Crosstalk with Select Telecom (Winter 2011)
Every issue, “Get to Know Select” will feature a different employee sharing their experience at Select Telecom, along with updates about what’s going on at the company. Have a favorite employee you’d like to hear from? Email us to let us know!
This issue, our featured employee is Anthony Durante, Installation Manager at Select Telecom for over 15 years. Anthony’s day-to-day responsibilities involve overseeing all new installations along with Installation Manager Bob Waters. Anthony and Bob work together to make sure that the job is going well, and of course, he’s there to resolve the problem if anything goes wrong.
Anthony joined Select Telecom as our very first technician in 1995 – as he remembers it, “It was the year when the Yankees made the playoffs for the first time [since 1981], and then lost.” After many years of hard work helping the company to grow, Anthony appreciates the tight bond between all of Select Telecom’s employees. “Being with these guys for so long, it really feels like we’re family. Well, I guess most of them actually are family, but even the ones that aren’t!” Anthony says that most of the employees – family members or not – have been working together so long that they know what each other is thinking. “It’s easy to come to work because we enjoy the people we’re with.”
When asked about his thoughts on customer service, Anthony is definitive: “We pride ourselves on it. We want to get our customers taken care of as quickly as possible. If there’s an emergency and they leave a message, we get back to them within minutes.” That’s because Select Telecom strives to treat customers the same way we treat employees – like family.
Over the years, Anthony has developed friendships with many Select Telecom customers. Anthony shares his passion for music (particularly rock and blues) with Mike Wich from Bell Office Furniture “who sounds like Steve Vai on guitar,” Gary Martin from Macromark who “hosts a great jam session at his house every week,” and Dawn Pascale from Med Source Consultants “who’s almost Jimmy Page!” As Anthony notes, “Our business can get stressful at times, and it really helps to have customers with a good sense of humor or who are just nice people.” Joanne Swain from St. Mary’s Center and Lisa Blendermann from Houlihan Lawrence “are two of the nicest people you could ever meet,” and Anthony also comments that Select Telecom’s customers include “a bunch of comedians.” “Between Scott Blake from Macromark, the guys at McGivney [& Kluger], and Greg Davis from Davis Studios, sometimes I’m laughing more than I’m working.”
Outside of work, Anthony adores spending time with his family. “I have two little girls, and I love nothing more than playing with them… even Barbies.” Anthony is also sure to mention his healthy appetite. As many of our customers already know, “I like to eat!” Anthony indulges this particular passion with help from many Select Telecom customers, including Scott Montanye from Elant with “his home grown pickles,” and Ed Shelton and Kevin Cavanagh from McGivney & Kluger, “Not only do they have their own smoker, they also compete in BBQ competitions.” In fact, Ed Nelson from McGivney & Kluger has been known to have a box of Ring Dings sent to every office where Anthony is stopping by for a service call. As Anthony can surely tell you, only 24/7 dedicated service earns that kind of reward!