Get to Know ME with Bob Graham
It’s time to Get to Know ME with our Co-CEO and Co-President, Bob Graham. Read below to learn about Bob’s work motivation and philosophy on integrity. Thanks Bob for participating in our monthly segment!
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
I just took on the role of Co-CEO and Co-President in the summer of 2024. I was the VP, Client and Technology Solutions before that, and I’ve been with the company for more than 22 years.
What does your job entail?
Understanding all the great talents and resources Motivation Excellence has to apply toward clients’ business needs and using those to develop solutions to accomplish them. The other aspect is helping our team members to grow in their positions, overcome the unexpected and enjoy their work life. Having fun sprinkled in helps.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
Being part of a group of people who enjoy what they do, are good at it and are dedicated to giving Motivation Excellence’s best to each client. Creativity, flexibility and developing solutions that address each clients’ needs keeps the day to day fresh and stimulating. I also feel fortunate the company is focused on community, charity and the wellbeing of its employees.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life?
I am competitive and I want us to be the best at whatever we are doing. At Motivation Excellence, that means giving each opportunity our best every day. Away from work, it is enjoying our family and friends.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Anything outside.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
This is a weird answer. Working in this industry is a thousand jobs within a job. We get the honor to work with every industry, many, many companies and create many, many solutions that can better a lot of people’s lives. It is fascinating to see how each company operates, their issues and working with them to improve their business.
This month, our theme for social media is Integrity. What does integrity mean to you?
For me, it is a high goal to focus on. We have choices hundreds of times a day and each action accumulates to create a level of integrity. It is doing the right things in the right way, through caring, personal attention, empathy, and a moral compass.
On the Road with Motivation Excellence: October 2021
Things are changing quickly when it comes to travel. At Motivation Excellence, our goal is to keep our followers and clients informed on the latest protocols, trends and tips. In our On the Road series, we’ll highlight our own travels for leisure and business, as well as report on current client trends in the incentive industry. Look for the latest On the Road post at the end of each month. If you ever have travel questions during this uncertain time please reach out to us at ME@MotivationExcellence.com. We’re happy to be your virtual shotgun or plus one!
In October we had two intrepid international travelers and a quick turnaround client program stateside. Read more below!
NYC in the Fall – Brilliant for a Client Gathering
Traveler: Rhonda Brewer, VP Sales
As you read about in September, when I went for the site visit, this client gathering was a quick turnaround! It turned out amazing! More than 150 people came together for three days and two nights of celebration! We utilized Bobby Van’s near the New York Stock Exchange and the fantastic outdoor space at the Central Park Zoo; I’d use both again in the future. We had room blocks at both the Central Park Hilton and JW Marriott properties. Both hotels were exactly as we expected. The trickiest part about this was the planning for all outdoor meeting and dining space, since NYC requires proof of vaccination to enter indoor event space and we knew we had some guests that were not vaccinated. A big thanks to one of our favorite partners Hello! DMC and their new office in New York for helping produce meaningful events that will be remembered for a lifetime!
Key Takeaway:
- New York City is vibrant and still a great destination for events and meetings, you just need to know the vaccination status of everyone attending so you can guide them on the COVID restrictions.
Off to Paris and Scotland – What a Tour!
Traveler: Rhonda Brewer, VP Sales
It was great to have the opportunity to go to Europe again! Once you understand the new COVID protocols, that vary by country, things go very smoothly. It was great to see people out and moving which is fantastic to see!
In Paris, for the SITE Foundation meeting, we talked about the resurgence of incentive travel on a global basis and how everyone is seeing this around the globe. That said, we do hear those who are running programs are staying within region and while some are venturing outside their continent, likely most will start traveling outside of their region in 2023. As for Paris, it was great seeing so much activity. Masks were worn indoors and it was easy entering any indoor restaurant or museum as long as you show your completed vaccination card.
Next stop for the week was Edinburgh, Scotland, Gleneagles, Royal Scotsman and the Kimpton Charlotte Square. What an absolute treat to be able to be in Scotland again for the Belmond Advisory Board and see the Scottish Highlands via the Royal Scotsman! The train is so well appointed and the entire staff is so gracious and accommodating. It is truly an experience of a lifetime and would be a great addition to any incentive program! Starting in Edinburgh either at the beautiful Gleneagles, traveling on the Royal Scotsman for 2 nights and then finishing your program for a night or two in Edinburgh at either the historical Balmoral or at the Kimpton Charlotte Square. So many options but just a beautiful experience that will be talked about forever!
