5 Reasons Optimists Make Better Leaders

SilverFern is fortunate to be part of an industry that is growing rather than downsizing.  Our results and client satisfaction with 100% ROI allows us to not only work with great clients, but also to be selective in our hiring process.  We provide these clients with positive results, and the way we do that is by building the foundation of our company, our sales and marketing team, with positive-minded and motivated people.  This article published on Inc.com shows why including optimists in a company's onboarding process will not only set your organization up for success, but will also create like-minded leaders that will advance as the company continues to grow. 

http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/5-reasons-optimists-win-while-pessimists-lose.html

Associate Spotlight: Jessica Blodgett

 

 

 Jessica Blodgett

Lead Account Manager

Born and Raised

Edwardsville, IL

 

A little bit about Jessica:  
Jessica grew up in the southern Illinois town of Edwardsville, IL with her parents and younger brother.  A musician at heart, Jessica attended the esteemed Berklee College of Music for a year before transferring to University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana.  During her time as a Fighting Illini, Jessica pursued a degree in Psychology which she completed in May of 2013. 
 

What do people not know about you? 
Jessica is not only an accomplished musician, but she is a songbird as well! "The first job I ever held was as a piano teacher.  I can play multiple instruments with a focus on piano, guitar, and vocal performance."

Why SilverFern?
  "I wanted to move Chicago and pursue a career in the city.  I loved the idea of working for a company whose main client focuses on helping reduce the carbon footprint caused by unclean carbon emissions."

What is your Favorite Part of the Business?  
"Simply put, I love the opportunity for professional growth and being in control of my own future"
 

Who is your idol?
“I look up to the female entrepreneurs in my family who have opened and ran their own small businesses." 

What character traits do you admire most?
"I admire those having the ambition and courage to set high goals. I also admire those with the ability to keep an open-mind and accept the ideas and views of others"

Associate Spotlight: Dinah Pineda

Dinah Pineda

Lead Account Manager

Born and Raised

Chicago, IL

A little bit about Dinah

Chicago native, Dinah Pineda, grew up watching theatre and enjoying the musical/visual arts that this city has to offer. She feels like one of her best qualities is her work ethic, something that she learned from her mother. Growing up with a single mother, Dinah looked up to her for everything and learned the importance of working hard in order to get ahead in life. 

What do people not know about you?

“I've had multiple season passes to the Goodman Theatre and have gotten to take tours of facilities, backstage areas, and prop rooms. Fun fact: the skull that they use as a prop is in actual human skull donated by a past director!"

Why SilverFern?

“I started with this business because of the opportunity to grow. I love that this business doesn't determine your growth based on anything other than performance and hard work."

What is your Favorite Part of the Business?

“My favorite part about this business is exploring all of Chicago, even though I've been here my whole life. It's a great feeling to know that there's always something new to find!"

Who is your idol?

“My idol would be my grandmother. She is very much like my mother in the sense that she is a strong woman who supported her family. It's been incredible to have such strong female role models throughout my life."

A little bit about Shannon Daidone

Shannon Daidone

Administrative Assistant

Shannon is a Chicago native who recently completed her Masters degree in Clinical Professional Counseling and is preparing to sit for the National Counselors Exam to obtain her license in the state of Illinois.  As a child, it was obvious she would end up in a helping field.  She would frequently bring home stray or injured animals, (despite her parent’s protests) determined to nurse them back to health until they could be set free or placed in good homes.  In Grammar school, Shannon even volunteered her time during recess to help out in the special education classrooms. Besides working as an administrative assistant with SilverFern, Shannon works as an Applied Behavioral Analyst Therapist, working specifically with children who have Autism. She loves to explore the city in her spare time feeling there is always something to discover and a new adventure to dive into.

Associate Spotlight: Joshua Dreymann

Joshua Dreymann

Acquisitions and Training Manager

Born and Raised

Northbrook, IL

A little bit about Josh

Josh attended high school in Northbrook, IL, where he always had an interest in sports. He enjoyed playing football, volleyball, wrestling, and particularly rugby. After his high school years, he decided to pursue a different career path than most other students and joined the Air Force, where he served for 4 years. 

What do people not know about you?

“I have a twin sister, I know how to speak sign language, and I am a certified massage therapist."

Why SilverFern?

“I held a few jobs since I left the Air Force and as much as I enjoyed working in those positions, I felt like I needed something that would allow me to grow more. So I looked for a position that wouldn't be just another job for me, but rather a career."

What is your Favorite Part of the Business?

“I've always enjoyed working with people and helping those individuals with anything they needed to either learn or grown with, so I honestly just love that I can advance in my career while also helping others grow as well."

What character traits do you admire?

“I've spent some time in the Air Force, as I've already mentioned, so it's easy to say that I admire integrity, honesty, and loyalty. I appreciate seeing those qualities in people, because that shows how a person is at their very core."

