Employee Engagement Survey

Ricker's has been invited to participate in an employee engagement survey sponsored by NACS & the Coke Council.  Service Management Group, SMG, is an independent company who is conducting the survey.

The NACS/CCRRC survey is a unique opportunity for our employees to share their thoughts about the work experience at Ricker’s.  The feedback will be combined with feedback from other employees working in the Convenience stores across the United States and Canada.  The purpose of gathering this feedback is to ultimately understand what drives a great employee experience across the Convenience store industry and identify opportunities where the workplace can be improved within the industry.

All responses are completely confidential.  SMG will not be able to trace individual responses back to you.  Ricker's management will only see combined data for groups of 5 or more respondents, so no individual answers will be revealed.

How do I complete the survey?

Ø  You will go to www.nacs-ccrcsurvey.com and enter your store number.

Who can take the survey?

Ø  Any active team member at your store will be eligible to take the team member engagement survey.

When will the survey be available?

Ø  The survey is available from February 22 (12:01 a.m.) to March 7, 2016 (midnight).

We look forward to your participation and feedback!

Year End Message from Quinn Ricker, President & CEO

Dear Ricker Family,

Attending all the Christmas parties has given me an opportunity to observe and reflect about where we are as a company.  After seeing all the smiling faces and it made me realize this is the best year ever in the history of the company!  Think about what has happened in 2015: 

 

1.        We built the most stores in one year in the history of the company, 5.

2.       The stores are performing better than expected.

3.       We gave substantial raises to virtually all hourly team members. 

4.       We gave substantial raises to almost all managers.

5.       Turnover is at the lowest point in memory.

6.       We made huge strides in rolling out our food offer to stores.

7.       Inside sales growth has been the best in years.

8.       Financially we have had the best year yet.

9.       Employee culture and moral are at an all-time high.

It just does not get better than this.  Being in business is all about what we have accomplished this year, working hard, winning in the marketplace, and taking care of our family members.  I wish I could bottle up this year and keep this run going.  The plans we have in store for the next few years with food additions and new stores should make that a reality.  I look forward to winning together in 2016.  I am thankful all of you are part of our family.

 

Sincerely,

 

Quinn

Superstars at Work October 16, 2015

Colts Gear

The Colts need our support, especially as they take on the Patriots this week-end.  Show your team spirit and support by wearing Colts gear on game day!  

Looking for Christmas Cash?

Are you interested in earning Christmas Cash?  Below are three ways to potentially earn additional funds.

Halloween Contest

The Annual Halloween Costume Contest is almost here!  This year’s contest will be held on Friday, October 30^th, 2015 on 1^st and 2^nd shifts.   Previous awards were for Best Overall Store, Best Theme, Most Creative, Individual Best Costume.  Masks are not permitted!  Prizes are 1^st Place: $100, 2^nd Place - $50.00, and 3^rd Place - $25.00.  Please register store participation, by shift, via SurveyMonkey, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJHRM65 no later than Tuesday, 10/27.   Attached is a flyer which may be posted.

Cost Cutting Contest

Do you have cost cutting business building ideas and suggestions to improve Ricker’s?  Visit the YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xZlHMufXs0) and Blog (http://rickersatwork.blogspot.com) to learn more and see contest details and prizes.  Ideas may be submitted to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNLM7TT

Vacation Pay Out

Two times per year, employees may request a vacation payout up to ½ of accrued vacation hours.  The vacation hours will be rounded off to a whole number  (example 38 hours),  and will be paid at the base wage and does not include premiums.  The next vacation payout is scheduled for the December 11, 2015 paycheck and request forms (attached) are due no later than November 23, 2015.  

Flu Shots

·         Anderson/Indianapolis:  Flu shots will be administered in the office on October 27 1:00 – 2:30.  If you are interested  please schedule your appointment by following the instructions below. Employer Wellness Solutions will be offering the Quadrivalent Flu Shot which is recommended annually for all ages.

o   Click link to sign up:  https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/6yhms9tk/?&e_id=4300

·         Anderson/Indianapolis: Flu shot vouchers are available to use at any Community Employer Health MedCheck locations

o   Refer to Jenny Buntin 10/5 e-mail for required forms

·         Tipton/Elwood:  IU Health Occupational Health will be administering flu shots

·         Ft. Wayne: Redi-Med will be administering flu shots through 11/30/2015 but has not yet received the flu serum.  Additional information will be distributed once notice is received.