Key Takeaways:
- Being in Europe again is fabulous!
- Traveling for business in NYC, then heading to Paris and Scotland for industry events is a lot! Hopefully you can visit all three at a more leisurely pace.
Cruising on the Danube
Traveler: David Jobes, President/CEO
I just returned to Chicago after spending 10 days traveling on a Danube river cruise visiting cities in Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. And, wow, did it reengage my desire to start traveling again! After international travel being virtually unattainable for over a year, it was great to see its return. Even if you are not a “cruiser,” a European river cruise is intimate (smaller ships) and reaches both large and small towns in various countries where you can enjoy welcoming people and fabulous foods. This was a great way to start traveling abroad again. We were aboard the AmaWaterways AmaMagna and found the accommodations and hospitality excellent!
Once you get off the ship, I would encourage you to explore as much of the cities as possible. Traveling in October to Europe is perfect with temperatures in the mid-50’s and generally sunny. All locations were easy to get around with English spoken by most people and a lot of the signage was also in multiple languages. In the larger cities, such as Vienna and Budapest, finding taxis was easy and inexpensive, just be aware not all taxis take credit cards for payments.
Key Takeaways
- Euro-Countries require you to have proof of COVID vaccination in order to enter the countries.
- It is wonderful to get reengaged with different cultures again.
- The airlines and the ship all took extreme measures to make sure everything was sanitized and kept to high safety and health standards.
Coming Up Ahead
- Portugal with travel planner Joe Reise
- Back in Vegas for an industry event
Buckle up and enjoy the ride with Motivation Excellence as your guide!
Get to Know ME with Staci Wand
This month’s Get to Know ME features Staci Wand, a longtime member of our travel department. Read below about her drive to meet challenges and her awesome sense of humor! Thanks, Staci for letting us get to know you a bit better.
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
My journey began 21 years ago as a Program Coordinator in the travel department. After many years in that position, I was promoted to the Program Manager position. As the needs of the company have shifted, I am once again assisting in Program Coordination.
What does your job entail?
Managing the participant database and registration process for incentive travel programs for 50 – 1400 people. I handle many logistical components such as hotel accommodations, ground transportation and activity confirmations, as well as the preparation of on-site supplies.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
Motivation Excellence offers a flexible work environment. The company recognizes us as individuals, which allows employees to balance personal commitments, while still maintaining a high level of work.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I can do a comedic impression of Shakira…for close friends and family only. ☺
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
When I’m presented with a challenge that is identified as nearly impossible, that motivates me to figure out a way to make it happen. I’m also motivated by chocolate.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Playing chauffeur for my children and going for walks.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
The movie Jumanji (the new version).
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Our family had a lot of game nights and movie nights. We also tie dyed a lot!
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
I worked in a coatroom for many years if that qualifies as unusual.
This month, our theme for social media is “Devil’s in the Details.” What does attention to detail mean to you?
My current position requires a keen eye for detail, which I personally thrive on. Attention to detail requires you to not only dissect and analyze what’s in front of you, but also to be proactive and consider different outcomes based on all possible avenues of action.
On the Road with Motivation Excellence: September 2021
Things are changing quickly when it comes to travel. At Motivation Excellence, our goal is to keep our followers and clients informed on the latest protocols, trends and tips. In our On the Road series, we’ll highlight our own travels for leisure and business, as well as report on current client trends in the incentive industry. Look for the latest On the Road post at the end of each month. If you ever have travel questions during this uncertain time please reach out to us at ME@MotivationExcellence.com. We’re happy to be your virtual shotgun or plus one!
September was a busy month – read below for a coast-to-coast recap of our travels and key takeaways.
San Diego in September – Always Amazing
Traveler: David Jobes, President/CEO
Destination: Hotel del Coronado for SITE Classic Meeting
I had the pleasure of attending SITE Classic at the beautiful Hotel del Coronado. With more than $400 million in renovation and expansion, the hotel remains absolutely stunning, especially the original woodwork throughout the main venue space. They have a great selection of restaurants on property with great food and great service to create a level of excellence we expect from this iconic hotel.
Of course, the weather in San Diego was perfect, no surprise there! The SITE team did a great job with this event! There were interesting breakout sessions, speakers and fun activities that truly took advantage of this spectacular resort and city. SITE suppliers donated wonderful travel packages to help raise money for the association.
Key Takeaways:
- San Diego airport is easy to navigate and I had no delays with the TSA check-in process.
