July 23, 2008
Dear Selection Committee for the Chancellor’s Customer Service Awards,
I am so glad to have the opportunity to write a letter in support of Kathleen Daughtry for the Chancellor’s Customer Service Excellence Award for an Individual. Kathleen, or “Ms. Kathleen” rather, completely embodies customer service as the Senior Secretary for the Office of Admissions at Georgia Southern University and “Director of First Impressions.” Ms. Kathleen provides excellent service not only to prospective students and parents, but also to our current students, faculty and staff. Every single time she answers the phone or greets someone walking through the door, she makes that person feel like they are the most important guest of the day! Every single time!
Ms. Kathleen always goes the extra mile to make our guests feel comfortable and at home here – and she never hesitates to offer suggestions about how the rest of us could improve our processes or procedures to make the student’s experience as positive as it can be! I’ve never seen anyone with this ability to make a guest feel at home in less that five minutes time. I also know that there is not another staff member in this office who gets more thank you notes from guests than Ms. Kathleen. It is rare for a week to go by without someone calling or emailing our office to brag on Ms. Kathleen, or to send a handwritten thank you card.
Another co-worker, Amy Smith – Coordination of Visitation Programs, writes:
“I have worked with Kathleen Daughtry for the past 24 months and supervised her for the last twelve. Never have I encountered a person more dedicated to Georgia Southern and to serving its constituents. Kathleen is our official ambassador for the Office of Admissions, going above and beyond for each person she encounters. She greets prospective families and students at our door to welcome them to our university, and she bakes treats for our current students - those she knows better than anyone because she takes time out of her chaotic day to treat them like they are the most important person to her. Kathleen accommodates school groups who make ‘reservations’ only hours before they are to arrive. She creates an environment that is warm and inviting to all who enter. She completes each task given to her to the best of her ability. Continued learning is a priority to her as well, as she is consistently working to improve herself and her knowledge base to better serve our office and our students. And she does it all with a big, heartfelt smile.
“The Office of Admissions would be lost without Kathleen in Lewis Hall. She is an essential part of our team and of the Division of Student Affairs. The hundreds of thank you cards, emails, and letters prove that Georgia Southern would be incomplete without her. She is our top recruiter and a true servant to our University.”
I’m including in this nomination packet just a small sampling of the letters we have receiving from students and families. I hope this gives you a glimpse of what a wonderful asset Ms. Kathleen is to our office, and to the University as a whole.
Sincerely,
Sarah Smith, Associate Director
Office of Admissions
July 23, 2008
To Whom It May Concern,
It is with great pride that I submit this letter of support for Kathleen Daughtry in her nomination for the Chancellor’s Customer Service Excellence Award for an Individual. It has been my pleasure to have worked with this remarkable woman over the last two years as her supervisor and friend. Affectionately called “Ms. Kathleen” by everyone, she is without doubt one of the unsung heroes of customer service and student caring on this campus. If we could distill her kindness and loving nature, we would have the base ingredients for the perfect student supporter.
Kathleen has touched the lives of students, parents, and fellow employees so many times, it is not an easy task to try and give you one best example. I am sure you will have many examples to choose from in the documents of support that accompany her nomination. As her previous supervisor, however, I can let you know she was one of my greatest pillars of support. If you needed help with a program whether it was after hours or during the weekend, Kathleen was the first to raise her hand and, I might add, joyfully offer her support. When it came time for the program, you could be sure that everything was in its place and ready to go. Without going into any additional detail, I think everyone in the Office of Admissions and Southern Ambassadors can certainly say they obtained a bit more body weight due to her cooking prowess over the years.
No matter our position, each of us needs motivation to make it through each day. Kathleen, portraying her heart of gold, was always there with a surprise card or gift when things looked bad. When it came to celebrating an Ambassador’s birthday, cooking dinner and breakfast for a retreat, or presenting a well-timed gift or card, there was no doubt she was our motivational hero. Fortunate are those who have the right to call her mom.
Kathleen is an invaluable asset to this university and we have her positioned in the best place possible- the Admission Office’s lobby. For so many she is the first face a prospective family will see and you could not ask for a better first impression. I have written many nomination letters over the years and served on many selection committees. Choosing the best is a tough task, but in this case you have an easy, if not obvious choice.
Good luck in the selection process. I am available for any questions or additional information.
Sincerely,
Robert Meguiar
Training Coordinator
VP Office of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management