2017 Respect Value Champion: Eric

Hello readers! Alexis here, back with our next Value Champion profile! Recognizing our employees for living out our core values is a big part of who we are at Crystal D. At WOW Day, we recognized a new set of Value Champions (VCs).

Our Value Champions are people who have been nominated by their peers and selected by managers as a person who lives out one of our five core values: integrity, quality, respect, commitment, and passion. Our VCs receive a lot of fantastic perks throughout the year including:

A shiny crystal award
Their name and picture on the Wall of Champions
A reserved parking spot right in front of the building
An afternoon boat outing with Chuck and the other VCs in the summer
Eight different meals from Let’s Dish!
$100 and an afternoon off in December to go holiday shopping
Re-recognized with a certificate that’s framed and presented to them at the end of the year
Meetings with managers over breakfast to discuss how Crystal D can improve
Planning company events and community outreach

Now that’s a lot of great stuff!

I got a chance to talk with our newest Respect Value Champion, Eric. He told me how he felt when he won this award and how the experience affected him.

Alexis: Congratulations! How did you feel when your name was announced as the winner? Did you think you were going to be the winner?

Eric: I was shocked, and honestly, I still can’t believe it! There are so many people who deserve to be a VC which makes winning this honor so much more special.

Alexis: How did you feel when you were on stage and during the presentation of your award?

Eric: It’s a great feeling to be standing up in front of the whole company. It was nominations from these people that made this moment possible for me. I was (and still am) grateful and humbled by the whole experience.

Alexis: Has anything been different for you since you won your award?

Eric: Now that the busy season has calmed down a bit and the VCs are spending more time together as a group, I’m sure I’ll start to feel differently.

Alexis: What are you looking forward to most now that you are a VC?

Eric: I’m looking forward to getting together with the other VCs to chat about how we can leave our mark on Crystal D as the 2017 Value Champs.

Alexis: On a scale of 1-5 with 1 being “terrible” and 5 being “totally awesome,” how great is it to have a reserved parking spot?

Eric: A 5 for sure!

Alexis: Now time for some fun, random questions. What’s the dumbest way you’ve injured yourself?

Eric: I haven’t been injured very often. But I did wipe out on my bike once. I was in middle school and on my way to play tennis. I scratched and cut my leg so badly that the entire front of my leg, from my knee to my ankle, was bloody. I think it provided a bit of intimidation to my opponent when I arrived at the court though!

Alexis: What’s your favorite movie quote?

Eric: Rushmore is my favorite movie, and it’s full of so many good quotes that I can’t just pick one!

Alexis: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?

Eric: It certainly is! If you slice the hot dog down the middle and lay it flat between two pieces of bread, then it’s even more of a sandwich. I have definitely done this, and it’s called a hot dog sandwich.

Alexis: Which celebrity chef would you most like to make you dinner? What would they make you?

Eric: I don’t really have a preference on the chef, but I would love a big, juicy, medium rare steak with potatoes and Brussels sprouts. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Alexis: How often do you lose your keys?

Eric: It’s very rare. I’m pretty good at putting them in the same place.

Alexis: Would you rather give up your phone for 30 days or dessert forever?

Eric: My phone for sure. I need chocolate cake in my life. And often.

Alexis: Last question. What three things would you bring to a deserted island? “A way to get off the island” is not an option!

Eric: A good book, a comfy chair, and a replicator from Star Trek so I could have any meal on demand!