- Rideshare service was good – usually less than a 5-minute wait. Masking for unvaccinated people was in play and looked to be widely followed.
Back at it in Las Vegas with Howie, Lionel and Motivation Excellence
Traveler: Brad Hecht, VP Travel
Destination: Las Vegas (Wynn) for Client Program
Excited to be back out with our customers at a major event this month for a group of 250 people! The airports flying from RSW to LAS via DFW were all packed on a Sunday afternoon and evening of travel. Of course, when I stepped off the plane it was again like old times again and the LV Strip was bursting with energy, people and lots and lots of craziness.
Basically, it’s busy everywhere in Vegas. Taxi lines, bars, restaurants, and especially the casinos are experiencing high traffic, not to mention sold out hotels. The only slow place was breakfast at 7am!
Howie Mandel commented how this was his first time in nearly two years performing live. Believe me, we were all excited to be back in a live atmosphere again and Howie and Lionel Richie were amazing at our client event!
Key Takeaways:
- Our client’s customers were excited to be back at a live event!
- This is the just the beginning of great things to come for our industry.
Happy to Help a Client in the Happiest Place on Earth
Traveler: Sky Capriolo, Strategic Marketing Manager
Destination: Orlando
I had the pleasure to attend a client event to help with in-person registration of their channel partners and sales reps for their new incentive program! The venue (Gaylord Palms) and our client did a great job with safety protocols throughout the long weekend including adding spacing between chairs at meetings, bringing in air purifiers, masking as needed and staff serving food at buffets.
Frankly, flying into Florida, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but was happy to see all service industry people (hotel staff and off-site restaurant staff) wearing masks, as well as a good portion of visitors to the hotel and Disney Springs.
Key Takeaways:
- Always assume you’ll be placed next to a whining, kicking toddler on your flight to Orlando.
- The flight back from Orlando is a lot like the flight back home from Vegas…people are exhausted!
A Site Visit for an Upcoming Client Program
Traveler: Rhonda Brewer, VP Sales
Destination: New York City
We had a quick turnaround opportunity to help a client host a meeting/event in New York City in October. I was excited to attend the site survey in September and was pleased with the results!
New York City requires proof of vaccination to attend inside events at hotels and restaurants. Our client’s group will not all be vaccinated, so we found outdoor meeting and eating spaces in Manhattan to accommodate everyone attending. The pictures above are of a space at the Central Park Zoo we’ll be utilizing.
New York City is thriving and beautiful in the fall. We really liked the new terminal at LaGuardia Airport! It’s so bright and inviting, despite the continued construction.
Key Takeaways:
- NYC is still a great place for incentive travel and meetings!
- While tricky, accommodating all attendees is doable and appreciated by clients.
Getting in the Swing for Charity
Traveler: Rebecca Steiner, Business Development Director
Destination: Boston-area
Rhonda Brewer and I were thrilled to take part in a charity golf event hosted by one of our clients at the historic Woodland Golf Course in Newton, Massachusetts. Motivation Excellence was one of 60 sponsors to support this 32-year tradition. Nine non-profit groups (mostly in healthcare, addiction, special needs education and children’s needs) benefited from nearly $150,000 raised!
Rhonda and I did not win any golf awards, but we had a great time in our foursome and celebrated every great shot on our team (see pic)!
Motivation Excellence donated a travel package that included an $800 American Airlines voucher and a 3-night stay at the Eden Roc in Miami. We’re grateful to our partners at Eden Roc for helping support our client’s charity!
Key Takeaways:
- If you’ve never tried the “Martini Tees”…get yourself some before your next trek to the course!
- A golf event is a perfect way to get a good size group of people together safely to have some fun and enjoy camaraderie.
Client Trends
Our team is very busy with proposals for incentive programs scheduled to start in December 2021 or January 2022. This is the time when budgets for the next calendar year are put in place, so it’s the perfect time to look at how you’re planning to reward and recognize the people who make a difference for your company.
Group incentive travel, lifestyle upgrade rewards, employee reward and recognition programs and individual travel packages are all ways we’re working with current and new clients to motivate and recognize their employees and channel partners.
Coming Up Ahead
- Paris with SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence)
- A Danube River Cruise
- Client program in New York City in October
Buckle up and enjoy the ride with Motivation Excellence as your guide!
Get to Know ME with Diane Kelly
It’s time to Get to Know ME with one of our VPs, Diane Kelly! Read below and watch the linked video to get to know what makes her laugh, why she loves numbers and her favorite book to read to her grandsons! Thanks Diane for sharing special things about you and your life!
