Customer Service

Community Education and the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation are offering a free class for businesses and their employees to enhance thir customer service. “Give em a Pickle” Customer Service Training will be Tuesday, April 24 from 8-10 p.m. and Thursday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m at the College Park Gym, located at 15 Wheeler Ave. The class is designed to help inspire business teams to commit to raising the level of service offered to their customers. Using humor and anecdotal stories from restauranteur Bob Ferrell's video and book as a guide, the class, taught by Nancy Turner, executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission, will illustrate how easy it is to treat each customer like “the boss” by giving them what they want.

Nearly 50 Danville city employees attended TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky's “Shining STAR” Customer Service Training on Wednesday at Danville city hall. “Customer service plays a vital role in the tourism industry,” said Jeff Crowe, TOUR SEKY president/CEO. “In addition to customer service, training participants also learn about their local attractions and how to promote them to travelers.” The “Shining STAR” customer service program was established in 2003 and has trained more than 13,620 front-line employees in southern and eastern Kentucky.

Amazon announced today that it will open a 70,000-square-foot customer service facility in Winchester, which will create about 550 full-time jobs and 600 seasonal jobs by 2017. The customer service center is expected to open in late summer at the Winchester Plaza while construction of the permanent facility at the industrial park is under way. The permanent facility is expected to open in 2013. The average hourly wage for full-time employees will be $15.64, or about $20 with benefits, said Todd Denham, executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Authority.

Have you noticed how bad customer service has gotten lately? It seems that everywhere you turn people have lost interest in doing their jobs well. More and more mistakes are being made and fewer smiles are being offered to customers. When I go into a fast food restaurant, I no longer expect my order to be right the first time. In fact, I always calculate a few extra minutes because I know I am going to have to go back again and make them get it right. Then I have to be prepared for the people working at the counter to treat me like a villain.

Rob and Nicole Martin have emphasized customer service above all in the three years since they started Satellite Express, a local retailer for the Dish Network. Earlier this month, their efforts paid off with an "outstanding performance" award from CVS Systems, a multistate distributor for Dish. Satellite Express was among only 20 of CVS' 1,500 retailers to win the award this year and the only retailer in Kentucky to win it. Mike Carter, manager of the Indiana/Kentucky region for CVS, said the award is a "really big deal.

The Winchester DQ Grill & Chill restaurant on Main Street was recently recognized by Dairy Queen Corporate Stores Inc. for its outstanding performance and customer service for 2008, at a banquet held in Louisville. The local DQ received the company's Gold Star and Gold Coin Awards, as well as awards for being ranked third in breakfast sales and third in food sales among the 69 Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill restaurants that comprise the corporate stores. General Manager Ann Hall, Assistant Manager Lisa Frye and Shift Manager Ellen Sorrell were on hand to accept the awards from DQCS President Mike Kull.

Customer service training session Community Education, the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission and the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department are co-sponsoring “Give 'em a Pickle” customer service training March 21 from 8 a.m. until noon. The training session will be in the College Park Gym, 15 Wheeler Ave. There is no charge. To register, call 745-3946. Strode Station SBDM special meeting The Strode Station Elementary School-based Decision-making Council will have a special meeting at 4 p.m. today in the school library.

Sun staff report The Clark County Community Education Program recently announced the following schedule of fall classes. Job skills: Health care and customer service - Medicaid-approved state registered nurse aide (formerly certified nurse aide): Saturday,  Sept. 8 through Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m at the Clark County Area Technology Center, 650 Boone Ave. Instructor Rhonda Gilmore RN. Required text is $70 plus tax, available at Bethany Book Room. A $10 nonrefundable deposit is required to register.

Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau hopes to better the local tourism experience by launching a training program for area front-line workers. Danville Destination Day will take workers who most often encounter visitors and reacquaint — or in some cases, introduce — them to the many attractions of the area. The free program will be from roughly 9 a.m. to noon April 25. Throughout the three hours, there will be giveaways and other activities to engage participants.

Downtown store adopts new name Downtown Danville business owner Ernst Crown-Weber has changed the name of his store to Danville Bike and Footwear to reflect his efforts to respond to customer demand for more supportive shoes. The transition at his downtown store includes a redesigned logo and a new free-standing sign. Under its former name, Danville Bike and Fitness, the business has offered an array of athletic shoes, performance clothing, exercise equipment, bicycles and accessories since 1993.

