Dec 23, 2014
As we embrace the Christmas season here at ASD, we wish you and your family the same joy and happiness we experience this time of year. Our company believes funeral directors should be acknowledged for their commitment everyday and especially around the holidays. We realize that the time you have with your family is often cut short so you can assist others in their time of need. This year, we wanted to spotlight directors that give back to others during the holidays.
This important funeral director fact mentions just a few of the different ways funeral directors support their community this time of year. Click on the image above to read more about different ways funeral homes help others during the holidays.
In addition to giving back to others, we know that being on call on Christmas is a reality for many funeral directors. For this reason, planning in advance of the holidays is incredibly important to us here at ASD. Christmas, New Years Day and the entire holiday season is fully staffed with back up support so you can enjoy those days knowing that your phones are protected. We create a special holiday schedule that includes all of our Call Specialists. Our employees are committed to working on the holidays, which is why last year on Christmas Day we answered 93 percent of all calls on the first ring and 98 percent by the fourth ring. While our operators work shorter shifts, scheduling everyone increases the overlap of employees to ensure our office is never short staffed. It also aligns with ASD’s all-hands-on-deck approach of the office working as a collective whole to ensure the highest quality of service for our directors.
ASD’s Christmas Traditions
Like a big family, we celebrate many Christmas traditions here at ASD. Here are a few we wanted to share:
ASD’s Christmas Giveback Program
For the past four years, ASD has participated in a charity that supports local children in need. Children’s Choice Adoption and Foster helps connect ASD to families in need of support during Christmas. This year, the ASD collected an overwhelming number of donations. Dozens of gifts and over 150 food items, including 6 turkeys, were given to help these local families. We are proud of the generosity our staff showed this year in helping this important cause.
ASD’s Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
ASD employees wore their favorite Ugly Christmas Sweaters and Sweatshirts this past weekend to celebrate the holidays.
Our Third Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is now in full swing over on ASD’s Facebook page. Thank you to everyone who helpedp us decide which one of our employees wore the most creative getup. Click here to see the winner.
Christmas Treats
Every year, as it gets close to Christmas, our break room fills up with all sorts of goodies and treats that our employees bring in to share with one another. By Christmas day, an entire feast is laid out on our countertops. Some of our employees participate in a cookie swap and bake different types of cookies for one another. We have some very talented bakers here at ASD. Check out some of the festive holiday treats they have made in the past:
Made earlier this week by our Training Specialist, Heather.
2013 Holiday Cake made by Colleen, the wife of our Call Specialist, Gary who runs Colleen’s Bake Shoppe in Marcus Hook, PA.
2012 Holiday Cake, also made by Colleen.
ASD’s 2014 Christmas Luncheon
Every year, we look forward to our annual Christmas Luncheon – a chance for the ASD team to come together to discuss recent milestones and our plans for the New Year. Here are a few photos from our luncheon.
BACK ROW (from the left) Family-Member Owner, Kathy Kelley, Operations Supervisor, Sue Norbeck, Administrative Assistant, Carla Jones, Operations Supervisor, Kathy Blythe, Operations Supervisor, Donna Twitty, Operations Supervisor, William Chicola, Operations Supervisor, Diego Meneses, Lead Creative Designer, Juan Silva
FRONT ROW: Operations Supervisor, Renee Mancer and Proactive Customer Service Specialist, Sherry Martin
BACK ROW (from the left): Family-Member Owner, Kevin Czachor, Senior Systems Engineer, Gary Foster, Chief Software Architect, Norman Franke, Operations Manager, Linda Haas, Operations Supervisor, Jennifer Hoban, Proactive Customer Service Specialist, Sue Fritz.
FRONT ROW (from the left): Proactive Customer Service Supervisor, Susan Daleandro, Finance Manager, Dara Dix, Operations Director, Ric Cusumano, Proactive Customer Service Specialist, Rose Groover.
BACK ROW (from the left): Sales Office Manager, Stephanie Bradford, Technical Analyst, Kristine Soderland, Family-Member Owner, Kathy Kelley, National Sales Manager, Jason Bathurst, Family-Member Owner & Founder, Barbara Czachor, Business Development Manager, Mary Ann Carlisle.
FRONT ROW (from the left): Operations Manager, Jennie Brown, Project Manager, Lauren Kress, Operations Supervisor, Lori Bongiovanni and Operations Supervisor, Anne O’Reilly.
FROM THE LEFT: Electrical Engineer, Bill D’Orazio, Public Relations Specialist, Jessica Fowler, Proactive Customer Service Specialist, Shane Toogood, Operations Supervisor, Rachel Keys Taylor, Operations Supervisor, Andrew Troutt, Senior Systems Engineer, Gary Foster, Lead Generation Specialist, Kia Ouattara, HR Administrator, Sandy Palmore, and Operations Supervisor, Sandy Ellmore.
From everyone here at ASD, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and joyous New Year. We hope you enjoy the holidays with confidence knowing your phones are always protected. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if there is anything we can do to make the holidays brighter for you and your family. Our supervisors are available 24/7 to make any changes or updates.
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