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
My title is Vice President, Finance and Administration. I have been with MEI for 6 years and 5 months.
What does your job entail?
My job entails all facets of accounting and finance as well as human resources and payroll.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
For me it would be how we do what we do. We really believe in exceptional results not just for our clients and participants but for our employees too. One of our core values is exceeding expectations and you can see that value in the effort everyone here brings to the table. I like being a part of that.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
This talent would fall under attention to detail– I can immediately notice what doesn’t belong or what is wrong in a document or picture. As a child, I used to love doing those puzzles in the Highlights Magazine where you needed to find the hidden picture or which one doesn’t match the others. They were really teaching me attention to detail all along.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
I am very driven internally. I like to set goals and figure out how to achieve those goals. Achieving the goal is my motivation. I routinely review my short and long term goals to determine what needs to be adjusted because goals shift or roadblocks need to be addressed, doing this keeps me flexible and open to change.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Spending time with family (especially my grandsons) and hanging out with friends watching sports and playing games. I enjoy reading, visiting different styles of architecture and/or museums, learning about history, scrapbooking, and working on different home projects.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
I remember watching Abbott and Costello movies with my Dad when I was little. If ever I need a good laugh, I will put one of those old movies on and as a bonus, I get to remember all the good times I had with my Dad and that will always make me smile.
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Work kept me busy, I did some household improvements, and I did more outside neighborhood activities.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
Unless you think accounting is unusual, that is pretty much it other than my stint at McDonalds’s during high school and college.
This month, our theme for social media is empathy. What does empathy mean to you?
Empathy to me is being able to listen so you can really understand where the other person is coming from and how they feel.
On the Road with Motivation Excellence: August 2021
Things are changing quickly when it comes to travel. At Motivation Excellence, our goal is to keep our followers and clients informed on the latest protocols, trends and tips. In our On the Road series, we’ll highlight our own travels for leisure and business, as well as report on current client trends in the incentive industry. Look for the latest On the Road post at the end of each month. If you ever have travel questions during this uncertain time please reach out to us at ME@MotivationExcellence.com. We’re happy to be your virtual shotgun or plus one!
Taking it Easy in Aruba
Traveler: Brad Hecht, VP Travel
Destination: Aruba for Leisure
This was my first trip back to Aruba in more than 25 years, and I was pleasantly surprised! It wasn’t as windy as I remembered it and the area has grown nicely with great options for activities and dining. Service was great, every meal was excellent and the sun and sea were brilliant!
Traveling to Aruba with the current safety protocols was straightforward and reasonable. U.S. travelers need proof of a negative COVID PCR test within 72 hours to board the plane. Once on the island we needed to show proof of our negative test a few more times and proof that we purchased the mandatory Aruba supplementary health insurance. Airport personnel also needed to give us “clear to check-in” cards for our hotel stay.
Once we jumped through all the COVID protocols, our time on Aruba was unencumbered by the pandemic.
Coming back to the U.S. was a little more involved (read painful). An antigen or PCR test was required before checking in for our flight. These are often offered right at the resort. With all the extra stops and checks at the Aruba airport, it’s suggested you get there four hours pre-flight, which makes for a somewhat wasted travel day.
Key takeaways:
- The stay was worth the extra travel precautions
- The stray cats were not concerned about COVID at all
Experiencing American History & Sights
Traveler: Rhonda Brewer, VP Sales
Destination: Multiple states on the East Coast for leisure
Taking a trip to the Northeast in August could not have been more perfect; History, a beautiful coastline and scenic mountains, all in one trip! Add in being with great friends and working toward completing my goal to visit all 50 states, it was a bucket list moment for me.
Places we visited include:
- Boston, Cape Cod and Newburyport, Massachusetts
- Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island
- Cape Neddick and Ogunquit, Maine
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Mt. Ascutney area, Vermont
We hiked, biked and ate our way through this amazingly beautiful part of the United States. A couple noteworthy highlights include eating at a “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” restaurant called Red Arrow Diner (fabulous breakfast!) and seeing Zac Brown at a sold-out concert at Fenway Park (we’ve all missed live music!). Toasting to friends at the Cheers bar was a treat too!
Key takeaways:
- Tourists were out in full force enjoying great sights right here in the USA
- Self-guided tours are pretty easy in this area
- I’d highly recommend this area for business groups or leisure travel – lots of education, activities and venues
- Check masking and vaccination requirements for the states and counties you plan to visit ahead of time – where we visited, we had no issues, but we all know how quickly things can pivot.
