If there’s one thing that makes Beverly Carraher’s day, it’s making someone else’s.
That’s why it surprises no one at Harris School Solutions that she is this quarter’s We Are Harris award winner.
Beverly, a senior software support specialist at Harris for the past 12 years, was nominated for a career spent consistently displaying not one, but two, Harris core values – Respect of the Individual, and Communicate/Share Knowledge. Both of these ideals insist on a team member’s willingness to genuinely value and appreciate each person across every interaction.
And that’s how Beverly will be remembered following her retirement at the end of this month.
According to iPass Support Manager Laura Patton, the ability to communicate from a place of respect has served Beverly well at Harris. Laura says of Beverly:
“She always volunteers to take on the most challenging Support calls. With her humor and her calm manner, she can guide any client, or any teammate for that matter, through just about anything.”
Overall, though, Beverly’s legacy at Harris is perhaps best summed up by Kate Schumacher, one of the teammates who has worked side-by-side with Beverly over the years:
“Bev always takes the extra few minutes to make sure you understand the issue, while never making you feel like less of a person because you don’t understand. The world needs more people with the patience and understanding that Bev has.”
As for Beverly herself, she’s looking forward to exploring that world: she plans to shift gears and spend her retirement traveling and visiting with her children and grandchildren throughout Florida, Virginia, and Massachusetts. One thing that won’t change, however, is that her husband, Bob, will be by her side on these trips as he has been throughout her career. Beverly credits Bob with providing the generous support she needed to focus on her work over the years.
Before she heads out on the road to explore new places and enjoy family time, though, Beverly leaves us all with this piece of sage advice:
“Start every day with a positive outlook. Any issue you were dealing with yesterday seems to get resolved more easily with a fresh start. Makes you feel like you have accomplished something and the whole day gets better.”
Beverly has made the day better for everyone around her, every day, for twelve years.
So as far as accomplishing something? You certainly have, Bev.