August 21, 2019 | News & Press Releases
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 21, 2019) — When Hy-Vee customers want to mark a moment, many of them turn to Hy-Vee floral designers for a special arrangement. When they turn to West Lakes Hy-Vee Floral Manager Stephanie Junkin, they’re getting much more than just a floral arrangement – they’re getting an experience with someone who puts her heart into the arrangement along with the flowers.
Junkin, the floral manager at the West Lakes Hy-Vee since 2006, is truly legendary when it comes to creating beautiful arrangements and delivering them with outstanding customer service. That’s why fellow employees, family members, customers and Hy-Vee executives gathered at the West Lakes Hy-Vee store in West Des Moines today to surprise Junkin with the Legendary Customer Service Award. The award recognizes exemplary achievement in providing service that exceeds customers’ expectations. Only 11 winners are selected each year from among more than 80,000 Hy-Vee employees across eight states.
“Legendary customer service is just a way of life to Stephanie,” wrote Hy-Vee District Vice President Scott James in his nomination. “The floral department can often be a stressful place with holidays, weddings, funerals and other occasions all coming at once. Stephanie takes it all in stride, and makes each person feel important so they trust her to complete their order exactly how they envision it. She understands that her work plays an important role in some of the best and worst days in her customers’ lives, and she honors that with the service she delivers.”
Junkin’s helpful smile and commitment to service have indeed helped hundreds of Hy-Vee floral customers through the process of marking milestones – even those that they struggled to experience.
“I recall watching Stephanie work on an arrangement for a customer who had lost her 21-year-old daughter,” West Lakes Hy-Vee’s Assistant Director of Perishables Shawn Patterson wrote in his nomination. “She was putting her whole heart into that piece, because she knew that moments like that are about a lot more than flowers. She always does the right thing, and always takes time for the customer. On top of that, she is a world-class floral designer.”
Candidates are nominated for the Legendary Customer Service Award by their co-workers, and winners are selected by a panel of Hy-Vee’s top officers. Nominations are evaluated on the employee’s overall contributions to the company in nine areas: passion for customer service, attitude, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving skills, dedication to Hy-Vee fundamentals, communication skills, professional image and self-confidence.
Hy-Vee’s Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker said Junkin demonstrates exactly the type of commitment to customers that Hy-Vee leaders had in mind when the Legendary Customer Service Award was established in 2006.
“Stephanie lives out the things Hy-Vee stands for in everything she does — caring, helpful and dedicated service to our customers. Her nominations pointed to her consistent commitment to her customers, her co-workers and her community. She goes above and beyond with every customer interaction, and keeps her customers coming back,” Edeker said. “This award honors the best of the best from among our Hy-Vee family, and Stephanie is most deserving of this recognition.”
Junkin and the other 2019 recipients of the Legendary Customer Service Award will be inducted into
Hy-Vee’s Customer Service Hall of Fame and receive a coveted Legendary Customer Service name badge and a custom-designed ring to commemorate the honor. They will be guests of honor at Hy-Vee’s service award dinners in October, which honor employees for longevity of service. They also will be recognized at Hy-Vee’s annual stockholders’ meeting in December, where they will receive a travel voucher good for a trip to a destination of their choice. And finally, their photos will be prominently featured on the side of Hy-Vee trucks, showcasing their helpful smiles to millions of travelers across the Midwest.
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Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 260 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $10 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 80,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.