Customer service representatives from across the company’s bulk fuel and propane plants gathered in Springfield, Mo., on Aug. 18 and 19 for training and inspiration. The meeting featured educational sessions, an awards dinner, and a guest speaker.
The educational sessions covered a variety of topics:
- Jenny Daggett, director of BPLP operations, and Justi Montague, director of operational efficiency and data governance, facilitated a game of Energy-Force Jeopardy to share helpful tips on navigating the software.
- Robert Burlbaugh, director of field training and procedures, introduced Energy-Track and provided a hands-on demonstration of how the drivers utilize the software on their tablets.
- Cheri Voss, senior CSR, and Johann Holt, business analyst, led a round of DSI bingo as they reviewed the inventory management system.
- Montague and Daggett shared information about upcoming customer and vendor management improvements, customer setup automation and inventory enhancements.
- Senior CSRs Jana Lown and Spring Walker offered Excel tips, and Debbie White, accounting operations controller, discussed best practices for handling petty cash.
- Zach Studer, senior manager of distribution, procurement and quality control, reviewed the company’s lubricant product line.
Humorist Christine Cashen gave insightful advice on how to stay inspired when you’re so darn tired during the evening program. She urged attendees to take control of what they have the power to change. Cashen presented methods to compose and dispose when handling worry; identified energy gainers and drainers and discussed how to deal with them; described life hacks to help someone get their mojo back; and discussed tools to leverage levity under stressful circumstances.
“There’s a lot of things you can’t change, but there are many things you can,” Cashen said. “Stop focusing on the things you have no control over. We’re in charge of our own emotional state. You can have a bad moment, but you don’t need to have a bad day.”
She gave a few tips, including a two-hour commitment to being in a good mood. Cashen advised the audience to keep saying things like, “normally that would bother me, but today I’m in a good mood,” when encountering potential problems to start the day. After two hours of intentional positivity, Cashen said you would feel better even if you’re unsure why.
“If you keep telling yourself you are in a good mood, you will be,” she said. “You’ve just got to flip your internal script. You can reprogram your brain to think more positively.”
The following employees were recognized for years of service:
5 Years
Teresa Boll, CSR – Peculiar
Kathleen Gregory, CSR – Garnett, Kan.
Stacy Hooper, CSR – Lonoke, Ark.
Brandi Kellem, CSR – Mountain Home, Ark.
Pam Middleton, CSR – Steele
Cheri Voss, senior CSR – Gainesville
Lanelle Weaver, CSR – Hornersville
10 Years
Maggie Alexander, CSR – Stroud, Okla.
15 Years
Michell Farar, CSR – Skiatook, Okla.
25 Years
Joan Bennett, CSR – Mansfield