By Amy Wobbema
Miller's cashier named Employee of the Month for October
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Janette Jackson cheerfully rang up the Smith family's purchases Tuesday afternoon.
She greets nearly all of her customers by name, even though she has only lived in the community for a year. Janette Jackson, a cashier at Miller's Fresh Foods in New Rockford, was recognized with the Chamber's Employee of the Month award for October.
A mother of eight and the widow of a U.S. Navy veteran, Jackson moved from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, last summer.
"I was tired of the city life," she recalls, stating that she was encouraged to come to New Rockford by her daughter, Melissa Bass, who works at Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd.
Just a few days after she arrived in town, Jackson noticed a Help Wanted sign at the local grocery store. The opening seemed to be a good fit for her, as she had worked in retail for 10 years prior. She was the head cashier at Lowe's for two of those years, supervising 20 employees.
She began working at Miller's on Aug. 5, just six days later, and she is pleased with her choice. After all, small towns suit her best. Jackson is a native of Pine Center, Minn., a very small community of about 100 people, southeast of Brainerd near Mille Lacs Lake.
She and her late husband Michael traveled a great deal during his 23-year military career. He was a nuclear submariner, and he was on call for search and rescue missions during the Persian Gulf War. The couple moved to Alaska after Michael retired from the Navy, so she has experienced life in various parts of the country.
"I like the small community and all the people," Jackson said of New Rockford. "All my customers are fun."
First Lutheran Church pastor Amy Kippen, and office secretary Amy Perleberg, nominated Jackson for the award, citing her ability to remember names. "Just this morning, I asked Amy P. what her name is. I asked because Janette always greets me by my first name when I walk into the grocery store, and I want to be able to greet her back!" Kippen said.
It took a bit of asking around, but it was Glenda Collier who was able to tell them her name was Janette. "Both Amy and I are excited to start greeting her by her first name. She deserves all the validation for her great attitude and always warm welcome," Kippen added.
Store manager Colleen Hagen is also glad Jackson chose to be here. "Janette has been a welcome addition to our Miller's team," Hagen said. "The first day on the job, Janette hit the ground running and has not looked back. Janette is a great multitasker, and she's good at handling cash."
Does someone make your day when you enter a local business? If so, nominate him or her for this award. Employee of the Month is a program sponsored by the New Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce to recognize local people for customer service excellence. Nomination forms are available at the Transcript office or online at http://www.cityofnewrockford.com/chamber. Send written nominations to PO Box 67, New Rockford, N.D. 58356 or email [email protected].
