You’ve either met our Employee Spotlight for April – or you will.

Business Development Representative Melinda Theilen attends every Main Event, many By Referral Only free workshops and plenty of Community Remodel Days, where she represents our company to both current and potential community members. Multiply all those events by all those airplanes and rental cars and miles, and you can see why we call her “Mobile” Melinda! Fortunately, she was in town long enough for us to honor her Super Servant attitude, commitment to excellence, energy and enthusiasm.

Whether she’s helping a current member to build their business – or a soon-to-be member to save their business – Melinda loves her job. And it shows. The next time you see Melinda at a By Referral Only event, give her a high five and say…

Congratulations, Melinda.

Who displays a “can-do” attitude, is the consummate team player and does whatever it takes to keep things running smoothly in the Promotional Coordinator Department? Give up? It’s Christina Bernales – our Promotional Coordinator Supervisor and March Employee Spotlight.

Whether it’s training new Promotional Coordinators or making sure they have the correct information about our upcoming free workshops (where we introduce Realtors and Lenders to By Referral Only and The Main Event), Christina gives her team the tools necessary to make a Fabulous First Impression on prospective members.

A two-year By Referral Only veteran, Christina is well-organized and always puts our potential members’ needs first: “It’s great to have the opportunity to impact the life of another person in a positive way – every day.”

Employee Spotlight for February 2006

Our Employee Spotlight for February is a rare combination of the creative – and the practical.

Troy Wedberg, Graphic Designer, spends his days at his Mac computer, designing wonderful print graphics (that’s his creative side) always on deadline (that’s his practical side). Whether he’s working on materials for members like Results in Action magazine, on marketing pieces to promote the free Half-Day Workshops and The Main Event, or on visuals we’ll see at our company meeting or at member events, Troy takes pride in doing his best, every time and on time.

Troy’s can-do attitude, commitment to excellence, and “How can I help you?” approach are three more reasons we honor him as this month’s Spotlight.

Congratulations, Troy

Employee Spotlight for January 2006

At By Referral Only, we’re always thinking outside the box. That’s why for the month of January, instead of just one employee, the spotlight is on a pair of one-of-a-kind teammates: Julie Spychalski and Laurie Spears.

As our Sales Event Coordinators, Julie and Laurie share the responsibilities of managing the free Half-Day Workshops which includes scheduling the dates, securing the hotel conference rooms, organizing the plethora of Half-Day materials, and traveling to 100+ locations per year. When either Julie or Laurie arrives at the location, they, and facilitators Todd Welsh and Spencer Reynolds introduce local Realtors and Lenders to the By Referral Only systems and strategies presented at The Main Event.

Whether they’re in or out of the office, Julie and Laurie demonstrate the extraordinary communication and teamwork that make all your By Referral Only events a success.

Congratulations, Julie and Laurie.

Employee Spotlight for December 2005

A four-year By Referral Only veteran, Marlene gives 150% effort to every task at hand, and her passionate approach to coaching inspires her members and colleagues. Marlene is always open to answer questions (whether it's from a Coach or member) and give expert feedback – always with a smile.

Marlene consistently exhibits our core values in her work: communication, teamwork, passion, integrity and fun. Her favorite part about coaching is, "Getting to know my members on a personal and a professional level, and helping them achieve their goals. It doesn't get any better than that."

Congratulations, Marlene.

Employee Spotlight for November 2005

As our National Sales Manager, Curt works closely with attendees of By Referral Only Half-Day Workshops and Main Events and mentors our Business Development teams who follow up with your referrals. He demonstrates superior customer service by continually dedicating himself to the success of By Referral Only and our members.

As Curt says, "Every day at By Referral Only, we help business professionals build their businesses. It's the most rewarding job I've ever had."

And, Curt's perfect blend of humor and professionalism keeps his team's morale high and their productivity soaring.

Congratulations, Curt.

Employee Spotlight for October 2005

"Cooperative attitude…a team player…always committed to excellence…" These are just a few of the phrases used to describe our Employee Spotlight for October, Keith Alger.

As our Membership Services Manager, Keith interacts daily with the By Referral Only Coaches as a trainer, motivator, listener and negotiator. His depth and breadth of experience helps his team grow professionally and personally, and that, in turn, enables our Coaches to enhance your experience as a member.

Keith's passion for your member experience is unwavering. He consistently champions the views and preferences of members, and makes viable suggestions for changing our business practices to improve your business results.

Keith's colleagues also credit him for creating a fun environment, building rapport, and modeling our core values of communication, teamwork, passion, integrity and fun.

Congratulations, Keith.

Employee Spotlight for September 2005

Always coming through in the clutch with both a smile and a positive attitude – that's Debby Leite, our Accounts Payable/Payroll Processor and Employee Spotlight for September 2005.

Here are just a few reasons for Debby's nomination:

Debby says, "What I like most about my job is the interaction I have with over 120 colleagues. I'm part of a family at By Referral Only, and that's why I enjoy coming to work!"

Congratulations, Debby.

Employee Spotlight for August 2005

Ever experience a moment when you're ready to scream at your computer? Here at By Referral Only, when electronics try our patience, we need someone to save the day. Enter our computer systems analyst, Chris Richichi – he's always on his way.

