Employee Spotlight: Stephanie Phillips

I am so fortunate to have worked with Stephanie for several of her 10 years here at O’Brien. Her role as Operations Coordinator was established just for her, as her duties are specialized in skillset but touch nearly every function of our operations.  As you likely know, we are Irish owned, and for St. Patrick’s Day Stephanie wears a shirt that says, “Shenanigans Coordinator”. This is SO very clever, and just like her to appreciate the hilarious irony! I wish that could be her official title, as much of what she does includes resolving matters, addressing unexpected concerns and quite literally injecting a Calm into a sometimes hectic but always fast-paced environment.

One of her most impressive skills is that she has honed the ability of clearing obstacles from the path. This usually happens without any of us even realizing it. I imagine that she has deliberately catalogued resolved issues throughout her career, then developed the foresight to know what can happen.  She plans ahead…way ahead, and using her outstanding organizational skills anticipates the requisites.  The increased functionality of our teams over the years is certainly a product of her efforts.

As Operations Coordinator, Stephanie’s role touches many people’s day to day processes.  She is often the first person people call; not just our own employees but our neighboring businesses, clients, city officials, suppliers and power company technicians….likely on speed dial.  Her communication skills are outstanding which means people know they can rely on her and trust that things are getting done. 

Stephanie is technically savvy, and to my knowledge, completely self-taught which is quite impressive. Her optimal utilization of these tools continuingly pushes our teams to be more innovative and efficient.  She trains others by meeting them where they are, at their level of capability, and accessibility based on the interface they have at their disposal. She is consistent in her delivery and process which supports our company’s goals and best practices. 

Coordination is a huge part of Stephanie’s role, but she also is the Lead on many functions. She guides employees throughout their entire life cycle with us, including gifting them birthday cards and baby onesies as their families grow. From their first day, through their systems training, their benefits enrollment, unforeseen life events and sometimes even their farewell lunch, she is there. As a fountain of knowledge, she not only provides general resources but also makes a tangible difference in people’s lives assisting them with authentic care.

If Stephanie had a baseball card, it would be a collectible as she is an MVP.

I’m grateful to have Stephanie on our team and look forward to many more years to come!

-Elly Carroll, Director of Human Resources