Merri Taylor's profile answers

- Admin. Assistant-Sales Staff Support, U S West Direct Sales Staff Support
- Admin. Manager-HR Administration, U S West Inc. HR Operations
- Admin. Manager-Mgmt Compensation, U S West Inc. Rewards/Recognition
- Planning Associate- Mktg/Planning Dept., U S West Marketing Resources
- Admin. Assistant -Corporate Resources, U S West Advanced Technologies
- Receptionist, U S West Advanced Technologies...

Alpine Access is the world's leading outsourcer of call center services using home-based customer service agents. I was a part-time inbound sales agent. Over a four-year period, I represented companies like Hickory Farms, Bath and Body Works, 1800-Flowers and Pizza Hut. Needed exceptional customer service skills, the ability to up-sell and cross-sell, as well as meet quality control standards in regards to call time, script followed and sales quotas....

Explored my entrepreneurial interests with a variety of creative projects including: 1) freelance writing and photography for the Colorado Springs News and Views magazine 2) designed and marketed nature photography note cards at www.ScenicSentiments.com 3) Engaged in e-commerce with an eBay storefront. I sold items ranging from house wares to high-end digital cameras, as well as a Hoosier cabinet and a pop-up camper....

Our Senior VP nick-named me the "machine" which was meant to be a compliment to describe my machine-like efficiency and ability to keep going and be productive. My job was saved during several department restructuring waves because I was able to manage multiple demands. They were also thrilled with my attention to detail and impressed with my presentation design skills (PowerPoint)....

I've taken several character and personality profile assessments over the years and they have all pointed to the area of counseling as a good fit for me. Church members have suggested that I look into being a Stephen's Minister. I am compassionate and possess great listening skills, which are character traits ideal for counselors. I'm also analytical, intuitive and detail-oriented, which I think would help me gather important information and make an accurate assessment. I also truly enjoy helping people and I've often wondered if I could make a difference in people's lives through counseling them in some form or another; it could even be career counseling. Additionally, something unrelated that I'd love to try is voice-over work. I had a second job to supplement my income which involved inbound sales and customer service calls. Customers told me repeatedly that I had a beautiful, friendly voice which had a calming influence on them (grin). One of my first jobs out of high school was as a receptionist with a multi-image slide show presentation company and they had me step in to do a radio commercial for Studebaker's restaurant. I also had exposure to voice over talent during my career at Starz and it has been a lingering interest....

I thrive in a flexible, supportive environment where people value what others can bring to the table and where there's a creative and collaborative vibe. I can and will work until the wee hours of the morning, if necessary, to get the job done, so I desire an environment that encourages taking the initiative and task completion over punching a clock. Anything that combines my writing skills, with internet/research and photography would be very interesting to me. I created some real estate home sale fliers last year and I really had a knack for it. The Realtor we hired used my flier over the one they would normally use. I looked at local schools, weather, home values and more on the internet, took beautiful photos of the home and highlighted its features in the copy....

The past two years have been very active with travel, so this summer will be very low-key. We're having a (first-time-ever) family reunion in September, which I'm helping to organize. I designed and printed the invitations and informational sheets that were sent out and will help my mom with the introductory games and events. Additionally, my husband and I met a nice couple from Poland last year when vacationing in Barbados and they will be coming to visit us in July or August. Lastly, we may be taking a couple of train rides; 1) the Pikes Peak Cog railroad and 2) the train to Winter Park with my mom's Red Hat Society group....

Contracted through Initial Staffing's Elite Team for short and long-term administrative support positions. Responsibilities ranged from Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Consumer Products (TCI.NET), Administrative support for the Technology Ventures, Employee Relations, Legal and Regulatory Departments (TCI Communications Inc.), Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Finance and Development (TCI.NET), and Project Coordinator for the HRMS Transformation Project (TCI Information Resources). Compiled graphs, flow charts and presentations to create/update Project Plan in Microsoft Project, produced weekly time lines, reports and VP update presentation materials. Set up consultants and new employees with access cards, computers and resources, processed wire transfers, worked with third party administrator on employee benefits issues and day-to-day administrative functions....

Explored my entrepreneurial interests with a variety of creative projects including: 1) freelance writing and photography for the Colorado Springs News and Views magazine 2) created and marketed nature photography note cards at www.ScenicSentiments.com 3) Engaged in e-commerce with an eBay storefront. I sold items ranging from housewares to a pop-up camper....

Executed and updated affiliate (cable & satellite programmers) marketing tactics for national and gap campaigns. Worked closely with Affiliate Marketing Directors, Sales, Corporate Marketing, Public Relations, Legal, Research, Telemarketing, Print and Video departments to support Affiliate partnerships and strategic initiatives. Assisted in establishing new creative processes for managing campaigns and marketing tactics (print, radio and cross-channel spots). Tracked and fulfilled gift with purchase programs, performed mystery calling and mystery monitoring during free previews and telemarketing campaigns. Assisted in development of Point of Purchase displays and call center Point of Sale initiatives....