STAYING THE COURSE
Frontline employees overcome the challenges of a global pandemic
In the field , at auction and retail sites , in the office and at customers ’ front doors , Cox employees for whom work-fromhome was not an option during 2020 kept our company moving forward through months of the COVID-19 pandemic .
We are incredibly grateful to these employees — some 60 % of our workforce — who continued to stay the course and get the job done amid the uncertainty of the pandemic . We spoke with some of them about the unique challenges they faced , what kept them motivated and how they adapted to continue serving our customers . Thank you all for charting new paths for the company to follow in 2021 and beyond .
Ted Dodd
Manager , Production Operations , Dealertrack , Cox Automotive Memphis , Tenn . | 6 years of service
Dealertrack Memphis is open Monday through Saturday and my team starts as early as midnight on Tuesdays . Due to the hands-on nature of our business , it can only be done in a physical workplace . Physically going to work was exactly where I wanted to be . I couldn ’ t imagine not being with my team during such a pivotal time for our nation and company . The work we do is critical to keeping America mobile , so I considered my presence essential .
Serving with pride : The service we provide is essential to lenders because it allows them to continue financing vehicle purchases and ensured that individuals could continue to have access to vehicle loans during a time when the country and many of our Cox offices had shut down .
Jammie Smith
Core Technology Tech 2 , Cox Communications Roanoke , Va . | 15 years of service
As a field technician , our work was needed to keep customers connected during this difficult time .
Staying the course : The first part of 2020 , we had to troubleshoot and install from the customers ’ front doors and looking through their windows . Totally unexpected , but we stayed the course .
Overcoming challenges : The challenge of wearing a mask took away from showing a smile . But it was for the protection of the customer , myself and my family .
Proudest moment : The proudest part of this past year was just being there for people . Many folks adapted to working from home and children doing their complete schoolwork from home . It was a delight to initiate the process with reliable internet service .
Ted Dodd
6 SUMMER 2021
Jammie Smith