Hello readers! I’m here to introduce you to our 2018 Passion Value Champion! It’s incredibly important for us to recognize our employees at Crystal D. One way we do this is with our Value Champion program. Each quarter, our employees nominate their coworkers for living out our five core values and a quarterly WOW Champ for each value is selected by managers. At the end of the year, the managers review the nominations of each WOW Champ and ultimately pick the next Value Champion and Grand Value Champion. We recognized a new set of Value Champions (VCs) at WOW Day back in January.
Each of our VCs has been selected as the person who best lived out one of our five core values: integrity, quality, respect, commitment, and passion. In addition to the recognition of being a winner, our VCs receive some awesome perks throughout the year including:
- A shiny crystal award presented to them at WOW Day
- Their name and picture on the Wall of Champions
- A reserved parking spot right in front of the building
- Extra days of PTO throughout the year
- An afternoon of fun in the sun with Chuck at the boat outing
- Eight different meals from Let’s Dish!
- $100 and an afternoon off to go holiday shopping
- Meetings with managers over breakfast to discuss how Crystal D can improve
- Help planning company events and community outreach
- Participating in New Employee Orientation (NEO) as a welcoming committee
That’s a lot of great stuff!
I had the chance to meet with Liz, our newest Passion Value Champion, to talk about how it felt winning the award and what it’s been like as a VC.
Alexis: Congratulations, Liz! How did you feel when your name was announced as the winner? Did you think you were going to win?
Liz: I had no idea I was going to win. It was the second to last award of the day and the last VC to be announced. They called my name, and I did a double take. I looked down the row of seats I was in, and everyone was congratulating me and staring at me. And then it hit me that I won! I was the Passion Value Champ!!!
Alexis: How did you feel when you were on stage and during the presentation of your award?
Liz: It was amazing! When Chuck handed me the award, it was like all my hard work the past year was sitting in the palm of my hand. There were so many memories and stories running through my head as well as the hurdles and struggles I overcame this year. It was a relief that my hard work and effort didn’t go unnoticed. I felt like I proved myself to the company and my teammates, and I really earned this award! 2018 was a really tough year for me personally, but I never let it affect my work. The fact that it was noticed means a lot.
Alexis: What kind of impact do you want to make as a Value Champion?
Liz: I want to make an impact on our goals for the year. Being a VC means you are a role model and leader. We can influence other Memory Makers and also be their voice. I also want to try and get each Memory Maker to nominate a coworker at least once this year.
Alexis: What are you looking forward to most now that you are a Value Champion?
Liz: There are a lot of perks that come with being a VC which are pretty cool, but those just come along with the role. I’m looking forward to being a voice at Crystal D and being recognized throughout the year. It’s what makes Crystal D unique. Other companies present their awards on one day and go back to business as usual the next. That’s not the Crystal D way. Being a VC means you have extra responsibilities and you’re included in things throughout the year.
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?
Liz: Seriously, a 10. I know you said 5 was the max, but it’s better than that! Front row parking when the actual temperature was -25 was AWESOME. And I get that spot for a whole year! I’m not gonna lie…I definitely took a selfie with my parking sign. It makes you feel like a real VIP!
Alexis: OK, we’ve answered the serious questions. Now time for the fun ones. What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Liz: Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”! My friends and I had rap battles back in the day, and that was my jam.
Alexis: If you were a superhero, what would be your superpower?
Liz: It would definitely be to heal others. I would wave my magic wand, say “abracadabra,” and POOF! Back to your normal, healthy self!
Alexis: Is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
Liz: Any meat between two buns is a sandwich in my opinion. So yes, it’s definitely a sandwich!
Alexis: Which famous person, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with?
Liz: Channing Tatum, Paul Walker, or George Clooney!
Alexis: What’s your favorite cheesy pick-up line?
Liz: I don’t really have one. My husband was drawn to me when I showed him pictures of me catching fish and petting a deer. So pictures of me with animals are apparently what works for me!
Alexis: If you could make any animal small enough to fit in your pocket, what animal would you constantly carry around?
Liz: Hands down, a French bulldog!
Alexis: If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you wish for? “Unlimited wishes” and “unlimited genies” are not allowed!
Liz: First, I’d like a one-week paid vacation every year for the rest of my life. Second, I’d like to win the lottery so I can retire at 55. And third, I want an endless supply of sweets and treats that don’t make you gain weight!
Thanks for chatting with me, Liz! And congratulations again on becoming the 2018 Passion Value Champion!
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