Welcome

Welcome to the Ricker’s family, Chris Bush, Staff Accountant.  His primary work is within the dealer fuel relations and he replaced Matt Robinson on the Finance Team.  Welcome to Ricker’s!

Congratulations

Congratulations to the employees below for climbing the Ricker’s career ladder!  We  is thrilled to help employees grow and find their career path.  

                                                                                                                                                           

Mindy Whiteside promoted to Store Manager, #35 – Brownsburg. 

Lydnsey McClanahan has moved from a CSR position to Cookie Baker.

Wendy Kauffman has been promoted from MIT to Store Manager, #25 – Scatterfield. 

Michael Montagna has been promoted to Associate Store Manager - #14 – Chesterfield from CSR. 

Joshua Young has been promoted to Assistant Food Service Manager at #19 - Ogelville

Rebecca Troyer  promoted to Assistant Food Service Manager at #120 -  Park One Subway

Sinit Ghebrehiwet promoted to Food Service Manager at #38 – 71^st Street

Damien Hunt promoted to Associate Store Manager training at  #49 – River Road

Patricia Voyles promoted to Associate Store Manager at #80 – E. Washington Street

Aaron Gardner promoted to Director of Wholesale Fuels.  His primary work is Wholesale Fuels dealer sales growth.   Aaron has grown his career with Ricker’s – he began his employment as sandwich maker, then moved to a CSR position.  After graduating from college, he began a management training program with the company and managed the Applewood Store prior to moving into  the Wholesale Fuels Division as a Dealer Representative & Commercial Fleet Director. 

On the Move

Mike Parrott – Transferred from #35 - Brownsburg to #37 - Plainfield I-70

Chris Hill – Transferred from #70 – West 38^th Street to #19 – Ogelville

Jacob Myers – Transferred from #9 – Madison Avenue to #4 – Middletown

Michael Miller – Transferred from #2 – Broadway to #18 – 9^th Street

COST CUTTING CONTEST

Do you have cost cutting business building ideas and suggestions to improve Ricker’s?  If so, we want to hear from you!  

The 2014-2015 President’s Council members, in partnership with the Executive Team, developed a cost cutting contest to eliminate waste and to improve our company.

The contest is open from October 1, 2015 through October 31, 2015.  Entries may be submitted individually and/or by store and entries are unlimited!

Prize Categories

Individual Prize:  If cost cutting suggestion is implemented - $100 cash prize and 1000 RISE points.

Store Prize:  Most cost cutting suggestions implemented - $500 cash prize and 5000 RISE points divided among active employees.

Store Prize:  Most savings implemented - $1,000 cash prize and 10,000 RISE points divided among active employees.

In the event of duplicate winning entries, the first entry received will be awarded the full prize.

What winning ideas and suggestions do you have?  Cost cutting ideas and suggestions must be submitted via the following link to be considered.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CNLM7TT

Special appreciation is extended to the 2014-2015 President’s Council members for their valuable contributions to the Contest.  Members were Mary Jo Barth (E Washington), Roxanne Garvin (Park One), Rita Hicks (Greenwood), Tiffany Macklin (Coldwater), Nina Mayes (Post Road), Cory Schneider (Corporate), and Alexys Walters (Elwood).

WE ARE SO PUMPED TO RAISE PAY!

Date:  June 19, 2015

To:  Ricker’s Superstars

From:    Quinn B. Ricker, President & CEO

                Jay Ricker, Chairman

We are thrilled to announce that Ricker’s is raising its base wage to $9.00 an hour effective with the June 26, 2015 paychecks.  Any employee currently earning less than $9.00 will see their pay increase to $9.00 on that date. 

After one year of service, the base wage will increase to $10.00 per hour.  All current employees with a minimum of one year of service earning less than $10.00 will also see their pay increase on June 26.

Shift premiums will also change. Second shift premiums will cease and third shift premiums will be $1.00 per hour.  No employee will receive a reduction in pay due to the shift premium changes.  If the combination of current pay rate and shift premium is greater than the new levels, the employees current total rate will be maintained.

