Introducing the Service Heros!
VirtualOffiCenters is proud to announce the winners of our Service Hero Contest. We had so many entries it was hard to choose just one. So, we didn’t! We selected the four stories that best told the OffiCenters and VirtualOffiCenters story. We chose a virtual client who has been with us for over two years who has seen her organization grow through our collaboration and networking, a full-time client who has been with us for 19 years and has doubled in size, a returning client who realized that she really needed the service that we offer, and finally a new virtual client who says that contacts and referrals from VirtualOffiCenters are responsible for 30% of his business. Here are their stories:
CLIENT: Teresa Thomas Carroll, Women In Networking (WIN)
OC STAFF: Sandra Rulff
As a growing membership organization that primarily serves female small business owners, OffiCenters/VirtualOffiCenters has been the perfect fit for helping us to grow smart.
We have various locations for our networking events but OffiCenters allows us to have a centralized professional mailing address. Our members work in all different parts of theTwinCitiesand having access to the various OffiCenters for our small group and 1:1meetings means that we can meet with our members in the locations that are convenient for them.
Our members look to WIN and to each other for best practices in growing business. By having WIN virtual office with OffiCenters, it is fantastic role-modeling to our members (over 80% small business owners) about how to help them grow smart. Virtual officing lessens overhead,
increases professional perception and credibility, and provides virtual support services that doesn’t require investing in brick and mortar or to hire full-time staff.
The entire staff serves as our “service hero”, they each take good care of us, makes everyone in WIN feel welcomed and supported at OffiCenters/VirtualOffiCenters:
As a leader, the owner, Lori Spiess is a role-model to me because of how she has had the tenacity to grow over 30 years, to take great care of clients and staff, and how to be a professional, assertive and smart-thinking business woman. All while keeping a sense of humor and sustained passion for business.
Sandra Rulff is our key point of contact at OffiCenters. She is a phenomenal communicator who keeps us informed and on top of mind with opportunities at OffiCenters and ways we can help each other. Her sense of support and encouragement is always sincere and helpful. She is highly professional and gracious.
Lisa Olsonoski provides a dynamic sense of enthusiasm and support that revs up everyone around her. She makes everyone feel special.
ALL of the staff at OffiCenters have been highly courteous, helpful, and always seem genuinely interested in providing the support that helps WIN to thrive. It is clear that they enjoy their work, the clients they serve and their fellow staff. It is inspiring to see that level of teamwork and care.
OffiCenters has been very supportive of WIN and through doing so they have demonstrated their commitment to helping our member businesses to grow while WIN grows.
CLIENT: Kurt Rose, Rose-Fleischaker Associates
OC STAFF: Ana Genz-Wall
Pat Fleischaker and I started Rose-Fleischaker Associates, Inc in the fall of 1993. We are a manufacturer’s representative in the commercial construction industry. When we started our business we looked at a number of places in the near western suburbs and REALLY got depressed. For the money we could afford to spend and for the services we needed there were few choices and fewer that we would seriously consider. We expanded our search to downtown and saw an ad for Union Plaza OffiCenters. We work daily with architects andUnionPlaza’s location onWashington Avein the warehouse district appeared to be ideal. When we first arrived to discuss our needs with Sandra Rulff, we were met by attractive and friendly people in an equally attractive and friendly space. Sandra sat down with us and described the services they could provide and showed us around. To be quite honest, Pat and I were sold nearly from the moment we walked in; that was 19 years ago.
There has been turnover at OffiCenters in those years, but it seems as though when a person does leave or is promoted within their organization; they are replaced with someone equally as competent and in no time as efficient as the person they replaced. I don’t know how they continually find top caliber people.
We have had the pleasure of working with Ana Genz -Wall for nearly 10 years and she has been an important bridge to continuity in our business. We utilize most of the secretarial services OffiCenters has to offer. She has been a constant to insure our business continues without a hitch during periods of change in their office and ours. We have doubled in size and business (it’s good when those two things occur together) since we started at OffiCenters. We moved into a group of new offices atUnionPlazawhich Ana was helpful in securing and making sure worked for us. Ana goes above and beyond continually when we have problems with phones, computers, or other issues. She always helps us promptly. A lot of what we ask her to do is really not her job; but she is always happy to help.
One of the really important aspects of our relationship with OffiCenters is that they become us. The receptionist always answers the phones politely as if she is Rose-Fleischaker Associates and directs our customers to the proper person. We are often complimented by people with whom we work saying it’s refreshing to talk to a person when they call; OffiCenter is our front line point of contact. This has been a very good relationship. Although I singled out Ana, and she deserves it; OffiCenter has instilled an ethic of cooperation and helpfulness in all their employees.
CLIENT: Chris Tymchuck, Unique Estate Law
OC STAFF: Jill Countryman
I started my estate planning law firm in 2010 with a virtual office at France Officenters. I originally chose OffiCenters because of its ability to be flexible and grow with my business. I first met with Jill Countryman and was immediately impressed with her professional attitude mixed with friendly manner. She was willing to work with me to set up a plan the worked, at that time, for my business.
After being virtual for 7 months I had an opportunity to rent office with a few other people in my industry and decided to forego an office in the new location to pursue a new opportunity with the other colleagues.
I soon missed the support I had received at OffiCenters. Coincidentally, I attended a meeting held at the conference room at theBloomingtonlocation and was greeted warmly by both Fay and Jill. Jill immediately came out and gave me a hug and said “we still have an office here for you.”
My business was rapidly growing and I was having a difficult time keeping up with its pace in a situation where I was handling all office tasks on top of practicing law. I felt that I appeared unprofessional by offering clients bottled water and no coffee while also answering their calls and greeting them at the door. I looked at the available office and soon worked out a deal to move to my current office space at OffiCenters and I couldn’t be happier.
I regularly receive compliments from clients on the professional and friendly manner of Fay upon answering the phone. While I look to both of them to help me grown my business, I have come to rely on Jill for assistance in my day to day operations. My schedule became so busy that I was unable to manage my calendar and found that I actually missed an appointment. I approached Jill to inquire about whether OffiCenter was equipped to handle my calendar.
Now, a new call comes in and Fay transfers them to Jill who not only schedules them on my calendar (and books a conference room) but she also conducts a brief intake of each call so I know what type of issue they are calling me to discuss.
Further, I have relied on Jill to meet with clients to sign and notarize documents when I am out of the office, allowing my business to flow smoothly even when I am otherwise engaged. When I ask Jill to assist with a project, I am invariably greeted with professional reassurance that it will get done. She provides me with status updates and puts my mind at ease that things aren’t going to be delayed because I am working on other matters. I have received several emails where Jill has said something like “don’t worry – I’ll get it down while you’re out” and I know that she will.
I can’t say enough positive things about Jill’s “can do” attitude and professionalism with both me and my clients. I believe that OffiCenters is a large part of why my business is on track to double my revenue over last year.
CLIENT: Folu Gisanri, Try Laser Today
OC STAFF: Lisa Olsonoski
As l said last week, my service hero is Lisa Olsonoski. Since l became a virtual client in January Lisa has been my superstar service person. She took the time to listen and hear what our business was all about. She is such an exciting person and full of life that it rubs off. She has also referred me to some key businesses.
As a result of having a professional office to bring my clients to, and because of Lisa’s mentorship and friendship our business has really taking off. So far 30% of our business is coming from contacts and referrals through OffiCenters.
