When Darin Kleindl learned he had won a car as part of an employee celebration at the Neosho Lowe’s Home Improvement Store, he threw his hands in the air in celebration as his peers jumped out of their chairs to cheer for him.
It was a party-like atmosphere during a luncheon celebration Wednesday at the Neosho Lowe’s Home Improvement store as the 104 employees of the Neosho store received word they earned the top ranking for customer satisfaction in the entire company.
Yes, the Neosho Lowe’s store ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction out of more than 1,700 Lowe’s stores nationwide.
It is a feat that brought a big smile to the face of Tom Baumhover, store manager since August 2009.
“Thank you for this great accomplishment this year,” Baumhover told his employees during the celebration Wednesday. “I am so happy to be tied to this store. I am glad to be in Neosho, Missouri, and be a part of this great success.”
Baumhover said during his speech to his employees that whenever a customer called or e-mailed about their experience at the Neosho store, it was great to see “more compliments than complaints.”
The honor for the Neosho store is among the 250,000 employees nationwide and more than 50,000 employees in the south-central region of the chain.
As part of honoring the Neosho employees who earned the award, 88 of the 104 employees who were eligible were put into a drawing for three free vehicles. Other employees received gift cards and other giveaways.
The winner of those three vehicles were Kleindl, Jake Hobbs and Rachel Williams. Hobbs and Williams are the proud new owners of 2010 Chevy Equinox vehicles.
“And all three of the employees who won were very deserving,” Baumhover said.
But, as the employees celebrated their accomplishment Wednesday, Baumhover said the customers were the reason for the store’s success.
“Neosho has been very good to us,” he said. “The community has been very supportive of this store since its opening, and we are glad to be able to give back to the community as well. We have recently joined the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, and now have a presence at Lions Club, and doing community projects is very important to our store and its employees.”
