Cheryl's Story

This blog entry is not so much about me, myself, as it is about my appreciation of where we work. Just for the people who don't know me (which should be many, as I'm one of the Pittsburgh gals) I'll give a bit of a blurb. I'm a 30-year old ex-truckstop waitress biker chick who has traveled to 7 different countries, and is working on the 5th novel for a children's book series that I've been developing. I enjoy exploring nature with my godchildren, playing pool with friends, random road trips to nowhere in particular, and writing awful poetry on the beach. I'm blissfully single and childless, but very close the to the family that I do have. I think that's enough for a blurb, no?

For the past 3 months, I've been struggling with some health issues. There's been a lot of pain, stress, and fear. Lots of tests, doctor's visists, a biopsy that included getting poked in the neck with a big needle (several times!), and the first of 2 different surgeries. There were two seperate times in all this that I was sure that I was dying. The first time, I was sitting in my livingroom, after the first surgery, and I was hit by the most intense pain I have ever experienced. It felt like something in my brain had exploded. All I could do was look, through tears, at my mother and mouth "I love you".



That kind of fear can make you see things a little clearer, appreciate things a little deeper. These past months had me at my physical, emotional, and financial limit, holding on by a thread. But it's been a strong thread, mostly made up of my family, and the few friends that I told. They were wonderful. But the other part of the thread was the company we all work for. All the leads, Lance, Penny, Chris, everyone, was so supportive and understanding. I just wanted to share my experience so everyone can see one more reason how lucky we are. With all that I've been dealing with, all the time I've had to take off from work, it's been wonderful that I haven't had to worry about losing my job, on top of all this. And that is no small thing. In our economy, I am fully aware how replaceable I am, people are clamoring for jobs like ours. And, with all of my current baggage, most any other company would cut me loose as dead weight. But our company looks at its employees and sees "people", each with their own needs, not just walking productivity break-downs. They treat us with a respect, dignity, and patience, that goes above and beyond anything I've ever seen in my 15-year work history.



There's still a rough road ahead for me, at least one more surgery, radiation treatment, and recovery, but with my friends, family, and a job I really care about with people I appreciate, I'm not so scared.

So thank you, everyone that makes up this wonderful company, for making this company what it is, and for allowing me to be a part of it.

Cheryl Christophe

What Everybody Ought To Know...

As some of you might already know, my name is Oscar Ortega. Some people call me Oscar Ortega or Oscar. This is my very first time writing a blog so work with me. I will start this off by telling you something about myself. I have been working for Texas811 for about 8 years now. I started working here through a staff agency sometime around 2003. Before joining Texas811 as a part time employee, I worked at all kinds of jobs. I went from being a busboy to waiter, construction worker to working the cash register at a grocery store. I am 27 years old and on my days off I like spending time with family and friends. I have a 4 year old daughter named Arley. I also enjoy reading and a good workout at the Texas811 fitness center from time to time.

When I started working for Texas811 (Digtess), it never went through my mind how much this company would grow. I had been in different departments before becoming a team leader. I can't believe how fortunate I've been to be able to work with such amazing people. It's a great feeling to be able to say that my co-workers are not just people I work with, but are actually my friends. Its not common these days to find a good job, let alone a great company that actually cares for its employees and their close ones; hence the free onsite wellness clinic. Texas811 has proven to me that there is absolutely no limit to how much a company can expand. So what exactly is in store for Texas811 in the future? I don't know. Do I plan to stick around and find out? YOU BETCHA!!

-Oscar Ortega

An Old Dog learning new tricks, every day

I’m David Wofford, Director of Damage Prevention with Texas811. I’ve been meaning to write this blog since the Texas811 blog got started and finally had to set myself a deadline to get it done.

To give you a little background, I’ve been married for the past 35 years to the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. We’re blessed with two wonderful grown kids, who I generally talk way too much about, and a stunning daughter-in-law who is poised to present us with our first grandchild at the end of May. Mindy and I grew up in Fort Worth and raised our family there. We moved to Granbury in 1997 with the intent of putting down roots for a leisurely retirement. Life is full of surprises.

I retired from AT&T in 1999 after a 30 year career that started as a 19 year old lineman and ended with a three year stint on the North Texas Area Staff, where my partner Jeff Byers and I handled Damage Prevention.  I was fortunate to also spend those last three years representing AT&T on what was then the TESS Board of Directors. Those were exciting times at TESS, now Texas811, that saw the One-Call Legislation go into effect, and the leadership of Texas811 make the determination to go from a vendor run notification center to a standalone center. I never forgot the pleasure of working with a group of people, all pulling in the same direction and focusing on Damage Prevention.