Customer service training session Community Education, the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission and the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department are co-sponsoring “Give 'em a Pickle” customer service training March 21 from 8 a.m. until noon. The training session will be in the College Park Gym, 15 Wheeler Ave. There is no charge. To register, call 745-3946. Strode Station SBDM special meeting The Strode Station Elementary School-based Decision-making Council will have a special meeting at 4 p.m. today in the school library.

Nearly 50 Danville city employees attended TOUR Southern and Eastern Kentucky's “Shining STAR” Customer Service Training on Wednesday at Danville city hall. “Customer service plays a vital role in the tourism industry,” said Jeff Crowe, TOUR SEKY president/CEO. “In addition to customer service, training participants also learn about their local attractions and how to promote them to travelers.” The “Shining STAR” customer service program was established in 2003 and has trained more than 13,620 front-line employees in southern and eastern Kentucky.

The restaurant chain known for its ButterBurgers and frozen custard will soon delight the palates of Jessamine Countians as Culver's is set to open in March 2013, owner and county resident Mary Struckhoff said. Culver's mantra is “Welcome to delicious,” and Struckhoff said it's for good reason. “We actually cook to order,” she said. “As soon as a guest comes in and orders, we make their food at that point in time. You can order anything you want and any way you want it, and that's how we will cook it.” Another thing that sets Culver's apart from other quick-service restaurants is its customer service, Struckhoff said.

Sun staff report The Clark County Community Education Program recently announced the following schedule of fall classes. Job skills: Health care and customer service - Medicaid-approved state registered nurse aide (formerly certified nurse aide): Saturday,  Sept. 8 through Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m at the Clark County Area Technology Center, 650 Boone Ave. Instructor Rhonda Gilmore RN. Required text is $70 plus tax, available at Bethany Book Room. A $10 nonrefundable deposit is required to register.

Amazon announced today that it will open a 70,000-square-foot customer service facility in Winchester, which will create about 550 full-time jobs and 600 seasonal jobs by 2017. The customer service center is expected to open in late summer at the Winchester Plaza while construction of the permanent facility at the industrial park is under way. The permanent facility is expected to open in 2013. The average hourly wage for full-time employees will be $15.64, or about $20 with benefits, said Todd Denham, executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Industrial Authority.

Community Education and the Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation are offering a free class for businesses and their employees to enhance thir customer service. “Give em a Pickle” Customer Service Training will be Tuesday, April 24 from 8-10 p.m. and Thursday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m at the College Park Gym, located at 15 Wheeler Ave. The class is designed to help inspire business teams to commit to raising the level of service offered to their customers. Using humor and anecdotal stories from restauranteur Bob Ferrell's video and book as a guide, the class, taught by Nancy Turner, executive director of the Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission, will illustrate how easy it is to treat each customer like “the boss” by giving them what they want.

Total Flooring Solutions has moved from it's former location at 2 S. Main St. to 233 Tierney Way, off Rockwell Road. The move combines the warehouse and showroom which market manager Trent Fouch said allows for better customer service and efficiency in operations. “We still offer the same great selection and service,” Fouch said, “and warranties from previous purchases are still in effect. The only thing that has changed is the location.” Total Flooring Solutions is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with weekend and evening hours by appointment.

Lincoln County Clerk Sonny Spoonamore said the target date to have most of his office functions moved to the old Harvey Helm Library is July 1, and barring any unforeseen problems, the move should go smoothly. “It would surprise you how little work to the inside of the building we’ve had to do,” he said. Spoonamore said that the move is all about customer service. “Customer convenience is the main thing. There is more space in the building, and there is better parking and better handicap access,” he said.

Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau hopes to better the local tourism experience by launching a training program for area front-line workers. Danville Destination Day will take workers who most often encounter visitors and reacquaint — or in some cases, introduce — them to the many attractions of the area. The free program will be from roughly 9 a.m. to noon April 25. Throughout the three hours, there will be giveaways and other activities to engage participants.

McDowell Health Care golf classic planned Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation’s “Help Make a Difference” Golf Classic is scheduled for May 2 at the Danville Country Club. The Golf Classic will follow a four-person team, 18-hole scramble format. Each participant will have breakfast and lunch and will receive a complimentary pair of Footjoy Superlite golf shoes. Several prizes will also be awarded based on participants’ final scores. For more information or to register a team, call the Ephraim McDowell Health Care Foundation at (859)