I’ve been writing for the Chicago Tribune TribLocal and the Chicago Now blog since fall of 2010. It has been fun seeing my stuff in print and online.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to interview Kristi McNaron and Laura Ball from The Dave Ramsey Show about their weight loss success. This is a wonderful, inspiring story of friendship:
Before I begin, let me give full, complete disclosure– I work for ZVRS and this post is about my job and what I’ve encountered lately.
Some could say that I “sell videophones” for a living. My job at ZVRS goes way beyond that. The most enjoyable aspect of my job is the ability to open up a world of communication for someone who previously encountered obstacles with the phone. One of the reasons I love ZVRS is because it is a company with options– twenty six different products and services that provides communication access between deaf, hard of hearing and hearing folks. I don’t like “selling.” That’s the aspect of my job that I do not like at all. So what I do is match customers with a Z service or product that changes their life.
ZVRS has a “My First Videophone” program where we supply a Z-OJO for people who have never used a videophone before. I installed one of those phones not too long ago with a customer who had lost her hearing later in life. She wasn’t quite fluent in sign language, but she was an excellent lipreader. I explained the videophone and the services and then I suggested that we make a call to her daughter. She was quite nervous at first but she gamely pushed forward. I sat back as I watched her connect with her daughter in a new, amazing way: she was able to talk directly to her daughter and watch the interpreter on the screen.
The best part of my job is watching the eyes light up on customer’s faces when they establish those new communication channels for the first time in their life.
I recently had a customer who switched their phone number from another company and shortly after the switch, the person received some pressure to switch back– and when the person declined, there was pressure to give the phone number back to that company. Years ago, when I switched cell phone companies, the process of moving my phone number from one company to another was a seamless, smooth process and it should be the same thing for deaf and hard of hearing consumers. The days of having multiple numbers for multiple services are over with– deaf and hard of hearing customers can move their videophone number from one company to another.
ZVRS is constantly coming up with new videophone solutions and services and I’m always in awe of what our engineering team dreams up. For a long time now, I begged our team for a voice solution on a mobile phone and now we have VCO Plus on the Samsung Epic and the Galaxy Tab. There’s more to come, as our engineering team never stops– they never rest– they keep delivering new, innovative services!
I am so thankful for ZVRS and the excellent interpreters on the Z Team. When I hang up my Z hat for the day, I put on my writing hat. One of the books that I’m working on involves intensive interviews with people from all over, and the Z Team interpreters handle every call with professionalism and high-level skills. Every single one of the Z interpreters is certified and experienced in the relay industry. I’d like to extend a huge thank you to all the interpreters who bridge the communication for me on a daily basis– you all rock!!!
Finally, take a look at our latest (captioned, of course!) video with a hint of what’s coming up (that’s my friend DOB with his famous expression!):
Pat was diagnosed with cancer and given a few months to live. Her family prepared for the day that they thought they were going to lose her. That was sixteen years ago. Pat endured 132 chemotherapy treatments and she managed to kick the cancer on its rear end. Pat inspires my Dad to keep going every day. Everyone needs a “Pat” on their cancer journey. Thanks, Pat, for reaching out to my Dad.
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