Associate Spotlight: Jorge Gonzalez

Jorge Gonzalez

Assistant Manager

Born and Raised

Born in Puerto Rico and Raised in Orlando, FL

A little bit about Jorge

As a child, Jorge fell in love with with all things Orlando; the Space Center, Disney, and the Orlando Magic. His love of his home state grew into his teen years when he decided to stay at home in order to attend the University of Florida. There, he studied History and Political Science with the plan to become a teacher after college. Right after his college graduation, he married his high school sweetheart and they decided to move to Chicago to begin their careers. Jorge and his wife love living in Chicago, but they do intend to move back to Orlando one day, where they can watch their favorite basketball team, The Orlando Magic, court-side.

What do people not know about you?

“I am actually rather shy outside of work; which is kind of funny, because our business is very people based.”

Why SilverFern?

“The fact that this position, and the business itself, wasn’t the mundane office experience. I appreciate the fact that I get to speak to different people everyday and be a part of this awesome company culture.”

What is your Favorite Part of the Business?

“My favorite part is when we get together as a company outside of work hours and get a chance to learn more about one another and have fun while doing it. We’ve become more than just coworkers, we’ve become great friends and I would consider it my second family.”

Who is your idol?

“Wow, this is going to be kind of cliché, but I would have to say my momma; I witnessed her work extremely hard to provide for everyone else without even thinking about herself. She taught me how to be selfless and that’s something that I think is invaluable”

Associate Spotlight: Erica Arnold

 Erica Arnold

Customer Acquisition Manager

Born and Raised

LaPorte, IN

A little bit about Erica

Fearless, hilarious, free-spirited…those are just a few words to describe Erica Arnold. Growing up in a small town in Indiana, she had to create her own adventures with her sister. Her family always enjoyed going to Lake Michigan where they played games all day and used their imagination to be whoever and wherever they wanted to be. 

To this day, Erica still uses her imagination and her free-spirited attitude in every part of her life. On a daily basis, she comes into the office with a huge smile on her face and uses her infectious charisma to brighten everyone's day. 

What do people not know about you?

“I am an avid writer and painter. I believe that people need to have a creative outlet in life and mine helps me keep my focus as well as my energy in my personal and professional life"

Why SilverFern?

“Working in the service industry for several years, I've noticed just how much I enjoyed the being around people; unfortunately, the service industry doesn't have the growth that I was looking for my future. That's why I took this opportunity to do something I enjoy doing, while also being able to advance with the company."

What character traits do you admire?

“Passion. I was always told whatever you do, make sure you do it with passion. I think that seeing someone passionate about anything that they do is inspiring and it's something I've always admired in other people.

The Boulder in the Road

There once was a king that wasn’t sure as to why his kingdom was failing, his people were unhappy and the conditions were worsening. He tried everything that his court had suggested, but nothing was helping. One afternoon, he decided to create a problem and see how the people around him attempt to resolve it. He placed a boulder in the middle of the road and hid himself in the nearby shrubbery to watch what happens.

Within hours, he saw many of the people from his court come through the road and pass right by the boulder. Several of them even made commentary about how the king is at fault for not keeping all the roads clear, but none of the people did anything to fix the problem. Shortly after the wealthier courtiers passed by the boulder, a peasant came upon the boulder with a cart of vegetables from his garden. Without hesitation he placed his cart on the side of the road and toiled for an hour to move the rock out of the road until he finally succeeded.

Next to the place where the boulder had been, the peasant found a sack of gold coins and a note that read

“To the person who moves the boulder from the road: Thank you for your hard work, the kingdom appreciates your help and as a token of gratitude, this bag of coins belongs to you”

The peasant learned something that many people don’t always take the time to understand; every obstacle that presents itself is an opportunity to improve our current condition.

Associate Spotlight: Chris Karl Strautman

Chris Karl Strautman

Customer Acquisition Specialist

Born and Raised

Lafayette, IN

A little bit about Chris Karl

It was one day when the whole office decided to have a little fun and create a dance video to Pharrell’s Happy, that Chris Karl surprised the whole room. The usually rather quiet, Chris Karl, decided to get in the middle of the what became the dance floor and do the worm. Everyone in the room clapped in surprise and was excited to see a whole different side of the guy who we saw as ‘The quiet hard-worker’.

Perhaps he gets that from his German grandmother, who he considers his idol. “My Oma is 85 years old and still goes biking and swimming. She’s pretty incredible and doesn’t let anything stop her from enjoying her life.”

Needless to say, Chris Karl continues to surprise people with his infectiously fun personality hidden behind that quiet exterior. What’s next for him, you ask?

He’s looking to scuba dive the Great-Barrier Reef!

What do people not know about you?

“I used to host/DJ a radio show called Zee Germans.”

Why SilverFern?

“I was really looking for a new adventure and opportunity. Here, I get to be challenged on a daily basis not only to perform better, but to be a better person.”

What character traits do you admire?

“I’m a firm believer in what goes around comes around, that being said, I admire those who are passionate, diligent, honest, and overall caring to the people around them.”