The Office Services Department is based in the mail room of the Home Office, but its employees handle much more than just the mail.
The list of duties includes overseeing the grounds of the corporate campus, managing pool vehicles, supervising contracted crews brought in to work on large-scale maintenance jobs, stocking office supplies, printing services, handling freight deliveries and shipments, and processing ingoing and outgoing mail.
The department plays an important role in ensuring business at the company’s headquarters is conducted smoothly. While most Home Office employees and visitors may not interact directly with Office Services staff, there’s no doubt they benefit from the department’s handiwork. From the steady stream of hot coffee brewed daily to outdoor jobs like spreading salt on icy patches in the parking lot to simply making sure the building is clean and secure, the department benefits all employees.
Ron Sheppard, facilities supervisor, describes office services as a catchall department. “Any operation in the office that doesn’t quite fit with any other department comes to us.”
He says each person in his department has a unique set of responsibilities to ensure that the myriad of jobs assigned to Office Services are completed, but building security is the most important consideration.
“Safety and security trump anything else that is going on in the department,” Sheppard says. “We work with Dean Inskip to make sure everyone in the building has the right credentials to get inside and that all doors are secure in order to minimize any risks.”
Managing the company’s mail is another top priority.
“Many people have time sensitive documents and other important mail that needs to be sent as soon as possible,” Sheppard says. “Depending on the day, we can have anywhere from a few letters to multiple tubs full of mail.”
Tammie Jennings, an office clerk in the department, works with Mary Fisher to ensure the mail flow in and out of the office. Jennings’ job include numerous important responsibilities such as shipping packages, tracking lost packages and filing claims for damaged and lost packages. Jennings says that she ships at least 50 packages per week.
The Office Services Department also manages all printing services. These tasks are handled by office clerk Mary Fisher. Fisher’s duties range from printing important business items, such as company directories and benefit insurance packets, to printing useful office supplies, such as order pads for Break Time’s Smokestack Barbecue and Big O Tires’ 22-point inspection list. Fisher believes that the company is very fortunate to save money and time by utilizing in-house printing operations.
So, the next time you pull into the parking lot and the snow and ice is cleared on a cold day or you head to the break room to fill up your coffee cup for a caffeinated pick me-up, remember to thank the hard-working people of the Office Services Department for making your day a little bit easier.
Get to Know Office Services
Ron Sheppard
Facilities Supervisor
Ron has worked for MFA Oil for 18 years. He served as the assistant manager of office services for sixteen years before taking over the position of facilities supervisor. Ron resides in Boonville, where he has lived most of his life, with his wife, Stacey, and their five children.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy the great outdoors, especially hiking.
What is your biggest pet peeve? Chewing, it’s as bad as nails on a chalkboard.
What is the most interesting place you have traveled? The Caribbean is a beautiful place
Mary Fisher
Office Clerk, Printing Services
Mary has worked for 11 years as an office services clerk. She resides in Macon, Mo. with her husband of 35 years. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
What is your favorite holiday? My favorite holiday is probably Christmas. I really enjoy the music and lights as well as getting to spend time with my family.
What do you like to do in your free time? Go to auctions.
Mary is happiest when… I am spending time with my family.
Tammie Jennings
Office Clerk, Mail Services
Tammie has been an office services clerk with MFA Oil for 11 years. She was raised in Ohio but has lived in Columbia since 1990. She has two daughters, two granddaughters and a grandson.
What is one word that your family and friends would use to describe you? It depends on who you ask!
What is your biggest pet peeve? Being told to smile.
What is on your bucket list? Filling in the holes in the bucket, I think it’s leaking everywhere.
Corey Watring
Facilities Support Worker
Corey joined the office services team earlier in the summer. Prior to working for MFA Oil, Corey installed cubicles and other office fixtures for Office Essentials. Corey grew up in Blackwater, Mo., and still resides there on his farm.
What do you like to do in your free time? I work on my farm and help out with local 4-H shows. My fiancée and I also breed corgis.
What do you like most about working at MFA Oil? The atmosphere is welcoming, and the people are very friendly. I also enjoy that there’s always free food somewhere.
Corey looks forward to… marrying his fiancée on August 3, 2019.