This week, our Employee Spotlight is on customer service representative Richard Burt.
How long have you been with AccessDirect?
I started with AccessDirect in March of 2012. My wife and I moved here to the Kansas City area in 2010 from a quiet mountain town in the West in search of better job opportunities and a better standard of living. I was looking for a challenging but rewarding job in an industry that could utilize my rather eclectic skillset, and found just when I accepted the job offer from John.
You’re active in theatre; tell us about your experiences.
I caught the theatre bug in high school my freshman year after football season ended. Since then I’ve had the fortune of being involved in over 150 amateur and professional theatrical productions in a variety of positions, though mostly on the technical side as a technical director and master carpenter. I originally entered college to train to become a dramaturge, and while I wasn’t able to pursue a career in theatre I’m still active in the local community theatre scene as an actor and carpenter.I owe some of the best experiences of my life to the theatre. I’ve gotten to work with puppets from the Jim Henson Company Creature Shop. I’ve worked for and been mentored by the lead prop designer from TV’s Babylon 5. I had the opportunity to learn sign language after being cast in the lead for a production of Children of a Lesser God. I’ve helped design the lighting for touring productions of the Joffrey Ballet. I’ve designed and built sets with master technicians from the Metropolitan Opera. Most importantly I’ve met some of the most wonderful people you could ever hope to know, including my wife Laura, who I met during a production of Godspell (she was the assistant stage manager & women’s understudy, I was the light board operator). I’ve had some amazing experiences and hope to continue to do so, if only as a hobby at this point.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
The experience of working with our clients and helping them design the system that’s right for their business really is my favorite part of working at AccessDirect. I love the little challenges our customers throw our way and the breadth of options an automated attendant can provide for them. Most of all, I really believe in the product we provide – I think it’s an amazing way to either enhance a company’s image or make their business day more productive. I’m proud to be part of a small business devoted to helping other small businesses.
Are you making any New Year’s Resolutions?
I’m not really the resolution making type – I’ve found that for me it’s better to tackle major life changes as it feels “right” to do so, not arbitrarily at the beginning of the new year. I will offer this advice though: once you’re sure about wanting to set a resolution or major goal (whether it’s losing weight, saving more money, quitting smoking, etc.) tell the family and friends you speak to regularly. Nothing fuels a successful resolution more than the possibility of public humiliation when you stop pursuing your goal.
Thanks to Richard for taking part in our Employee Spotlight!
