Exceeding Expectations

I often say you don’t have a true sense for people, a process or a company until you see how performance plays out under duress. Today, was a typical day for me until around noon when one of our fantastic Executive Administrative Assistants (same ones we celebrated last week) reached out to me because she was concerned over my travel later in the day. Turns out we were to expect some inclement weather and she wanted to make sure I made it out before the weather turned bad.

Susan understood my travel had shifted due to both my wife and I traveling today. She also understood my admin was out on PTO this week and figured I might need some help. Because of her genuine concern for me, coupled with her desire to help, Susan took it upon herself to reach out to our “World Class” Travel Team and had me transferred from a commercial flight to our corporate plane which had space. Our Travel Team made all the itinerary changes as I continued to go about my day, taking care of my rental car return, getting me from one airport to another and ensuring I had options for my return home in the event the weather turned bad in Dallas (which it did).

As the afternoon continued, our Travel Team reached out to say they wanted to depart early due to the impending weather. This in an effort to reduce risk. Regrettably, our attempts to depart earlier were thwarted by the arrival of bad weather. Tornado sirens blaring for 30 minutes or more, it was a surreal moment. We hunkered down in a bunker in the hanger at the airport. All the while, I was surrounded by many great people who wanted to make sure I was okay with what was transpiring around us. Many of my team members reached out to also ensure I was safe. Simply this is our culture and one of many illustrations of why Jack Henry & Associates is listed as a best place to work. People really care about people here.

Once it was safe to depart, our pilots let us know it would be a bumpy ride out, but they’d get us to Dallas safely. Brian Hunter, you and your team always do an exceptional job, but today you exceeded my expectations. Ann Kingrey, Crystal Cottrell, Ashley Rivera thank you for all you did for me today. Susan Huffmaster, thank you as well for taking care of me. It would have been easy for you to just go about your day but you didn’t. You took action. I’m so glad you did. I would have just figured it out on my own, but you made it easy.

Last but not least, Cassie McCarty, thank you as well for also looking out for me as I bounced from meeting to meeting in what became a compressed work day. It is for the many people like the ones I mentioned above that I get me out of bed every day to give my very best to JHA. I hope to return the favor you paid me today very soon.

And tomorrow is another day....