23 Jan 2011 First Service gives away car at annual Christmas party

Jon Patrom, retail sales/marketing officer, created the special incentive program. “Associates were challenged all year with incentive prizes such at iPods, 50-inch flat screen TVs, laptops, cameras, cash prizes and the list goes on,” said Patrom. “To win one of the prizes we issued a challenge each week tied to a sales goal and whoever reached the goal had their name placed into the drawing. Each week someone won a prize.”

Throughout 2010, the Cube toured each First Service location in Dermott, Greenbrier, Clinton, Shirley, Marshall, Mountain View, Yellville and Flippin. “It was like the Cube was a rock star. It had parking spots made for it all over the state,” Patrom said.

The major focus of the program was the awarding of the Nissan Cube at the bank’s annual Christmas party, held at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute atop Petit Jean Mountain. More than 250 employees and guests attended the party.

The employees with top sales who qualified for a key and a chance to win the car were not announced until that evening. Each employee picked a key and tried to unlock the door to the car. Johnson – an employee at First Service for nearly 12 years – had the only working key.

Additional cash prizes were awarded at the party to the Cube runners-up and other employees.

“While the car giveaway was a highlight of the evening, the entire party is a wonderful gift for all employees for all their hard work for the year,” Patrom said. “There aren’t many businesses that would provide such a wonderful meal and overnight accommodations as well as a nice Christmas gift for all in attendance. After the meal and gift exchange we always have tons of fun playing bingo with Tom Grumbles, our CEO heading up as the bingo master with fabulous prizes, and singing carols. It is like a family Christmas! We are so blessed.”