Holly Warren: CIA, Creative Image Associates

I have been working with Holly for several years. She is responsive to requests for scheduling with a company that assigns all shops by email. When I have to decline a shop, it does not affect my status for future assignments. Holly communicates splendidly by explaining reasons behind scheduling or information requests. She empathizes with problems and assists me through them. One continuing example is naming an employee. All shops for CIA clients require a name, even if the shopper has to ask when it is not supplied by the employee by way of a name tag or in conversation. On those instances where I have to ask for a name I may be provided with a shortened name, nickname, or I might mishear the name. Holly asks for clarification because some names I supplied were not on the client supplied list of names. She sometimes tries to lead me through it by suggesting a name that is on the client list and something close to what I provided. After providing my best information she has always saved the shop for me in those instances. In one instance she contacted the client and discovered a new hire that I had named correctly.

Another difficult shop was where I was assigned a phone shop with the mortgage department of a particular credit union. After four phone calls, I had reached only an answering machine or someone from a different department. I was given a name and direct line to someone with the correct department. I then emailed Holly asking what to do. She asked me to continue to call the main line and the direct line and see what happened. I made four more calls without reaching anyone. Two calls were to the main line and the other two were to the direct line. Then I emailed Holly again asking what to do. Her response was that the client needed to know what was going on. I was instructed to write the report documenting the eight calls. Payment was issued for that shop.

An example of her sensitivity is a recent communication telling me that a client that is a major source of my assignments is suspending shops for a few months after having monthly shops for as long as I have been shopping with CIA. She wanted to let me know about the change, thank me for my previous work, and tell me she would be in touch when the shops resumed.

It is going beyond the norm to connect with shoppers and working though problems that get Holly Warren my nomination for Scheduler of the Year.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2014 02:34AM by vlade5394.

Judy Inboden, independent scheduler.
1) Does not deluge my inbox with multiple notices regarding the same shops. If it's a new job, she notifies. If the price goes up, she notifies. Otherwise, no news means no change or it was taken, and I like that.
2) She replies to every email and every phone call in a timely manner every time. I like that a lot.
3) She knows the shop requirements for many clients and many MSCs, and is a great source of guidance before a shop, during a shop, and even after editing. She does everything she can to help the shopper be successful.

P.S. This thread is great! What a wonderfully positive idea!

Michelle at Ardent Services

Michelle is extremely responsive, often responding to emails on weekend evenings. She is happy to accommodate scheduling requests for this company that assigns shops by email at the beginning of each month. For example, she will make assignments based on specific requests. Also, she has been willing to loosen requirements to allow me to do a weekday shop on a weekend. On the rare occasion I have to decline an assignment, there are no issues. In fact, a response to a recent refusal was that there was no problem because she exceeded the normal number of assignments. She thought I would refuse any that would be a problem for me.

This company asks shoppers to “Accentuate the positive.” Michelle embodies this attitude in her communications. When I communicated about not getting emails she apologized and thanked me for telling her. Another time there was a problem with the website, she assisted me through the problem and had no problem with a late submitted report. Her communications always demonstrate a happiness throughout, whether I am reporting a problem or doing a her a favor by picking up an additional shop.

As I review my communications with this company, I find other similar helpful and responsive actions by my previous scheduler Deanna. I'm thinking this nomination could be made for both of them or the company as a whole. They go the extra mile for this shopper. Therefore, I am glad to nominate Michelle from Ardent as Scheduler of the Year.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/07/2014 11:16PM by vlade5394.

There are three or four schedulers that I believe are great but the one that surfaces to the top for me is Shelly Martin. She is professional, empathetic, efficient, and prompt. If I contact her with an issue she is all over it and gets right back to me. I have messed up a few shops and she has helped me work through them. When I let her know my travel plans she does everything to help me find some shops. I feel like I have made a new friend. Thanks, Shelly.

Celeste Borden - Confero

Has been SUPER patient with me when I made bonehead mistakes as a newby (which I sill am and still do!). she will reschedule a shop I missed, let me correct a shop I submitted with mistakes, works with my routes/times, and gives me bonuses when she can! She's also sympathetic when editors give me a hard time (there is a tough one there!).

