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| Depot Training Specialist Jon Conley was awarded the company's top honor. He is pictured with his wife, DeAnna, along with CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios, right, and Home Service President Joe Kirby, left. |
He has been known to shovel snow from a wheel-bound customer’s ramp, help other route service representatives complete their routes and even volunteer his Fridays off to help a neighboring depot.
“I became the area manager here two years ago, and I noticed right away that Jon was very self-motivated. You don’t have to tell him what to do. He just starts doing what needs to be done,” said Tom Christiansen, area manager at our Schwan’s Home Service depot in Fennimore, Wisconsin. “He has even come in early without being asked to help load and fuel trucks.”
Jon, who serves as a route service representative and depot training specialist in Fennimore, has worked for Schwan’s for five years. He was one of four Marvin Schwan Excellence Award recipients named in March.
During the ceremony, he was presented with the award by CEO Dimitrios Smyrnios and Home Service President Joe Kirby. Dimitrios gave a summary of Jon’s nomination, citing instances where Jon went above and beyond to serve customers, help teammates and cover shifts at other depots.
“Jon is a person who is extremely respected by his colleagues because of his selflessness, his commitment to service and his ability to help others achieve their best,” he said. “He has quickly become a leader at his depot.”
Bringing forth the effort
For Jon, being successful in Home Service — our company’s home-delivery business — boils down to being safe, caring about customers and putting in hard work.
“You have to put into your business what you want to get out of it,” he said. “If you put your time in, you will do well.”
Before joining Schwan’s, Jon worked on farms and in construction. He first joined the company as a material handler, where he excelled and eventually joined the sales side of the business. He then took on the added responsibility of being a depot training specialist, a position in which he helps train other route service reps.
Tom said he appreciates having someone like Jon on the team.
“He is an employee that you never worry about. He always makes the right decision, and he makes sure he does what he needs to do to be efficient and successful at his job,” he said.
In his nomination form, one example given to show how Jon helps others was when a coworker called into the depot and said there was not enough time to finish a route. Without being asked, Jon finished his route and then jumped in the truck with the new employee and helped complete route.
Tom said Jon also pushes individuals on the team to be better each day, bringing a heavy dose of enthusiasm to his job.
“He comes to work with a smile and gets his coworkers excited for the day,” Tom said. “He consistently mentors the newer RSRs by creating contests and challenges, and he communicates with the team throughout the day to learn about their progress. It was brought the team closer together and makes it easier to talk through issues and overcome obstacles.”
