Tootin' My Horn

I don't toot my own horn about work but this is pretty special, so perhaps just this once.

We HAD to leave Vegas even though I was tempted to extend our visit because I had the semi-annual Excel Inter-National Leadership Conference to attend at CROSSMARK.  This is a meeting for the senior leadership at CROSSMARK (Director level and above).  Only about 200 people attend and CROSSMARK has 32,000 employees so do the math on that percentage!  There are speakers, breakout sessions, team building, awards dinners, etc.  Not something you want to miss if you are career minded.  I didn't get to go to the meeting in the fall because I was on maternity leave so I was looking forward to attending and seeing co-workers from all over the place that I don't get to normally see.  Plus, meetings always pump me up.

Well, this one was special because at the awards dinner, I unexpectedly received an award and was recognized for my hard work.  I received it for my efforts as Director on the Walgreen's CCR team (until I went out on maternity).  It was totally unexpected and much appreciated. 

When they announce the award, the person presenting the award reads a little blurb about the recipient and their accomplishments without stating their name until the end.  Usually you can tell who it's going to be after a few sentences based on specifics being given.  I was only semi-listening during the awards ceremony because it was late in the evening and I was anxious to get home to Max.  Well, I'm sitting there listening and all of a sudden I get this little tingle and I'm like, I think Jim N (Chief Technology Office/Executive VP) is talking about me...no, couldn't be!  Then he mentions CCR and I KNOW its me.  CRAZY!  So I go up to get my award and feel completely special to be acknowledged by our senior leadership group as well as my peers who are cheering warmly for me.

I asked Bob H (VP, my ex-boss, and the one who nominated me) if I could get a copy of the write up that was read because I really wanted to blog it.  (And just remember it too because like I said, I wasn't completely focused on what was being said until about 1/2 way through.)  Plus, it would be nice to have it written down to look back on during those tough days at work when I want to thrown in the towel.  Well, Bob never got back to me with it and I didn't want to push too hard because I already felt kinda weird asking for it anyway.

So...something nice was said about the work I did on Coinstar, Walgreen's CCR, and how I solve problems, etc.  I do remember they read a quote from my contact at Walgreen's who said that "Kallie is the best person I have ever worked with at CROSSMARK".  That meant a LOT - because #1 - This guy is known for being a jerk and very hard to work with and please and #2 - He's worked with people higher up the ladder than me.  When I was working on CCR, I worked conscientiously and diligently to ensure we had a good working relationship while also not being a doormat/pushover with him either so it was really nice to hear those words.  (Bob said later that he had also included in his write up that I had done all these great things while ALSO being pregnant.  Which I think deserves special recognition because come on, successfully running a team while you are tired, have nausea, are plagued with pregnancy brain and can't think straight or remember any words you used to use or what happened yesterday, and your emotions don't know what "stable" means is a pretty big deal!  Bob, who has a wife that is 4 months pregnant, thought so too.  But apparently Jim decided to edit that out.  Such a male thing to do.)

I received the "Commitment to Excellence" award which was only given to 8 people in the company this year.  You have to be nominated and the senior leaders have to agree that you deserve the award, so it's not based on something like just making your P&L for the year.  Pretty AWESOME in my book.  The award is a nice metal (HEAVY) replica of a bigger sculpture of Excel, the CROSSMARK mascot (he's one of the bulls we own that live in the pasture in front of the office).

Side note...
How do you know you work for a company with headquarters in Dallas? :)  Don't take this the wrong way - CROSSMARK is forward thinking, an industry leader, awarded for their technology, and has a very nice corporate office.  This stuff makes me chuckle though...

• The company owns the pasture next to the office and raises both Buffalo and cattle (longhorns)
• The company mascot is a bull and the company commissioned a sculpture of the bull
• The top award given to leaders in the company is ridiculously heavy, mini-sculpture of that bull

Crap!  I just realized I should take a close up shot of the award and add it to the blog.  It is at work so I can't take the picture now but I'll try and remember to do that and update this post.

Here's the blurb that went up on our company website:
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CROSSMARK Leaders Honored for “Going Beyond”


CROSSMARK leaders from around the world attended a recent company leadership conference themed “Going Beyond.” CROSSMARK CEO John Thompson reinforced to the group that the company’s goal is to be the number one choice of sales and marketing services providers among all consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. And he said that will require exceeding expectations and going the extra mile to deliver outstanding results. At the same time, a number of those leaders also were honored for their success in doing just that.

At the conference, awards were given to associates who demonstrated exceptional leadership and achievement of annual performance objectives. Recipients were presented with awards for excellence, inspired by and showcasing “Excel” the longhorn bull, CROSSMARK’s mascot that represents excellence, strength, and leadership.

Dwayne Hamilton, Division Manager of the Johnson & Johnson Dedicated Team, received the top honor with the “Excellence in Leadership” award for demonstrating outstanding leadership.

In addition, eight other associates were honored with “Commitment to Excellence” awards for their outstanding performance and leadership over the past year, and 28 recipients were awarded the “Circle of Excellence” for achieving their business objectives.
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