that you do. I also want to thank Brenda for her call. I really enjoy getting calls of gratitude for our support team and tax department. They all do a great job.

A lost form of communication...

I am a big fan of the hand-written thank you note.

I know they have lost most of their luster over the years, as it takes a few days for the recipient to get it via "snail mail." Most people just shoot off an email as it is much quicker and easier.

Think about it for a couple seconds. When was the last time you got a hand-written note sent to you in the mail. Was it last week? Last month? Last year?

That is exactly the reason why I send them out after my customer visits. I also encourage our staff to send them out. Not many people take the time. And that is why they are so valuable.

This past Christmas, my wife gave me thank you notes as a gift. She made the thank you notes and put my initials on them. Possibly one of the best gifts I have received.

End of year gathering

Each year TempWorks has an end of year get together for employees and their spouses. Normally the event is planned towards the end of January, as the first part of the year is very busy for our support and implementation teams.

This year's event was held this past weekend at the Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis. There was a very good turnout and everyone had a great time. Thanks Stephanie, Laura, and David for putting the event together for us.