Kathy Stahl is celebrating a big anniversary this month. She has been a member of Groov-Pin’s customer service team for 40 years!
In 1981, Kathy was working in customer service at Associated Films in Ridgefield, New Jersey, when she learned the office would be relocating. She began looking for another job and came across Groov-Pin’s listing in the newspaper.
“I filled out an application and went for an interview,” she recalls. “They were looking for someone part-time and my kids were still young and in school so that was perfect. After two weeks on the job, they asked me to work full time and that was it ever since.”
As a customer service representative, Kathy’s responsibilities have included managing orders for Grooved Pins and Threaded Inserts via email, phone, and LiveChat. She also quotes special prices, expedites orders, and takes other service-related phone calls.
“I like dealing with customers, I like the daily interaction,” she said. “One call is someone you’ve been dealing with for years and the next is someone you’ve never talked to before.”
Kathy has also seen a lot of change over her time at Groov-Pin, both internally and within the manufacturing industry. “Management has changed over the years of course, but I’ve seen us start to make so many different types of products,” she said. “Way back, I only remember pins and inserts, and now we manufacture all of these different custom components.”
Changes in technology have also changed the way she works. “Before, when we used to do a stock check, we would have to write every little part down and then you would pick up your phone and you would call the production office and they would pick up the phone and then they would write down what you were looking for and what quantity. They used to have a file box and they would have one card for every single part and they would tell you how many parts were in stock,” she explained.
What has remained the same is the relationship between employees and the way everyone works together. “Everybody is committed to Groov-Pin. Everybody is committed to doing a good job and to getting the customer what they want when they want it. I think that’s what it all comes down to. We have the same concerns. Everybody works together as a team and that’s what’s important because if you’re not a team, nothing is going to get done,” she said.