Chris works with our local area network and personal computers, ensuring that when we e-mail you or meet with you on the telephone, everything flows smoothly. His can-do attitude and technical savvy help resolve even the most difficult tasks quickly and efficiently.

A true team player, Chris exhibits a commitment to excellence and a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Congratulations, Chris.

Employee Spotlight for July 2005

Meet By Referral Only Strategic Results Coach Teresa McGee, our July 2005 Employee Spotlight. Teresa's colleagues selected her cited, among other qualities, her professionalism, reliability and kindness.

An eight-year veteran, Teresa starts each day with tremendous focus and preparation. Her positive attitude and enthusiastic approach to coaching inspire her members and everyone at By Referral Only. A model of patience, Teresa takes the time to answer any question – and always with a smile.

Her favorite thing about coaching is, "Listening to the heart of each person who talks with me. It is both an honor and a gift."

Congratulations, Teresa.

Employee Spotlight for June 2005

Going above and beyond what's asked of him – that's our Employee Spotlight for June, Daniel Womack, in a nutshell.

As our recently promoted Internet Marketing Coordinator, Daniel exemplifies the core values of By Referral Only. A high level of integrity shows up in Daniel's attention to detail and the pride he takes in his work. As a part of the FUN-tastiks, he's the first to initiate fun activities that all of us enjoy. Daniel's teamwork and communication skills become evident as he completes all projects on time and continually comes through in clutch situations. He displays a passion for making everything he touches as perfect as possible.

A consummate professional, Daniel exhibits a positive attitude and a total commitment to excellence every day.

Congratulations, Daniel.

Employee Spotlight for May 2005

When you attend The Main Event, you've no doubt noticed that it always seems to go off without a hitch. One of the reasons is Melanie Bovenkamp's super organizational skills. Driven by an inner sense of excellence, Melanie works behind the scenes to ensure every aspect of the event unfolds gracefully.

As our Events Coordinator, Melanie is always looking for new ways to improve our processes and procedures to give you a phenomenal experience at every Main Event, Community Remodel Day, and other By Referral Only programs.

Melanie is a terrific colleague and teammate known for her accurate information and instant service. We at By Referral Only continue to draw upon her wealth of knowledge, and count on her smile, each and every day.

Congratulations, Melanie.

Employee Spotlight for April 2005

We call our April 2005 Employee Spotlight Of The Month "Sharon," but she's also known as "Grace" – as in "Grace Under Pressure" – because Sharon is a model of grace as she handles her many and varied responsibilities.

As Executive Assistant to both our founder, Joe Stumpf, and our CEO, Terry Hunefeld, Sharon's day includes everything from juggling Joe and Terry's busy schedules to talking with members and organizing on-site and off-site meetings. She arranges Joe's Super Servant interviews and manages a thousand and one details, always with a positive attitude, great sense of humor, commitment to excellence, and high level of professionalism.

And she does it all with her mega-watt smile. Congratulations, Sharon!

Employee Spotlight March 2005

Meet Joann Chapman, Accounts Receivable, our March 2005 Employee Spotlight Of The Month. Joann received numerous glowing nominations from her By Referral Only colleagues, who said Joann always does her best to look at things from the member's perspective and act in the best interest of the company. Joann's internal customer service skills have "wowed" me and left me with a great impression of someone who knows how to get the job done to make all parties happy. Externally, Joann's efforts enable me to go back to our new members and deliver great news on how we can support them and deliver world-class service. I am amazed at what Joann can accomplish in a day. She must be Super Woman to keep up.

Employee Spotlight for February 2005 When we go to the theatre, we concentrate on the drama that unfolds before us. Rarely do we think about the masters behind the scenes who work to make sure that everything happens perfectly.
This month, our Employee Spotlight for Outstanding Model of Referability shines brilliantly on Roman Singleterry (Network Analyst, left) and Jamie Valdez (IT Manager), Information Technology gurus extraordinaire. They work behind the scenes on our local area network, website, personal computers, and all those other electronics we don't understand but can't get along without, ensuring that all systems continually "Go Green" when we e-mail you, meet with you on the telephone, or visit the website with you to review a By Referral Only strategy.
Jamie and Roman deliver consistent, teamed responses to any challenge, and they accompany even the most difficult tasks with smiles and a can-do attitude. Congratulations, Roman and Jamie.

Employee Spotlight for January 2005 Congratulations to By Referral Only staff member Henry Buddenbohm, our Warehouse and Facilities Lead, and January 2005 Outstanding Model of Referability. Henry was chosen by his colleagues who cited, among other qualities, his internal and external communication skills, his suggestions for new procedures that are both time- and money-saving, his upbeat attitude – and that "Henry is a keeper!" Henry is dedicated to ensuring that all materials for Community Remodel Days and Main Events are packed and shipped on time so you'll have the best experience possible at these trainings. He manages all shipments coming into and leaving our Warehouse from office supplies to UPS, and he's always "right there" when someone needs help moving a file cabinet, unjamming the copy machine, or installing an overhead light. Henry is a "keeper," indeed.

