July 15th, 2009 Anwer 1’s Nathan Rivas Receives Semi-Finalist Award for 24/7 Certified Agent of the

ATSI 24/7 Certified Agent of the Year Program off to an Unbelievable Start

By Beth Cooper

During the Awards Dinner at the 2009 Annual Convention, held inPittsburgh, PA, I had the great honor to present the first ever ATSI 24/7 Certified Agent of the Year results. This program was developed over the past year as a vehicle to recognize our agent staff, and the wonderful job that they do. And this also gives us all the opportunity to change the perception of the way that our staff, and our industry, is perceived among the general public.

Nominees were divided into four regions, loosely based on time zones. The highest scoring agent in each region became a semi-finalist. The semi-finalist with the highest overall score was designated as the ATSI 24/7Certified Agent of the Year. Each agent nominated for this honor received a certificate of nomination.

Each semi-finalist also received a cash award of $100. The Agent of the Year received a glass award, and a cash award of $250.00.

Our judges were selected from the pool of ATSI past presidents, and once again these individuals gave of themselves for the betterment of our
industry. They were, Steve Diels, Allan Fromm, Lori Jenkins, and Ray Shaw.  Nominees were divided into four regions, loosely based on time zones.

The highest scoring agent in each region became a semi-finalist. The semi-finalist with the highest overall score was designated as the ATSI 24/7
Certified Agent of the Year. Each agent nominated for this honor received a certificate of nomination. Each semi-finalist also received a cash
award of $100. The Agent of the Year received a glass award, and a cash award of $250.00.

Our judges were selected from the pool of ATSI past presidents, and once again these individuals gave of themselves for the betterment of our industry. They were, Steve Diels, Allan Fromm, Lori Jenkins, and Ray Shaw.
 
There were no participants in two of the regions this year, which left us with one semi-finalist, and of course, the Agent of the Year.
 
Our Region 3 Semi-Finalist, Nathan Rivas, has worked for Answer 1 Communications in Phoenix Arizona for over two years. Answer 1 took a
team approach to choosing their Agent of the Year nominee. Answer 1 operations manager Chris Hudock explains, “We held an in-house vote
for the agent of the year. Nathan’s fellow agents overwhelming voted him as the best candidate of the ATSI Agent of the Year.” Some of the comments from his co-workers included Nathan’s consistent scoring of 100%+ on his calls, his lead by example and hands on approach to helping those agents who need attention, and how courteous and professional he is.

I think Mary Jones said it best when she said this to Nathan as she presented him with his certificate and check, “Nathan, the care and dedication of your position is apparent through the customer service that you extend to your callers.” Sounds like Nathan is someone we’d all like to have working in our call centers. Congratulations, Nathan.

And finally, I want to extend my thanks to the people who took the time to nominate these outstanding agents. For more information on the ATSI 24/7
Certified Agent of the Year visit the ATSI website at www.atsi.org.