Following my retirement from AT&T I found out that I wasn’t particularly suited for a golfing career and ended up teaching Outside Plant Engineering classes for AT&T on a consulting basis. MIndy and I traveled around Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri where we spent one week or three weeks, depending on the class, meeting new people and sharing 14 years of engineering experience with new engineers. It was an enjoyable three years, but when the economy slowed down so did the teaching gig.

In January of 2002, as I was contemplating my next career move, I received a call from my old friend Lee Marrs. Lee told me that Texas811 wanted to start a focus on Marketing and asked if I would consider handling that on a part time, consulting basis. As they say, the rest is history.

From 2002 to 2008 my primary area of responsibility was Marketing, but if you work for Texas811 your focus is always on Damage Prevention. In January of 2009 I gave up my part time, which was never really very part time, status and became a Texas811 employee handling Damage Prevention and Marketing. What a ride it’s been.

In January of 2002, when Lee called me, Texas811 had around 600 members. We currently have almost 1300. Where we had one employee handling Damage Prevention in 2002, I now have five, fine managers, working with me handling Damage Prevention and Membership Coordination. The Notification Center itself is probably five times the size it was in 2002 and ten times the size it was when I first stepped in the door of Texas811 back in 1997.

It’s been a remarkable challenge and tremendously rewarding experience to be part of such a robust and thriving enterprise as Texas811. The talent and energy level there has already outgrown the borders of the great State of Texas, and who knows where it will take us next? But as I look around at the extraordinarily bright faces that make up Texas811, there’s one thing I know for certain.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

My Story...

First off, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your day to read my first blog post. I’ve actually never written a blog before so I hope you won’t  be too hard on me.  What I’m going to try to do is give you a quick history about me so that after reading this, you may have a better idea about who I am and where I’m coming from. 

My name is Jonathan Rollins.  I was born in the District of Columbia on June 21, 1989.  Having been born in D.C., you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was and continues to be to fill out forms that ask you for your birth city and state.  Shortly after I was born my father’s job relocated him and our family to Dallas.  We found a home in Rowlett and that is where we were rooted for 6 years. While in Texas I became an older brother to two siblings and couldn’t have been more excited.  Being an only child for most of my early life, I finally had brothers to play with and at times (when necessary) provide a wedgie or two.  What’s a wedgie you ask, well it’s something that older brothers are required to do to younger brothers.

After my 2^nd grade year of elementary school was over in TX, I found out that my dad’s job again had us moving.  This time we were headed to Colorado Springs, CO. We spent six years in Colorado, this time spanned from the 3^rd to 8^th grade. Living in Colorado introduced me to many different things that some may never get the luxury to experience and enjoy.  These experiences included ice hockey, snowboarding, skiing, mountain climbing, and best of all…snow days.

Well, I bet you can go ahead and guess what happened next.  After my 8^th grade year we again found ourselves on the move.  This time it was back to Rowlett, TX.  I attended Rowlett High School where I played trumpet in the marching band.  While in school I had the good fortune of  meeting the girl that what eventually be my future wife.  I finished my high school career in 2007 and right after graduation I found myself applying for a job at TESS. I had a close friend  there and it seemed like a great opportunity. Within three months of working at TESS I had been moved to the Fax Department. The Fax department would eventually be dissolved and I was relocated to the main contact center floor.  A year or so later I was promoted to my current position, Team Leader.

In June of 2011 I married my high school sweetheart, Mackenzie.  We currently reside in Royse City, TX, with our 1 year old Siberian Husky puppy, Nikita.  We are very excited about what lies ahead no matter where life may take us.  I am so fortunate to have everything that God has provided me with; a great house, a fantastic job, a loving family, and an amazing wife.

I’m going to leave y’all with a quote that I love and try to live by that says, “If ya ain’t first, ur last.”  … Just kidding!  I think Ricky Bobby uses that one.  The one I like read something like this, “Your time on earth is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”  - Steve Jobs

-Jon Rollins

Having That Dynamite Attitude Without Having To Blast

My name is Keidre Trammell and as most of you probably know I am a Team Leader for Texas 811.  I have enjoyed working here since July of 2003. My time here has been both exciting and rewarding. From the very first day of walking into the office and having the opportunity to speak to Lance Parker, I immediately knew that this was the company for me.  TESS was made up of wonderful people and I wanted in.  I  feel so at home and at ease working with my peers.  It is like being part of a family rather than just a drone at some, “Who are you?” type of company. I have worked at several Call Centers, but never felt that I would make a lifelong career with any of them until I started working at Texas811. When I think back to my earlier days and how different it was, I am excited and proud to have been part of all the changes and growth. I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by people who support and push me to excel within the company. Before I was employed here I  had never worked in a management position. Mike Losawyer and John Sparks saw something in me that I hadn’t realized on my own. I was a good employee and I had the potential to be a great leader. I will forever be grateful for the potential  those two recognized in me. This company is great at recognizing hard work and dedication to the common goals of excelling and achieving greatness. Being surrounded by people who share your passion and drive makes eight hours a day (and sometimes more)  an easy task. I look forward to getting up every morning and coming to work. I take pride in what I do and all of my accomplishments within our company. All fun aside, this company is about public safety and I take my job very serious. There is not a day that goes by that I am not striving to do the best job possible. I would not have grown mentally, emotionally, and physically if it had not been for the responsibilities bestowed upon me and the bonds that I created within our company. The friends and experiences here will only continue to grow at Texas 811.  Our company  is a great place and the changes we have made this year alone have been wonderful. The recent and ongoing changes have reignited the spirit and excitement from better days. We are building a culture and employees are excited about their job and they feel important. The atmosphere is great and employees are buzzing about our upward direction.  We are building a solid team and I am privileged to be a part of Texas811.  Go Team Dynamites!