She was a shopper, and totally understands the struggles that shoppers face! I love Celeste!!

Blaine Timmerman- Intellishop

Blaine is idiot-proof. Blaine speaks Intellishop-ese fluently, so can translate those multi-colored, contradictory, confusing instructions for me. My last shop, I asked for a translation, and was promptly handed back instructions in plain English, including a backstory for my scenario. All I had to do was complete the shop!

AuntinMom and KathyC

I did get some sleep, but am still dealing with my sick kitty.

Yes, I heard about the site and contest from Kim, and why wouldn't I? As I said, I shop 95% of my shops with her. Why wouldn't I think she was the best? And, for your information, I asked her to read what I wrote, and she would not. She said that if I thought I wanted to nominate her, that knowledge was enough! Why is this called stuffing the box? I think of her as my friend.

What that does that say about Lety, at QSI, who mentioned to her shoppers that she was assisting in a charity to send NV Veterans to DC for a special day of recognition? I sent a donation to the charity after confirming them on www.charitynavigator.org. Are you going to slap her wrists for doing such a wonderful thing? And Christa (I wrongly said she was KSS, she is HS Brands) who asked if I would consider "bailing her out of jail" for another charity. I did that as well. These ladies are considered friends, and friends help friends.

As I said before, I would also have nominated others (QSI schedulers Lety, Julie T, Christine C and Andrea V.), but gee, why? What I think is special about these ladies is that when working with them, I passed over the line of shopper to freind. That is why they are so great, and I just wanted them to know I liked and appreciated them.

Hymnsinger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Celeste Borden - Confero
>
> Has been SUPER patient with me when I made
> bonehead mistakes as a newby (which I sill am and
> still do!). she will reschedule a shop I missed,
> let me correct a shop I submitted with mistakes,
> works with my routes/times, and gives me bonuses
> when she can! She's also sympathetic when editors
> give me a hard time (there is a tough one there!).
>
>
> She was a shopper, and totally understands the
> struggles that shoppers face! I love Celeste!!


Celeste: Very, very cool person

A scheduler letting me know about the contest does just that - lets me know. My vote comes from the experience I have had with them. I appreciate so many of the schedulers I work with, who have taken the time to become a "real" person to me.

A few companies, or schedulers for those companies, seem to forget that some of us have many years of experience, and successful businesses behind us. The "huge bonus" of $5.00 on a $7.00 shop, doesn't work for me. Thank you to those schedulers who are clear, concise, and honest with me. I also appreciate the ones who remember how many times I completed a last minute shop for them, when I need their flexibility or understanding.

"The wheel needs an axle to connect the spokes to the wagon, without those spokes, the axle has no wheel to connect."

I love working with Shelly Martin with KSS. She consistently gets back to me within the same day if I have a question or an issue. She is courteous, professional, friendly, and very capable at her job. She helps me succeed as a shopper.

amychapman83 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would like to nominate Jackie Jacoby with KSS
> International. Jackie has been one of the nicest
> and helpful individuals that I have had the
> pleasure to work with among several mystery shop
> companies. I know that Jackie is just a message
> away and she is always very prompt to reply to my
> messages. She is willing to work with me in order
> to provide me with routes where I can have
> multiple shops and maximize my earnings. She also
> has been wonderful at working to reschedule shops
> when due to various reasons, I have been unable to
> perform them as planned. However, Jackie not only
> does the typical routine duties associated with
> her job; she is extremely personable and that says
> something when you are referring to a person with
> whom you've never actually "talked to" or "met
> face-to-face". Her attitude and conduct through
> emails conveys that of a woman with integrity,
> respect and values. I can think of not a better
> person to receive an award than Jackie Jacoby!


Jackie is great always quick and willing to work with me

I want to vote for Shelly Martin at Kern Scheduling. I am new to this, but she has been my main scheduler at Kern and a tremendous help to me! Thank you Shelly!

I want to also vote for Denise at Maritz Research. She has helped me several times over the phone and helped me through a few things I did not understand. It is so nice to hear a live voice! Thank you Denise!

