BATTLE CREEK, Mich. –
Property Disposal Specialist Shirlyn Jones was recently honored as a DLA Disposition Services Employee of the Quarter for her mission contributions in the third quarter of fiscal 2020.
Jones is still new to federal service, having spent a year with the Defense Commissary Agency before joining DLA’s property disposal mission in 2019.
The self-described “very supportive wife of a soldier” said she enjoys her role with DLA and appreciates the guidance and expertise of her colleagues in Fort Hood, Texas.
“I enjoy everything I do [with DLA]. I know it sounds weird, but I seriously like to go to work every day,” Jones said. “I enjoy the people I work with. I am proud to say I work in a really good environment; people here are very positive and happy. The best thing I like about them is they will help you to build yourself, they will encourage you to grow and build your career.”
Hood Area Manager Barb Roberts praised Jones’ “bubbly and energized attitude” and said she always goes the extra mile to ensure customer appointments go as flawlessly as possible.
“She remembers every conversation with the customers,” Roberts wrote. “Shirlyn's commitment took [Hood] from a 14-day customer wait time to an average of four days by contacting each customer two days before their appointment as a reminder and to ensure they are tracking their appointment. Hood has remained ‘in the green’ on customer wait time – even during COVID-19 – thanks to Shirlyn.”
Roberts said that during the U.S. Army Forces Command divestiture effort at Hood, Jones came up with her own effective method for identifying and confirming turn-in units and cross-checking the property they had due for disposal, improving the site’s coordination and efficiency.
“This resourcefulness helped the site in reaching out to the customer, rather than waiting for the customer to come to us,” Roberts wrote.
For her part, Jones said she’s simply conducting business and wasn’t expecting to be recognized.
“I am actually very surprised,” Jones said. “I just do what I need to do to complete my everyday tasks.”