About Monica F
What can I say? Photoshop makes me look younger.
When I was hired as head of operations at a large and renowned organization a few years back I stepped into a company that was doing well in spite of itself. The operations crew was running around putting out fires and reacting but never acting or preventing issues. We came together as a team and devised a plan of action, agreed on the workflow and steps, defined responsibilities and ownership, and set out to set things right.
Cash incentives didn’t come into play till later, much later. Till we had proven that we could do it, till we were walking around with our heads up knowing we had done a great job, till our Ops team had brought it home. No, the first incentive was…uumm…rocks. Yes, I mean rocks, river rocks, the same ones you can buy by the pound at any Wal-Mart or Target.
I posted banners at the desk of every Ops member that read: Operations R.O.C.Ks. Which they knew stood for: this operations team member is doing a Remarkable, Outstanding, Commendable, Kick-ass job!
I bought each one a huge, colored cup and at every meeting, every job well done, every fire avoided I handed out river rocks. At first they reacted with a tongue-in-cheek attitude but very soon they were competing, expecting, yearning for a rock and for the recognition it represented. Now, when something went well and I didn’t manage to make time to give them a rock they would come to me and ask for it: “Hey, Monica, can I get my rock now?” And so they collected rocks and proudly displayed their cups on their desks.
Kudos to Jennifer, Doug, Michelle, Shalicia, Emily, Priscilla, Joanne, and so many others for understanding the honor and respect symbolized by a little river rock.
This blog is for people like you, people who take pride in what they do!
Monica F
WHY ME? What Do I Know About the Complexities of the Admin/Ops World?
Well, here’s what some people have to say about that:
| “Monica’s native intelligence for operations and the business service industry is among the best I have seen. She has the drive and energy necessary to see complex projects through to completion, guiding teams and clients through the entire lifecycle process, on time and within budget. She is a professional who wins the respect of others through her integrity and unwavering desire to bring out the best in her teams.”
– Lee R., VP Operations at Vigilar, Inc.
“The key to success in any organization is having a handle on the details that will ensure costs, controls, and process is managed effectively. Monica is the epitome of an experienced individual capable of setting the right example for the company.” — Dave E., General Manager at TechTrain, Inc.
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| “Monica is by far the most effective and inspiring leader I have had the privilege of working with. She has an uncanny ability to create a cohesive, successful infrastructure complete with best-practice policies and procedures out of even the thinnest and most difficult-to-achieve business objectives. Through it all, she manages with a style that generates solid loyalty amongst those on her team.”
– Douglas A., Manager of Site Coordination (Direct report to Monica at Vigilar, Inc.)
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| “Monica excels at organizational problem-solving, and was a key member of every decision-making team. She is one of the most professional and reliable people I have ever had the opportunity to work with. She is diligent in her approach and extremely proactive in all business procedures. Monica set company-wide example with her passion, integrity, and remarkable business acumen. Her experienced direction inspires confidence in the company leadership and loyalty from her team members.”
– Luis Lessa Simoes, CEO at Wizard Monica is a strong, passionate, and focused leader. She is unlike any professional I know. Her attitude, combined with her knowledge, is phenomenal. Monica truly sets the standard of what a manager should be.” – Vinita E., Site Administrator (Indirect report to Monica at Vigilar, Inc.)
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| “Her expertise in both the existing environment and in supporting the incorporation of new policy (following acquisition) enabled her department to maintain integrity and productivity in a time of extensive change. She adapted quickly to the rapidly-changing industry requirements and surpassed the executive expectations for her department.”
– Raj P., Founder at Vigilar, Inc.
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P.S. They sure make me look good, don’t they?
Monica F
