We are all familiar with Employees of the Month and Employees of the Year, but how many of you have ever heard of Employee of the Millennium? This distinction is unique and, as far as we know, there is no other person who has been the recipient of this distinguished honor – until now. In actuality, it is our honor to have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Tony “Dino” Touch, who began working with Damage Control in 1997, before the transition into the Millennium, almost 10 years before the debut of the Smart Phone!
If you are lucky enough to know Tony, you know he is not only one of a kind but also extremely kind. He doesn’t need a Smart Phone to remember to pick you up when he sees that you need it, or add levity to a situation when things look bleak, or create a poem, or lend an ear when you need to talk, or simply dive right in when you need a hand. You see, Tony was born and raised not just to think of others but to turn his thoughts into actions and help them in any way he can. Now, I would be remiss without pointing out that while Tony is a staunch friend and advocate, he is no pushover, especially if you made the mistake of taking advantage. Tony always knew how to stand up for himself, his family and his friends. ‘Nuff said.
Whenever a new employee worked with Tony, we knew that person was going to be taught correctly and we knew that person was going to learn the core values of the company. That person was also going to learn that it’s a cinch by the inch and hard by the yard because Tony is always interested in getting the job done, one bite at a time, no matter how big the task.
There really aren’t words to express how we feel about Tony, our one and only (ever) Employee of the Millennium. Perhaps we should just say that he is and always will be a loved, family member and we hope he enjoys every moment of his retirement.
A common form of behavior therapy, flooding is often used to help people overcome phobias. Considering our line of business, we believe this to be particularly ironic. Our technicians and staff have experienced the stress and psychological implications felt by our clients first hand and understand how traumatic a flood can actually be.
In a time where many companies are cutting out employee activities due to the economy, Damage Control knows the importance of having get-togethers to boost employee morale and foster friendships. On August 2nd, Damage Control held its annual company picnic. Employees, subcontractors, vendors, family and friends were invited to enjoy the many activities that were available. There was a bounce house for the kids, bocce ball, swimming, enjoying the scenery, feeding koi, and even petting a pig!
The technicians are usually dealing with people that have just gone through a traumatic experience, always displaying empathy and understanding. It could be a very rewarding experience as some of our clients are very grateful that we are there to help.
Housekeeping