Client Trends
Currently, we have multiple clients running end of the year incentive programs to capture Q4 growth potential in markets like veterinary and dental. Some are using lifestyle upgrade packages from our MaxRewardsYourWay offering, while others are rewarding increased sales with bonus award points to use in our online award options. Reach out to us at ME@MotivationExcellence.com if you have needs for a Q4 reward solution.
Coming Up Ahead
- We have a client taking 250 top customers to Wynn in Las Vegas for an incentive/appreciation event in September. Check back for our next On the Road blog to get an update on how it went!
- We’re also looking forward to industry events in San Diego and Paris this fall with SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence). We’ll give you the recaps in future On the Road posts.
Buckle up and enjoy the ride with Motivation Excellence as your guide!
Get to Know ME with Paul Nguyen
It’s time to Get to Know ME with Paul Nguyen, our Network Administrator and general IT facilitator around Motivation Excellence. He’s got an ear for music too and appreciates a good love song! Take a short read about Paul and you’ll see why we enjoy having him on our team.
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
I’ve been with the organization for over 10 years as a System/Network Administrator.
What does your job entail?
“Where do I begin?
To tell the story of how great a job can be …
Where do I start?”
(Stealing lyrics of the 1970 “Love Story” theme by Andy Williams, replacing the word love with job instead.)
I sometime feel like I am a one-man band in a recording studio, doing a little bit of everything, a jack-of-all-trades but “master of none.” With technology advancing at such a rapid pace, learning on the fly to tackle everyday problems is challenging, but the payoff is the satisfaction I gain.
Here’s some, but not all of my job descriptions:
Foundational skills include end-user support, client/server operating systems, network infrastructure administration, security, scripting, database fundamentals, cloud computing, virtualization, data storage and technical communication.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
Seeing the Creative Team in action and how well they work together.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I used to play the piano by ear and heart (no technical or note reading skills).
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
Fear of being left behind.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Reading, listening to music, and lately, gardening with my wife, are some of my favorite activities. Cooking with family and friends, spending time together, and enjoying each other’s company are all great fun.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
Nothing in particular, but many laughs throughout, with the unexpected causing the most amusement.
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Maintaining a positive frame of mind and avoiding letting distracting external noises interfere with my work.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
In 1975, when I was fresh off the plane from Vietnam, I got my first work as a janitor at a Holiday Inn. There are a few amusing stories associated with this work, but I won’t go into them.
This month, our theme for social media is recognition. What’s the best way to show someone meaningful recognition in your eyes?
My perspective on this is not a cash prize, not a message on the corporate payroll announcement page. When someone celebrates an anniversary at work, I think it’s nice to publicly announce it, maybe in an email to the whole company, that way others can also chime in with congrats. When someone does a good job, being able to “pat them on the back” with nice words and appreciation is always nice too.
Get to Know ME with Rhonda Brewer
It’s time to Get to Know Rhonda Brewer, our VP of Sales at Motivation Excellence! She’s one of the new kids on the block with our company, but has been in this industry for a long time. Read, and watch the 3-minute video, to learn more about Rhonda and her verve for life and travel!
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
Vice President, Sales and I have been with MEI for almost a year and a half.
What does your job entail?
I get to lead a team that is responsible for business development with our customers and prospects to help them engage further with their channel partners, customers and employees through incentives, loyalty and employee engagement programs. We also help them identify the right rewards for each program whether that be points, merchandise or incentive travel. We also help our clients with all aspects of meetings and events.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share.
What makes MEI special is the “we are all in this together approach” and truly everyone pitches in where needed to do what is best for our clients. We make decisions quickly and everyone’s voice is heard to be able to make a decision.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I am pretty much an open book so not sure if there is an unknown talent but according to my husband I can roll my tongue and he can’t! 😃 Also, I am hoping to finish all 50 states by the end of this year. I’ve made it to 45 and will have 48 by the first part of August.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
I am a very self-motivated person by nature. In my work life I love collaboration, I love watching a program from start to finish and seeing the successes, I love winning new clients so they can experience all we have to offer and that keeps me motivated. Personally, I think you have to take care of yourself first in order to be able to accomplish all you want and take care of others. Then, setting goals and achieving them is very satisfying.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends at home, at the lake or traveling, as well as running and working out.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
My sweet dog Cocoa.
