OPERATIONS: JEFF ABBS – Page 6
Spring is the season of new beginnings, and as such it’s one of my favorite times of the year. The temperatures begin warming up, the wildlife awakens, and the earth seems to come to life again. As we prepare for the summer, we are still dealing with the challenges of this pandemic. Social distancing, using hand sanitizer, and wearing face masks have become the norm. The good news is the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolling out steadily and the country is ahead of schedule with its distribution plan. In Illinois, anyone 16 years of age or older is eligible for the vaccine beginning April 12th and I strongly encourage everyone to make an appointment. You are not only protecting yourself by getting vaccinated, you are helping to protect your loved ones, your family and friends, your co-workers, and your customers.
It’s difficult comparing 2021 to 2020 due to the pandemic, however all indications are pointing to a prosperous peak season for 2021. Several business lines have started out strong this year. Our local moving is up about 5%, our interstate hauling is up nearly 30%, storage is up over 17%, and our packing is up almost 25%. Our O&I and International departments are struggling to start the year but they are beginning to show some signs of life. It’s important to keep in mind that our success doesn’t come without its challenges.
Ivan Garcia is busy bringing in new hires to add to our local crews. Isabel Griffin and Abel Ruiz are working diligently to create as much storage space as possible. Ryan Thies and Fortino Cervantes are doing an outstanding job at keeping our interstate fleet busy. Maria Payan is doing a wonderful job of keeping our Operations department organized and making sure all of our work orders are accurate. Judy Fisher is doing an amazing job at handling all our claims. And last, but not least, the newest addition to our Operations team, Rich Licata, is doing all that he can to learn and prepare himself for a robust summer. I’m very proud of our team and I appreciate all their hard work and support as I transition into my new role at Reebie.
We are very fortunate to have a solid base of service providers. Their experience and knowledge will help us continue to provide excellent service to our customers. Their level of quality is measured quarterly and without further ado I would like to congratulate our outstanding performers, thank you all for the sacrifices you make for our customers each and every day.
| CONGRATULATIONS AND SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS | |||
| Ayala, A. | Bachar, B. | Badillo, A. | Broaster, M. |
| Corral, N. | De La Cruz, M. | Delao, E. | Francisco, N. |
| Gallarzo, J. | Garcia, M. | Guzman, A. | Herron, A. |
| Martinez, J. | Medrano, M. | Padilla, A. | Paige, M. |
| Severiano, E. | Sims, R. | Youngman, J. | Avila, J. |
| De La Cruz, A. | Estrada, R. | Gorostieta, M. | Griffin, D. |
| Herrera, J. | Lemus, M. | Olmedo, H. | Pereda, A. |
| Rodriguez, S. | Rosales, J. | Saucedo, O. | Bowers, B. |
| Romero, J. | Torres, J. | Garcia, R. | Ramos, P. |
| Sandoval, F. | Torres, P. | Trujillo, J. | Arreguin, R. |
| Rodriguez, J. | Chisem, J. | Nunez, E. | Arredon, J. |
| Colin, D. | |||
Former Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. once remarked, “The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving”. It’s wonderful to look at where we are right now and to be thankful, however the future is what excites me the most.
As a final note, I would like to thank everyone for staying safe and diligent during this pandemic. I hope to see everyone back at the office soon.
Sincerely,
Jeff