Along for the Ride

I have heard when writing your first blog you should inform the reader a little bit about yourself.  So…

   My name is Penny Schutza and this is the sped-up version of how I came to be a member of the Texas811 management staff.

   The year was 1997.  I was thirty-(something), had been working at a company that repaired and installed new apartment mailboxes and rekeyed apartment complexes for about 8 years.  A pretty physical job in itself.  But, not only did I do these repairs, installations and rekeying projects, I also scheduled the work and ran the office, which included billing, shipping and receiving, merchandise ordering, accounts receivable/payable, staffing, payroll…everything that comes with being an office manager, less insurance or raises.  (Looking back I don’t know how I did all this and still could be of sound mind and body!)  The company had landed a very large contract with the USPS in Arlington installing curbside home mailboxes, which had to be added to our already busy schedule.  This ultimately led to contacting Texas Excavation Safety System for underground line locates.  We were faxing in so many locate requests Mike Losawyer himself, along with tech support, came to our office to set our company up as a remote contractor.  Between the busy calls coming in and scheduling crews for the different job sites somehow Mike and I were, briefly, able to discuss the company and what they were about.  Not long after this first meeting, on a Saturday afternoon, Mike and I met at the T.E.S.S. office.  He gave me a tour of the small office space (well, small compared to our office space now) and we discussed in further detail the company’s operations.  About three weeks later I nervously started my new adventure with T.E.S.S. (Texas811).  As with all new employees I started out as a CSR (or what is now known as a DPA), and slowly but surely made my way through the different departments from Projects, to Trainer, on to a Team Leader, advancing to Quality Assurance Manager, then accepting my current position as Assistant Contact Center Manager.  I believe working in these different positions throughout the company has given me a unique insight to how each department entwines with the other and with the company as a whole, which has helped lead me to where I am today. 

   I can not say enough wonderful things about Texas811 and how grateful I am for the opportunities I have been given.  To watch the company grow, not only going from working in a small business suite to owning an entire building, but also internally--the addition of the many different departments that, although are separate, work so well together as a team; the addition of the different states we now service; the benefits; the Wellness Center; and so much more--has been an experience I am so glad I was witness to.  As great as things are now at Texas811, I know there are bigger and better things in store for us all.  And I am very excited to be along for the ride.

~Penny Schutza

Morning Cup of Coffee...

As I sit here drinking my coffee and racking my brain as to what will be the first sentence in my blog post I realized something.  Every morning for the last 5 years my day starts with a cup of coffee.   The last 3 years have included waking up happy to start my work day.  Now, I’ve had lots of different coffees from different places.  I’ve had Starbucks, 7 Eleven, McDonalds, you name it.  Each cup has its own flavor just as each of us has our own personality.  Furthermore, each of us has even tried out different jobs.   Of course, I’m not saying we are each like a cup of coffee but we each bring something unique to the table.   A great culture and diversity within our company is what helps define who we are.   

 In October of 2009, after my 5 year tenure with Circuit City in the retail industry, I returned to work for Texas811. I should add this was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my lifetime.   I quickly learned that the company had made some remarkable changes since I first worked here in 2000. A fully equipped gym complete with two showers had been constructed, an office expansion that has just recently led to ownership of the entire building and a larger staff were a few of the things that stood out to me.  Since opening for business in the 80’s our company has continued to grow.  In the last three years we have near doubled in size.  With the addition of new states hopping on board we are the leader in what we do.

Starbucks started the coffee house boom in the U.S. in the late 80’s to early 90’s and has grown to 18,887 stores in 55 countries.  I don’t suspect we will have this many offices popping up all over the world, however, we will continue to dominate this industry.     

I’m Kyle Barnes, the Training Manager for Texas811.  I moved to the training department a year after being a floor agent.  I enjoy anything outdoors; wakeboarding, and mountain bike riding to name a few.  Just like I enjoy my cup of coffee every morning I enjoy being part of such an excellent company. 

Kyle Barnes