AHRC New York City

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Wendy Collins

December 9, 2011: When calls are made to AHRC New York City's primary phone number, 212 780-2500, chances are that the calls will be answered by Wendy Collins, Switchboard Receptionist. Wendy is known for her calmness and courtesy in a position in which she greets from 800 to 900 callers per day.

Born in British Guyana, (now known as the Republic of Guyana,) Wendy came to the United States in 1980, to provide her four children with an opportunity for a better education. Wendy, herself an educator who taught middle school in the Republic of Guyana, is also an ordained minister, and is very active in her church.

Wendy and her family enjoy traveling, and exploring new places. Last year, Wendy and her husband traveled through the Mediterranean, took a cruise to the Baltic Sea. This year they will be taking a cruise to the eastern Caribbean, and will also visit Korea and Ghana. "My husband loves to travel. He says, 'We're going to wherever,' and I just pack my bag!" says Wendy.
 
Wendy has been honored twice by the agency, first in June of 2006 when she was featured in an article of The AHRC Insider, and with the Special Presidential Recognition Award, presented by the AHRC NYC Board of Directors, former Executive Director, Michael Goldfarb, and former President, Laura Kennedy, at the 2008 Annual Meeting. With her husband, daughters, and grandchildren in attendance, Wendy was presented with a plaque to thank her for her years of valued service to the agency.

In addition to answering calls made to the agency's main phone line, Wendy assists in the preparation of materials used in the employment registration. "It's kind of overwhelming, but I work with it," says Wendy.

On March 8, 2011, Wendy celebrated 10 years of service at AHRC. With roughly 260 work days per year, at an approximate rate of 800 calls per day, over a 10 year period, Wendy has welcomed roughly 2,080,000 callers for AHRC NYC! When asked for her best advice on how to field incoming calls to the agency, Wendy supplied the following list:

Every day I strive to bring to my job six essential things:

- Professionalism
- Courtesy
- Commitment
- Patience
- Caring
- A sense of humor

AHRC New York City is proud to spotlight Wendy's work, and thanks her for her continued service to the agency.