Safelite Employee Earns International Recognition
NORTH HAVEN, Conn. - North Haven resident Sam Erkerd, a vehicle glass repair and replacement technician for Safelite AutoGlass®, was honored with his company's highest global customer service award.
Erkerd, 56, has worked for Safelite® more than 18 years and was nominated along with hundreds of other employees from 14 countries. He was selected as the first-ever global Belron® Exceptional Customer Service Award winner from 25 finalists. Belron® is the parent company of Safelite AutoGlass®.
"Sam epitomizes what we as an organization are striving to achieve every day for each of the customers we serve," said Tom Feeney president and CEO of Safelite AutoGlass®. "His caring personality and love of our customers comes through when you read the comments made about him. Sam takes his responsibility to delight our customers very seriously. His service is outstanding and I'm thrilled that he was recognized."
Safelite® nominators used numerous customer compliment letters about Erkerd's exceptional service as basis for the nomination.
"I didn't even know all those customers were writing about me," said Erkerd. "I just like to help people and think you have to do good work wherever you are."
When reflecting on the recognition, Erkerd used words such as, "amazed," "shocked" and "overwhelmed."
The Exceptional Customer Service award was given to six employees from around the world by Safelite's parent company Belron®, which has 24,000 people in operations in 32 countries across five continents. As the winner Erkerd received $5,000 prize and a glass award. To be considered for the award, the nominated employee must first receive the highest recognition in their country, which varies by location. For Erkerd and other employees in the United States it is the Wall of Fame.
In addition to receiving the Global Customer Service Award, Erkerd earned recognition in the U.S. by achieving 11 Excellence in Service designations and was named a Wall of Fame honoree in 2009.
"It didn't even set in at first," Erkerd continued. "I received the call from Tom Feeney and Belron® President Gary Lubner and was shocked. I just do my job every day and it's made me feel really great that the company has recognized me."
About Safelite AutoGlass®
Safelite AutoGlass®, founded in 1947, is the nation's leading provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, providing mobile service to more than 95 percent of the U.S. population in all 50 states. The Columbus, Ohio-based company employs 9,000 people across the United States and serves more than 3.7 million customers each year through its company-owned operations.
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