Employee Spotlight for December 2004

Meet By Referral Only staff member Christine Chehab, our Human Resources Generalist and December 2004 Outstanding Model of Referability. Christine was chosen by her colleagues who cited, among other qualities, Christine's energy, professionalism, credibility and reliability. Christine is usually the first person that prospective employees meet, and she "represents By Referral Only in a positive, enthusiastic way at all times." She makes new employees "feel comfortable and welcome," and interacts with everyone in our organization in a way that "models referability in everything she does." Congratulations, Christine!

Employee Spotlight for November 2004 Meet By Referral Only staff member Jodie Park, whom many of you already know as the friendly voice who answers your Client Newsletter questions about starting a subscription, billing, or sending the newsletter to you via e-mail. Jodie has a wonderful sense of humor that lightens the moods of all, and she also has sweet sustenance at her desk to satisfy the hunger faeries. Jodie was chosen the November 2004 Outstanding Model of Referability by her colleagues in recognition of her exceptional performance, teamwork, and superior customer service both internally and externally. Among the reasons cited were, "Jodie consistently goes above and beyond when asked for information" and, "She has a caring and giving attitude." Jodie is a world-class performer. Congratulations, Jodie!

Employee Spotlight for October 2004 If you look up "linchpin" in the dictionary, it says, "A central cohesive element." If you look up "linchpin" at By Referral Only, you'll find our October Employee Spotlight! That's because Kelly is the go-to person not only for all the By Referral Only Coaches but for many others in our organization who need to know how, why, where, and "How soon can I have that?" Kelly also excels at external customer service and support, providing immediate assistance to members with event registration, member-to-member referrals, and web access inquiries. Because of Kelly, you and your Coach can spend more time building your referral-based business. Kelly truly loves giving world-class service to everyone, and her expeditious responses deliver "wow!" after "wow!"

Employee Spotlight for September 2004 Our September Employee Spotlight, Laura Arnsbarger, is "someone who can always be counted on for a warm hello, a positive attitude and a commitment to get the job done and done right." She has a knack for understanding the total membership experience, and if you find a Letter From The Heart that truly touches you, you can rest assured that the words flowed from Laura's golden hand. If you stop by Laura's desk you'll find her working on anything from your Community Weekly On-line e-mail, the monthly Results in Action kit, the Client Newsletter and other materials where she puts her writing experience and talent to work. When Laura's colleagues say, "She follows through and always has the member's best interest at heart," you can see it in her work – and her smile. Indeed, she is a model of all the values and behaviors that make you referable. Congratulations, Laura!

Employee Spotlight for August 2004 The next time you're on the By Referral Only website – like right now, for instance – say a quick "Thank You" to Nathan Shevlin and Val Tsou, our web producers. Val and Nathan are responsible for our entire website, from adding each monthly Results in Action kit so you can access it even before it arrives in the mail, to going behind the scenes for constant updating and maintenance. And when they're not adding and going and updating and maintaining, they're very likely at training to get even better at adding and going and updating and maintaining, so they can make our website as accessible and user friendly as it can possibly be. Talk about attitude? Val's consistent response to a request is, "I can do that." Nathan's is, "No prob-lemo." No wonder they're our Outstanding Models of Referability! Since earning their awards, Nathan and Val's responsibilities have changed. Nathan has moved to the Marketing Department and has taken on full responsibility for the website; Valerie has remained with Information Technology and is helping the company move forward with its Customer Relationship Management software.

Employee Spotlight for July 2004 When Chris Lane earned his award, he was a Promotional Coordinator. Now, as a Main Event Consultant, our Employee Spotlight for July spends a good part of his day on the telephone helping people with their business challenges. For his work with both clients and colleagues he has received numerous kudos from his managers and his peers, who described him as "sensitive to our clients' needs" and, "always studying our systems and strategies to improve his knowledge." Chris' teammates made particular mention of his fantastic attitude, the support and encouragement he offers them, that he's "very much a team player," and, "We love him as part of our team!" What's not to love? Congratulations, Chris!

Employee Spotlight for June 2004 We have plenty of material to choose from to describe Nicole Wessman, our Outstanding Model of Referability for June 2004 Nicole is the model of superior internal and external customer service. She is the "go to" person and everyone knows they can count on her. She willingly puts in extra hours to do whatever is needed to make The Main Event the best possible experience for all participants. The Sales Team says they couldn't do their jobs without Nicole's help – and her help is what makes them successful in the jobs. Your colleagues are your Raving Fans, Nicole. Congratulations!

Employee Spotlight for May 2004 The only person who's been with By Referral Only longer than Jen Brown is Joe Stumpf himself! Jen has held a variety of positions during her 13 years here – you may have met her when she managed The Main Event, for example – and with each position she's learned, grown and excelled. Today, as the most experienced Coach in the Membership Services Department, Jen is involved at all levels from training new Coaches to covering scheduled calls with members if a Coach is absent. Her people skills – including cooperation, motivation, consultation, and overall friendliness – allow her to deliver world-class service with a smile. Among the phrases used to describe Jen are "exceeds expectations," "strong teamwork," "professional," and "Jen can always be counted on to get the job done." Well done, Jen!