"Work spares us from three evils: boredom, vice, and need"- Voltaire
 

Name of your Employer. Southwest Solutions Group, Inc. – aka Spacesaver of Texas 

Describe your company’s core competency Our team’s core competency is creating flexible storage and organization solutions that help improve workflow productivity, utilize space more efficiently, promote healthy environments by utilizing sustainable materials, and providing world class service and expertise to our current and future clients.  

Describe your primary job functions To meet with architects & designers for new & renovation projects and with qualified clients who are relocating, running out of storage space, growing or downsizing, and have the desire to improve their storage and material workflow methods.                                                              

Describe an average day. Meeting with facilities who are needing ideas, surveys, or budgets regarding their storage needs, following up with clients who may be ready to move forward but have a few details to go over, and project management from the sales side during installations that are going on throughout the week. It can all be boiled down to Problem Solving.

What type of clients you work with?To make a short list: Commercial/Business, Healthcare, Higher Education, Public Safety, Government/Military, Museum, and Industrial (manufacturing, distribution, maintenance). My specialties are Military, Public Safety, and Industrial; however several of my clients include Intel, AMD, Texas State University, ACC, and St. David’s Medical Centers.  

Percentage of your work and clients that are local/regional/national. Southwest Solutions Group, Inc. covers all of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and southern Kansas, with several installations in Mexico. Personally, I primarily cover the Austin and San Marcos regions.                                                                                      

How long have you been in this field?  Tell us briefly about your work career.  As of August 30^th, I have been with my company for 10yrs, which also marks my 10yr anniversary in Texas. The last two years with SSG, I have qualified for our national sales meetings with over $1m in sales revenue. My background also includes sales management, retail sales, manufacturing, drafting, communication, and some counseling.  

Tell us about an interesting situation(s) you’ve encountered related to your current work.  End result? I recently got to work with Apple here in Austin. At the time, I was meeting with the facility planning team working through details on a project. The gentlemen I was meeting with got a call regarding some details of a current project they had going on. Some decisions were made and the conversation ended. I commented that it sounded kind of important and his response to me was that his counterpart in California needed to verify a few things before discussing them with Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple. I just thought it was absolutely a privilege that I get to work in an industry with people who are just two or three degrees away from some of the most influential people in business.  

What’s the best lesson you’ve learned from a client? Do what you say you are going to do when you say you are going to do it. Regardless of the circumstances, clients want honestly and integrity. It may not always be flashy, but it’s always the right thing to do.  

How’s business right now? Is there a recession? Honestly, I am just as active today as I was 1-2yrs ago. Companies and facilities still need to meet their goals, stay competitive, and utilize their space and flow as efficiently as possible. Sometimes funding takes longer, but I’m working on more projects today than I ever have been.  

Identify some challenges to your industry. There are many companies that say they will provide great service, great product solutions, and great prices. The greatest challenge is creating and sustaining a company that will do the right thing by the client Every time. There is such a temptation for many companies to cut corners, provide substandard solutions, and hide the whole truth. Those companies won’t last. The best will survive and after 10yrs with the Southwest Solutions Group team, the vision and leadership is only getting better.  

Tell us about your personal life, family, hobbies and interests outside work. I have been married for 5yrs to Deborah, a wonderful woman and mother. I have an 18month old son, Jack, that I thank God for everyday. Camping is one thing we all like to do and Central Texas offers so much in this area. My dream is to have a log home, trees all around, a lake or river to kayak in, and cool air to breathe in the evening. 

“Can we quote you on that?” Remember that you are important, significant, and are uniquely gifted. No matter what industry you are in, what position you hold, or how much money you make, always be thankful for the blessings in your life. If you remember these things, stress and worry will soon stop hanging around and peace of soul will eventually set up residence inside of you.

"ASK STEEVES"

An employee suffers a severe injury at work.  The employer has a policy in place requiring an investigation of all work-related injuries.  However, based on the injury and the way in which it occurred, the employer anticipates litigation – that the employee will hire an attorney to file suit to recover damages for his injuries.  Should this have an effect on how the investigation is conducted? 

The short answer is yes.  Generally, an investigation of any work-related incident or injury will include interviewing witnesses and possibly obtaining written statements.  The investigation and any written statements may be discoverable in a lawsuit – meaning that the employee’s attorney can obtain copies of these potentially damaging documents.  To preclude this scenario, the employer should contact its attorney and have the attorney direct the investigation.  If the investigation is directed by the attorney – or at least requested by the attorney – the investigation can be protected from discovery under the attorney-client and work product privileges. 

It is also suggested that the investigator, whether an attorney or not, take comprehensive notes of witness interviews but not require the witnesses to write and/or sign written statements.  In Texas, written statements of witnesses are generally discoverable to opposing parties.

"Ask Steeves" will be a regularly featured article in the newsletter, so if you have any legal questions, please direct them to Steve Dillawn.

IFMA EDUCATION