Q: Describe your role within the firm.
A: I am a Department Leader for IS Quality Change in the Quality Methodology area. Q: Describe how your division contributes to the firm's success.
A: The IS Quality Change department provides coordination and distribution services of production system changes to minimize outages to business processing, Branch offices, and users. Q: What year did you start at Edward Jones? What year did you start in your current position?
A: I came to the firm in June 1995 and took this position in June of 2008. Q: What did you do prior to joining Edward Jones?
A: I was a student at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, FL. Q: One area Edward Jones prides itself is enabling our associates to maintain a strong work-life balance. How does this approach impact you?
A: I moved here right after college with no family close by that I could visit. So all I had was work. But Edward Jones is involved in a number of community programs and I happened to take a special liking to the Girls Inc. Summer Computer program. This helped me to meet other people and give back to the community as well. After being here 11 years and starting a family of my own, I've been able to use remote access to maintain a good work-life balance. This allows me to go home and spend time with my family and catch up with work without having to physically be away from my family. Q: What does the firm being a partnership mean to you?
A: Being a limited partner in the firm means I share in the responsibility of the firm. That means in my day-to-day activities I have to think like an owner. The firm's number one focus is the customer and as a partner in the firm I have to make sure that everything I do contributes to helping our clients reach their financial goals. Q: Before you came to Edward Jones, what did the name mean to you? And after you came on board?
A: I didn't know much about Edward Jones in college. They were well known among business majors but not with computer science students. After coming to Edward Jones and understanding how they compared to other financial institutions, I quickly understood that this was a company on the verge of being an outstanding company. That the technology changes that they were gearing up to implement would change how Edward Jones did business and could help increase the number of potential customers. Q: Articulate the spirit of volunteerism that exists at Jones. How have you been involved and what was that experience like?
A: I am the Edward Jones coordinator for the Girls Inc. Computer Summer program as well as a volunteer teacher for the program. This program is special because the associates that get involved get a chance to show off their talents as well as learn. We went from just teaching computer concepts to teaching life skills and encompassing all areas of Edward Jones into the program. Students learn how to type, balance a checkbook, build a business, create a marketing plan and develop a database. Each year the number of girls that participate in our program grows because of the increasing number of volunteers. Every new volunteer is terrified of teaching, but the kids in this program teach them how to let themselves go and be a big kid. At the end, we have made new friends and can't wait for next summer to begin. Q: Do you feel there are opportunities for advancement and greater income potential at Edward Jones?
A: Yes. I started as a programmer in the BSD area and was asked to consider spending a year in internal audit. This opportunity gave me exposure to the business area and a different perspective. This was beneficial for me as I returned to IS to take a position as a project leader. I was promoted to team leader shortly thereafter. Q: What qualities do you think a person needs to have to succeed in the home office environment?
A: A person working at the home office has to handle change well and should be willing to put the customer first in every thing they do. Taking responsibility and ownership of an issue through to resolution is a must for a home office associate. And it’s important to understand that at the end of the day we are a part of a team that is dedicated to helping the customer. Q: How do you see your future at Edward Jones unfolding?
A: The opportunities here at Jones are endless and the potential to learn new things are always available. Q: As you go through your daily activities, how do you know you’ve achieved success at Edward Jones?
A: I feel success in many ways. I feel it when I get a thank-you from a leader of a team whose problem I helped resolve. Or when a Financial Advisor sends in a wire to say thank you or when there's a crisis and other associates thank me for sticking around to help them even when it's not my responsibility. Then you know you had a good day. Q: There are very few offices at Edward Jones, with nearly all the firm's leaders located in cubicals. What does this structure mean to you?
A: Cubicals give you privacy when you need it but it also fosters an open door policy. I know that I can walk up and see someone and I don't have to make an appointment. The door just seems so formal. Q: How has the firm supported your professional growth via training opportunities?
A: I have been able to take classes on new technology that my area will support, but the most helpful training has come from other associates here at Edward Jones.
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