Archive for June 14th, 2011
June 14th, 2011 | 
Author: 
Last Fall Jeff, my fiancé and I, joined a new running club. What began as a way for us to get out of the house for some exercise as the cold winter months would force everyone indoors; turned into another way for us to stay fit and active while meeting a lot of new people. We ran all winter – even in the freezing cold wind. Our club meets every Saturday morning at 6:30am at Davinci’s coffee house – a favorite by all.
By January, we picked up the pace quite a bit as we/the club began serious training for our first half marathon race. We’ve both had experience running in 5K (3.1 miles) races in Tulsa several times – but the Oklahoma City Half Marathon (13.1 miles) would be a brand new experience for us both. We were anxious and excited. However, we weren’t quite prepared though for what came the day of the race on Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
There was thunder, lighting and lots of cold rain until about mile 8. By mile 9 my legs were numb and my shoes felt like bricks. I think they weighed an extra 5lbs each after having to line-up at the start and running in constant rain. I was SO tired of the rain! My entire body was shivering. At the 9 mile water-stop they were giving out GU Gel packs. I sure did need them. I couldn’t tear the tops off the tiny packs and keep running because my hands were so cold they were like “clubs”…Ugh!. But Jeff was there to help with them -thank God. All throughout the race, Ug!t we kept hearing volunteers and people in the neighborhoods, shouting, “Let’s Go! You’re almost there!! Then finally at mile 11, I heard another volunteer shout out NO MORE HILLS! We heard so many people saying, “GO! GO! GO and cheering us on. My legs were shaking, and both of us were completely soaked from head to toe. The temperature remained at 39-40F throughout the entire race. BUT WE DID IT! We Finished!!!!
My official time was 2:42:34 –and Jeff’s was 2:49:44 (take off 20 minutes for all the bathroom breaks)… not at all the times we were hoping for, but we’re looking forward to the race next year and beating our times. Hopefully next year we won’t have to contend with the Tsunami-like conditions of this years’ race.
It was such an AWESOME feeling when I crossed the finish line… I’ll never forget.
They were giving out FREE Carl’s JR cheeseburgers just 50 feet from the finish line…I couldn’t believe we waited in line for a burger at a time like this!!! My entire body wouldn’t stop shivering and all I wanted to do was get back to my hotel room and out of the cold and rain. At one point I thought I’d bit a hole through my lower lip as I was shivering so much on the walk back to the hotel. The rain was still coming down and I was so glad to be done.
Posted in 
Claco Supply Company, Inc.
Architectural Products
Established 1961
In my role as the Accounting Client Account Manager, with CS3 Technology; I am given the opportunity to get to know a lot of interesting people every day. Most of the people I meet are in manufacturing and distribution companies throughout the United States. I often learn about various aspects of their business over lunch – but mostly by way of telephone and internet (via monthly webinars). I’ve befriended many and have been introduced to the staff and have gained a greater understanding of each of their businesses and how each finds value with CS3 Technology as their business partner. I was chatting with Jeannie Showell last month with Claco Supply. She was excited to announce that this year her family-owned business are celebrating 50 Years in business this year. They have been running the Sage Business Works accounting system for many years and absolutley love it.
Congratulations Claco Supply Company!!!
Meet Jeannie, and the entire Claco Supply staff – also “Heathen” in their Security department
About Claco Supply Company, Inc.
Chester L. Anderson originally founded the company in 1932. It was known as the Chester L. Anderson COmpany. They primarily sold steel windows, custom hollow metal overhead doors, New Castle Products (Modernfold®) accordion doors, incinerators and revolving doors.
In 1955 Roger S. Woodman started working for the Chester L. Anderson Co. and purchased it in 1961. The name was officially changed to Claco Supply, Inc. The same lines of products were sold plus the addition of toilet partitions, skylights, trash compactors and chalk and tack boards. New products were added to keep up with construction technology such as aluminum pre-glazed windows, pre-finished pre-machined wood doors and pre-finished hollow metal frames to name a few.
In the late 1970′s Claco Supply took on Kalwall® Translucent Panels System. It has been very popular with architects and owners. Also, Claco has taken on the duties of being a subcontractor for many large skylight and folding door jobs.
In 1990 Mr. Woodman retired and Keith Showell became the General Manager of the company. Mr. Showell has been with Claco full time since 1977 and became the owner in 1991.
Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.5 is currently on target for release in September. The Pre-Release Guide and Frequently Asked Questions documents are available for download on the Sage website. Highlights of the 4.5 release include:
- The main features and functionality 4.5 enhancements will be in Accounts Receivable, Payroll, and Sales Order
- Every Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 customer will receive a free SageCRM 7.1 server license and user license when they upgrade to 4.5
- Current Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 Extended Enterprise Suite customers will be merged into the core product line with the equivalent 4.5 system on user-based pricing
- Sage ERP MAS 90 and 200 4.5 licenses and SageCRM 7.1 licenses will be sold separately
- Customers will be able to choose to stay on ProvideX or migrate to Microsoft SQL Server in 4.5
- Sage ERP MAS Intelligence will be enhanced in 4.5 to include Reporting Tree capabilities, additional sample reports, and compatibility with the Sage ERP MAS 200 SQL product
For more detailed information on features and functionality, pricing, and licensing, please contact Judy Stanfield, (877) 496-1600 x215. For other questions or support needs contact the CS3 Accounting consulting department at (877) 496-1600, press 2.
Click link below to download guide:
I’m on a bit of a soapbox this month as it seems like I have recently heard more and more people, including myself, talk about their bad experiences in dealing with people you’d expect to be helpful, myself included. Whether it is a rude customer service representative, a boss that sets unrealistic expectations, a business partner that just takes your money and then forgets about you, or a project manager at Oncor Electric that just tells you to send a check for $10,000 and they will TRY to get the needed work scheduled in the next 4-6 weeks (yes, that really did just happen to me), it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
I can tell you from experience, it’s not that hard to be nice and put in the extra effort needed to change someone’s negative experience to a positive one. One of our very new clients wasn’t having much fun with a past partner relationship and went searching for someone that would basically do one thing…care about them and what they needed to be successful. This client is located in Oklahoma City, I office in Dallas, and one of my favorite colleagues is out of our headquarter office in Tulsa. This was a meeting that could have easily happened over the phone; however the client wanted to meet with us in person. I hopped on Southwest, spent 45 minutes in the air, was picked up by my Tulsa teammate as she swung through town and off we went to say ‘hi’ to Bob and his team.
Once there, we listened to what they had to say about feeling abandoned, let down, not important. We listened to them describe their wants and needs and what they expected from us. We were open, honest, and sincere in wanting to build a lasting relationship. We did this because we cared. As our meeting wound down, Bob said to us “I knew you were the right partner when you offered to meet with us face to face like we wanted”. This was easy; they were tons of fun. Bob and CS3 will be good friends for a long time, I think.
Employees should be treated at least as well as clients. In most cases, they are your livelihood. They will mimic their experience to your customers, competitors, alliances, and the people they deal with on a daily basis. If your company culture doesn’t promote a positive environment, your employees will let the world know, not only in words, but actions.
I know it’s really hot and miserable outside, the economy is still pretty weird, tragic things seem to be in the news on a daily basis and that can make us all a bit cranky. We need to put a smile on our face, go the extra mile and treat people the way we would want to be treated. (Bet you’ve never heard that one before, huh?). Your employees will thank you for it. Your colleagues will thank you for it. Your clients will thank you for it. Trust me, it works. Just give Bob a call and ask him.
“I had an awful experience!! Gave my phone to Leg 2 runner and he left the race with it. The only phone I had was the runner after me and the only contact on his phone was his wife who was running last leg. I was so cold I could not think clearly. To make a long story short, I could not find any of my teammates so I sought refuge in the First Church until I was found. I could not stop shivering. I was so ready to get back to the hotel and take a hot shower. I ran my leg in 1 hour 9 minutes. I clocked it at 7.2 miles (but I think it was supposed to be 7.3 to 7.4.) I was happy with my time but I still think I could have done a little better because I was not really winded when I finished my leg. Half marathon here I come!!! Kristi Radebaugh – Larco Enterprises, Inc.
“Kudos to First Church for taking such wonderful care of all of the runners that Kristi saw come in and out. The volunteers were physically taking runners shoes off for them because they were so wet and cold, drying socks and shoes and trading them out for dry socks, warm hats and gloves and blankets. Very impressive and such a wonderful Sunday Service!!!” Kristi Radebaugh
Marathon relay team photo in the hotel lobby following the race.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU
& EVERYONE ON YOUR RELAY TEAM KRISTI – Well Done!!!