Automatic Merchandiser serves the business management, marketing, technology and product information needs of its readers including vending operators, coffee service operators, product brokers, and product and equipment distributors in print.
Issue link: http://automaticmerchandiser.epubxp.com/i/331646
2014 ROUTE DRIVER OF THE YEAR QUARTERLY WINNER Joseph Si-Salem Canteen Refreshments — Philadelphia, Norristown, Pa. DRIVEN, DEDICATED, excellent and consistent — just a few words used by Mike Cohrac, general manager for Canteen Refreshments — Philadelphia to describe route driver Joseph Si-Salem. At an early age, Si-Salem's father said, "If you don't love your job, fnd one you do." And that's what Si- Salem did when he began working for Canteen Refreshments in 2004. He routinely delivers $1 million in annual sales and leads the Can- teen branch with the highest level of employee satisfaction and account retention. "Joseph is the frst driver to start and the last to leave each day," said Cohrac, who nominated Si- Salem for the award. "He has never turned down an assignment no mat- ter how tough the client has been. He is extremely driven to success." A cut above the rest Si-Salem treats each day as a new opportunity and that's refected in his continuously positive and opti- mistic attitude. Cohrac describes Si- Salem's attitude as one of the biggest reasons for the nomination. "He's so grateful for each opportunity," said Cohrac. "Joseph is an outstand- ing associate and a good person." Customer favorite Si-Salem's work ethic and commit- ment to excellence has made him a customer favorite at many loca- tions. "Joseph's Canteen Connect customer average is 4.8 out of 5.0," said Cohrac. "I have never heard anything but positive feedback from a fellow associate or customer regarding Joseph." Cohrac describes the Canteen Connect program as a customer satisfaction survey con- ducted by a third party at Canteen's corporate offce. It gauges the real customer experience from someone who doesn't have a relationship with the customer in the hopes of getting real comments. "He is dedicated to quality and the organi- zation and it shows with customer feedback," said Cohrac. Same great service Each of Si-Salem's locations are treated with the same high level of quality. Si-Salem goes the extra mile for each account regardless of revenue. "He treats customers and accounts the same with a high level of excellence," said Cohrac. Si-Salem is the route driver Canteen goes to when they need something done with effciency and high quality. Si-Salem now holds a number of Canteen's largest and most prominent accounts. "He had taken over some major accounts from other companies and driv- ers and we knew these locations were diffcult to deal with," said Cohrac. "But after a week and a half with Joseph on those routes, those accounts weren't a problem." "He is extremely driven to suc- cess and it's not about numbers, it's about quality," said Cohrac. Joseph Si-Salem routinely delivers $1 million in sales and leads the Canteen branch with the highest level of employee satisfaction. By Adrienne Zimmer, Assistant Editor Quarterly winners are awarded $250 and entered as fnalists for the Route Driver of the Year award. Sponsored by Mondelez International and Automatic Merchandiser, the contest nominees are given a score based on years as a driver, miles traveled, customer satisfaction and nominator comments. '' He is dedicated to quality and the organization. '' Si-Salem began his career at Canteen more than a decade ago. 42 Automatic Merchandiser VendingMarketWatch.com June 2014 autm_42-44_0614RteDriver_F.indd 42 6/10/14 10:46 AM