I nominate Cassandra from Market Force. I have worked with many schedulers and Cassandra is the absolute best. She has helped me out on numerous occasions with questions or problems I may have. She always remembers the time zone difference and does not call me at outrageous times. She understands if I cannot accept an assignment and does not keep bugging me like many schedulers do. She also understands that a shop an hour away deserves more than a $3.00 bonus! When my phone rings and I see that it is Cassandra, I answer with a smile on my face.

I second Celeste. She's intelligent, patient and helpful. I feel like she truly understands and cares. She's always been honest and upfront with me about what she can and can't bonus. She's extremely forgiving with deadlines and mistakes. When I was shopping full-time and job hunting (desperate for income) she helped me out with lists of area shops she needed done. She's commiserated with me over a bad boss, various life "emergencies" (burst sewer pipe and lice from my child's 2nd grade classroom!) and such, and let me vent when I was cranky and feeling isolated, working from home. I truly like her and enjoy "conversing" with her.

Nicole Webb - Bare Int'l
I disagree with a key aspect of the scheduling process for the big project that she has responsibility for. When I questioned her, she expressed complete understanding for my perspective and its merits, clearly explained Bare's rationale for the standard in question, and explained that she would be maintaining that standard. We agree to disagree with increased mutual understanding. That's just awesome.
On top of that, she consistently replies to every single email and phone call extraordinarily quickly.
I've got a boatload of respect for Nicole.

I would like to nominate David Frost, Sr Project Manager at Bare International.

Recently I ran into issues with a shop travel time. What should have been a short drive turned into 45 minutes because of construction and traffic lights that were out. This caused me to arrive at my assignment after the cut off time. I completed the shop, then sent a note to David telling him of my dilemma, and my hesitation in completing the report.

David answered, said he reviewed the report, then was able to make an exception this one time. Needless to say, I was grateful.

Barb- Maritz

What started as a phone call asking me to do a round of shops that I didn't want to do, turned into a 20 minute phone call about cats, kids, Netflix, and chocolate sauce.

Somehow, by the time we hung up, I'd taken the shops and was thanking her for calling me. Still trying to figure out that particular bit of magic.

She's damn good at what she does.

Another vote for Celeste. Excellent person to interact with...

Okay and I have to mention Joel F. from Shoppers View just for the titles of his funeral shop emails - they always provide a chuckle. Plus a very laid-back, easy going guy to work with (could it be the nature of the shops??!). Gotta love someone who sends an email titled "Plenty O' Funeral Shops for Thursday!".

I completely agree with the comments on votes for Shelly Martin at KSS. She has assisted me so many times in scheduling conflicts, giving me a bonus for picking up a shop at the last minute, and providing great advice. There are schedulers who I have had difficulties with and she as provided advise on how to mend the relationship to build trust back.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2014 03:26AM by JenLM.

Interesting. You just joined the Forum to cast a vote?

I love working with the schedulers at Kern, except for one which will remain un-named. Schedulers have a challenging job trying to assign all the shops within a certain time frame. I love the idea of voting for a scheduler of the year...that's why I decided to vote for Shelly Martin!

Shelly is caring, compassionate, personable, professional, quick to respond, dependable, and all around great!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2014 03:27AM by JenLM.

I actually received an email from Erik "asking to show him the love"....

yep...joined just to cast a vote:-)

Thank you for your honesty.

Ceecee from Beyond Hello.

I'd love to nominate Sara Strohbusch (sara@baird-group.com) of Baird. =) Sara has worked tirelessly for Baird for several years, now, and she's one of the reasons I fell in love with working for them as an MSC. She's been someone I've been able to establish a personal rapport with, someone I trust to make sure as a business person, myself, I'm taken care of, as well as her MSC. She's smart, passionate, and above all, honest. Her integrity makes her, in my humble opinion, Scheduler of the Year. <3

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2014 06:01PM by jentodd.

Felicia with Market Force, I love here and she returns calls promptly!!

I love Jenn G with Bare - she is always thinking of me and gives awesome bonuses when push comes to shove