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
A new job here that I started 3 weeks prior to the lock down, stayed consistent with working out and had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with family.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
I don’t think I had any unusual jobs. I was a life guard at a campground for 6 years and started when I was 14. On my breaks I worked the concession stand or cleaned bathrooms. I also had my own business for a few summers in college teaching swimming in the summer in our backyard.
This month, our theme for social media is respect. How do you incorporate respect into your personal and working life? What’s the number one sign of respect to you?
The number one sign of respect for me, as well as how I try to incorporate it into my life, is living by the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Get to Know ME with Brad Hecht
It’s time to get to know our Vice President, Travel, Brad Hecht, a little bit better! He’s a long-timer with Motivation Excellence. He’s got a lot of frequent flyer miles and he shares his destination picks in the linked video. Take a few minutes and watch that and read his answers to our questions below. Thanks Brad for sharing!
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
Vice President, Travel – 22 years.
What does your job entail?
Responsibility for all facets of our travel business including travel presentations, purchasing, contracting, sourcing, Program Management and Coordination, client facing travel technology, and onsite operations.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
Our employees are amazing!
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
I can hold a handstand in a pool in perfect form for a long period of time. Wow, that’s really odd, isn’t it (maybe random)?
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
To be a positive person for myself and everyone around me. That energizes me.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Golf, pickleball, hiking, biking, attempting to be a wine snob.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
The TV show “Two and a Half Men.”
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Getting outside every day to free my mind, exercise or hike to do a refresh.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
As a high schooler, I was a lifeguard at a Holiday Inn near Six Flags over Mid-America. They didn’t have room service but the celebrities coming in to perform all wanted it, so I was the person to handle all room service when celebrities came to stay. Boy, do I have some interesting stories!
This month, our theme for social media, metrics for measurement. How do you measure success (could be on the job or personally)?
Exceeding the expectations of everyone around me as often as I can, including family, friends and clients.
Get to Know ME with Susan Rizzi
We’re excited to have you Get to Know Susan Rizzi this month! She has longevity when it comes to her careers, that’s for sure! Read below to find out how she helps our participants and her family thrive. Thanks for sharing Susan!
What’s your title and how long have you been at Motivation Excellence?
Customer Service Representative; in 3 weeks it will be 20 years!
What does your job entail?
All aspects of Customer Service, such as answering phone inquiries, email inquiries and Concierge Shopper requests. I also work with suppliers to resolve issues, review invoices, and obtain merchandise quotes for concierge shopper requests.
What’s something special about working at Motivation Excellence that you’d like to share?
What makes ME special is the family atmosphere, the willingness to help each other out at any time.
What’s your favorite part of your job at Motivation Excellence?
Working in Customer Service is a very rewarding position. What I enjoy the most is working on an issue and being able to turn it around into a positive experience for the participant.
What’s an unknown or odd talent you have?
Storytelling. I can make a simple walk on the beach into an exciting adventure for my grandchildren. A hike in the woods can be more interesting with my crazy imagination. I also have a great talent for playing practical jokes on the family.
What motivates you to accomplish things in your life (work or personal)?
Work: knowing that I can make a difference in the experience our participants have when they contact ME. Personal: teaching my grandchildren that they should embrace who they are and that they can be and do anything they want to do in life! This motivates me to be a positive and supportive person in their lives.
What do you enjoy doing outside work?
Spending time with my most Awesome grandchildren, and their parents of course. Gardening, fishing, vacationing in the OBX.
One thing that always makes you laugh is?
Spending time with my family. We refuse to let little things upset us, and with so many different personalities, it becomes very amusing!
What have you done that helped you get through the pandemic?
Played board games with my family through Zoom. Worked on home projects, painted, decluttered and organized family photos…bins of family photos. Binge watched documentaries on Netflix. Hoarded toilet paper, Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer!
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had?
It was not an unusual job, but being a Hair Stylist for 38 years definitely was the most interesting. Oh, the stories I could tell.
This month, our theme for social media is EQ, or Emotional Intelligence. How do you relate to this theme?
Emotional Intelligence is an ongoing learning experience. In my years, I have learned that it is not what is said to someone, but the way in which it is said. A voice inflection, a condescending remark, or even a physical stance can give off the wrong impression. It is an individual’s choice on how they respond. We need to keep in mind that we do not know what is going on in a person’s life or what causes them to be “on guard.” Be patient, be a good listener, sometimes all a person needs is to have someone listen to what they have to say and acknowledge that they are heard. Good thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds!
