Feb 07, 2013
ATTENTION Virginia Funeral Directors!
Looking to earn some Continuing Education credits? ASD Family Member Owner Kevin Czachor will be presenting a class on March 7 at the Virginia Funeral Directors Association (VFDA) ‘s Traveling Caravan event. The event will take place at Mary Washington University Campus and Kevin’s class will be held from 3:15p to 4:15p following a full lineup of dynamic speakers.
Kevin’s class will focus on how to use telecommunications to improve quality and service to families. Emphasis will be on using technology to improve high standards of service, communication with families to address their needs, and enhancing services offered. Participants will analyze various scenarios under which telecommunications plays a vital role in the customer experience and focus on ways funeral homes can increase service with the proper application of progressive cellular and internet technology.
“We are thrilled that the VFDA chose to partner with ASD,” Kevin says. “I look forward to meeting the association’s members in personal at the VFDA’s Traveling Caravan event in March.”
To learn more about the VFDA’s Traveling Caravan event and Kevin’s class, click here.
ASD in The Director
Pick up this month’s issue of The Director magazine to read “Never Miss A Call: A 10-Step Process to Bulletproofing your Funeral Home’s Phone Lines” – a complete guide to safeguarding your funeral home’s telephone with call forwarding features and techniques. The article was written by ASD Staff Writer Jessica Fowler and examines various scenarios when it is crucial to maintain open lines of communication. You can read the article on our blog next week or, if you’re an NFDA member, read the digital version online by clicking this link.
Monthly Employee Spotlight
Monthly Employee SpotlightEvery month, ASD will feature a different employee on our blog and Facebook page so you can get to know our staff on a more personal level. In January, we featured longtime employee Helene. For more than 15 years, ASD Call Specialist, Helene, has dedicated herself to providing comfort and compassion to funeral home callers. Known affectionately at the office as “Ms. Helene”, Helene began working at ASD in 1997 when we first began branching out to funeral homes beyond our local area. Our Operations Managers observed Helene’s empathetic phone demeanor, excellent listening skills and attention to detail early on. She has proved her dedication time and time again, both through her exemplary work and outstanding attendance. Click here to learn more about Helene.
Earlier this week, we featured Training Specialist Maria as our spotlight for the month of February. In the three years Maria has worked for ASD she has proven herself as an asset to the company with her compassionate phone demeanor and the strong level of support she offers to Spanish-speaking callers. In addition to her contributions as a member of ASD’s bilingual staff, she has also trained many of ASD’s employees. Click here to learn more about Maria.
Be sure to check back in March to see which employee we will feature for our Monthly Employee Spotlight.
2013 Tribute Blanket Contest
Have you ordered a Tribute Blanket from ASD Rewards Partner Funeral Home Gifts? For the next week (until February 12), your funeral home can submit examples of your Tribute Blanket Design online for a chance to win Funeral Home Gifts’ 2013 Tribute Blanket Design Contest.
- ► First Place: 3 Tribute Blankets
- ► Second Place: 2 Free Blankets
- ► Honorable Mention (awarded to 5 entrants): 1 Tribute Blanket Each
To learn more, click here.
ASD’s Sensitive Save of the Week
ASD’s Sensitive Save of the WeekThis week our Call Specialist, Diego, handled an extremely difficult call with exceptional composure. The caller was the father of an infant who had died prematurely. He was calling from a crowded room and had the phone on speaker, making it difficult for Diego to understand the nature of the call initially. “Let me call back” the gentleman said, to which Diego calmly reassured him by asking “What is your name? I may be able to assist you.” The caller eventually relayed contact information and Diego was able to get in touch with the funeral director on call without delay. Diego is this week’s “Sensitive Save of the Week” winner.
Click here to see last week’s winner.
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog and for your interest in the latest developments here at ASD. We hope to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Google+ as well.
About The Author
Jess Farren (Fowler)
Jess Farren (Fowler) is a Public Relations Specialist and Staff Writer who has been a part of the ASD team since 2003. Jess manages ASD’s company blog and has been published in several funeral trade magazines. She has written articles on a variety of subjects including communication, business planning, technology, marketing and funeral trends. You can contact Jess directly at Jess@myASD.com
