Mar. 10-Stuart, Virginia – Thanks to a collaboration of several Patrick County organizations, three successful “Outstanding Customer Service� workshops were held recently at Patrick Henry Community College.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brooks Bradbury
14 January 2009 Telephone: 276.222.3807
BBradbury@primland.com
SERVICE WORKSHOPS BUILD SERVICE SKILLS
Stuart, Virginia – Thanks to a collaboration of several Patrick County organizations, three successful “Outstanding Customer Service� workshops were held recently at Patrick Henry Community College. An average of 150 people attended each session, necessitating a move of the larger-than-expected turnout from the Community Center to the Motorsports Auditorium.
The sessions were free to Patrick County residents and were underwritten by the Patrick County Education Foundation, for the purpose of workforce skills development in our community. Representatives from the Workforce Career Center – Patrick County, Patrick County Schools, Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, the County of Patrick, and Primland collaborated to plan and host the series. The West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board provided refreshments for each session.
Keynote speaker, Dr. Dale Henry of Kingston, Tennessee a noted story teller and hospitality teacher who has addressed 40 of the top Fortune 50 companies in the country regaled the crowd with humorous anecdotes, subtle and not-so-subtle lessons about serving others during the first two workshops. Dr. Henry offered sage advice, repeating his mantras: “Never say ‘It’s not my job!’ and never say ‘I wish I had.’�
Ms. Bobbie Walker, Partnership Marketing Education Director for the Virginia Tourism Corporation headlined the third session with her presentation entitled, “Great Customer Service Comes from the Heart!� Walker presented a clear case for earning our customers’ repeat business by focusing on Attitude, Consistency, Service and Teamwork.
Chef Paul Farrar gave a humorous presentation based on his 50 years in the restaurant business, “The Seven Things We never Say to a Customer.� Farrar is well-known in the area through his television show “Cooking with Paul� and his show on WHEO radio.
Brooks Bradbury, general manager of Primland and a newcomer to Patrick County facilitated each of the sessions sharing some of his many experiences in the hospitality field. According to Bradbury, “This was a strong community effort, and these wonderful presenters reminded us all that way to build our businesses is to consider always the perspective of our customers, our guests and our visitors.�
