“There is incredible value in being of service to others.” – Elizabeth Berg; American novelist
When asked what “Serve relentlessly” means to her, both in her life at work and in the community, Pace Logistics Area Supervisor Shannon Leftridge said service “sparks a level of passion that I use to reignite myself.” Shannon holds herself to a high standard of service every day, and those around her are inspired to energetically serve our customers and each other.
Shannon manages key Advance Auto Parts markets, and in doing so, she seeks out tools that will enhance performance. According to her nominator for Culture Warrior, Shannon “is a fantastic communicator with her contractors” who “consistently asks how she can do better and looks for more challenges.”
A second nominator for Shannon remarks, “Shannon led a full revamp of the Augusta Advance Auto Parts hub, spending countless hours with the new drivers to have them running exactly to expectations. She’s kept the large hub in Columbia, SC above a 97% On Time Service rating. Shannon has built a culture in her hubs where the drivers love working with her.”
Serving our customers and teammates relentlessly also drives the Pace core value to Get the job done. Shannon recounted a story demonstrating how these two core values go hand in hand.
There was a route that required a sedan to run it, but the usual driver had to be with family. I scheduled a backup driver, who drove a sedan, and when he arrived at the hub to run the route, there was an unusual part that was too large for the vehicle. The hub manager was not pleased because the usual driver was always in a van or pickup. I informed him that the driver wasn’t at fault and reassured him that we would figure it out! The route was dispatched only once per day, and the part was a $1,300 sale for the store. Since this was the only route that was in the vicinity of the store, I called a friend who drove a pickup truck. We switched vehicles, and I went to the hub to pick up the part and followed the backup driver an hour and a half to the store, so that we would not lose the opportunity to serve Advance Auto Parts and their customers.
This is a great example of how Pace’s core values to Serve relentlessly and Get the job done work together!
Originally a Philadelphia native (Go Eagles! Shannon said), she has lived in many locales, but the home Shannon found the most interesting and full of life lessons was Trinidad. Her Trinidadian father was a musician who performed at night and was a creative luthier by day, designing, building and repairing string instruments. “We woke up before sunrise and worked all day. My brother did the woodwork while I stringed guitars, banjos, and even violins. We worked all day until the sun went down. It was hard work. I became arthritic with tendonitis and carpal tunnel. Even today I have no feeling in my fingers!” Shannon recalled. “My father thought that us growing up poor in Philadelphia was a privileged life. But he knew he wouldn’t have us with him forever, so he worked to teach us humility, hard work, and how to be of service to others. My brother and I learned the hardest lessons from him, but the most valuable ones, too. Serve relentlessly.
Like many of us at Pace, Shannon says that her average workday is actually anything but average, and her role as Logistics Supervisor provides ample opportunity to serve others. “What I do each day is part observation, part creating and executing plans, and part managing,” she said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about my drivers, the hubs, and their stores thriving off the hard work, experience, and drive. The fun part is the curveballs, and at those times, I focus on hitting it out of the park!”
Indeed, she does, to the delight and benefit of our customer, and ultimately their commercial customers. Serving for the sake of service alone is always inspirational!
In addition to her family life, community, and work at Pace, Shannon is also writing a science fiction novel. Pace is grateful that Shannon’s passion for service is not fiction, but fact! We’re also grateful for Shannon’s example to us and for all our Pace teammates who Serve relentlessly. Congratulations to Shannon on her Culture Warrior award!