With this new increase, the starting wage of $9.00 an hour will be $1.75 more than the state minimum wage of $7.25.  After one year of employment, the employee’s pay will increase to $10.00 an hour, $2.75 more than the state’s current minimum wage.  

At Ricker’s, we value our hardworking team members and we make pay a priority.  We are not doing this because of mandatory government regulations, we are doing this because we view our team members as family and it is the right thing to do. 

We ARE SO PUMPED to raise pay!

Video announcement:  http://youtu.be/cdfa_yS4b20

Superstars at Work! May 5, 2015

Peer Recognition: 

Kudos to Stephen Shaw, IT:   an employee  recently shared with Jay Ricker, Chairman, how great Stephen is on staying until the problem is corrected and he sees the clerks having no issues. The comment was “he goes over and beyond” what would be expected. 

 Mooresville:  Mel Parker recognized two peers, Daniel Bullis and Robin Capps,  who provided above and beyond assistance to an elderly customer who was traveling and was lost. Mel maintained control of the store waiting on customers while Daniel and Robin spent about 20 minutes pumping her gas, providing directions, calming her and even saying a prayer with her. Thank you for going above and beyond to care for the store and ensuring the customer was taken care of!

Customer Compliments:

Zoraya Peoples, Edgewood received the following compliment from some regular customers:

Bob, Bob, & Dick, come in daily for coffee and small talk. J One of them had spilled a little coffee, so I went over to clean it up. After he refilled his coffee, one of the Bobs came and said I just wanted to let you know that you have a great crew here. He said he went into another Anderson location, but that the friendly, family atmosphere was lacking. I just wanted to shoot you a little note with his comments and commend the Edgewood staff on their customer service focus

Keith Witcher, Leo:  "My name is Tim and I writing this letter in reference to your store in Leo In with regards to the gentleman who closes you store every night. I have had the honor of meeting and talking to the gentleman by the name of Keith who works for you and in all of time that i worked in retail i have never met such a hard working person as he is. This gentleman is the kind of person who I have watched go out of his way not only for me but for others as well. He tries his best to make sure that your treated like family. The reason i say that is one night i was coming home after Visiting Family in Fort Wayne In and I was heading and i stopped at your store in Leo In. I need gas for my car and i bought a pop for me and my son and when I came up to be checked out he had everything ranged up and after he did this i realize that i left my wallet at my family's house in Fort Wayne In. I ask him if he cancel the order. He ask me what was the matter and i told him. And in after telling him that the gentleman comes around the  counter takes his debt card out and pays for my order,. I asked why he did it what he did and he told me. That he as been in the same placed as i was and no one never helped him.when he was like that. And after watching what this gentleman did for me I was moved by what he did for me i asked around the area about this gentleman and found out that he not only did for me but for others as well.

 

Salvation Army Annual Appreciation Banquet

 Maggie Ruest and Christine Higbee represented #55 - St. Joe Ricker's (Ft. Wayne) at the Salvation Army Annual Appreciation Banquet.  St. Joe raised more money than any other Ft. Wayne location during the Red Kettle drive. The store raised a record $2,360.93!  Thank you, Team!

 

People News

Welcome
Adam Nadler, MIT Anderson

On the Move

Ron Schaeffer - Transferred to #78 - 116^th Street
Chris Sherrill - Transferred to #44 - 151^st Street
Joe Savage - Transferred to #47 - Aronson
Julie Licari - Transfer to #43 - 96^th Street
Frank Goldman - Transferred to #71 - E 38^th Street
Travis Ware - Transferred to #47 - Aronson

 Promotions

Autumn Swingley - Promoted to #120 - Subway Associate Manager

Farewell

Lamar Wilson, #18 - Ninth Street Store Manager has resigned effective May 15, 2015.  He will be leaving the retail industry and beginning a new career.  Best wishes to Lamar as he begins this new career.  We will miss you!

With Sympathy

Dean Black, #80 - E Washington on the passing of his mother

Congratulations

Angela Gregory, (Park One Subway) and her husband recently celebrated their 16^th Anniversary.  Angie was the recipient of a beautiful flower arrangement!

 

Subway Rally Day! 

Subway recently held a special training day - Rally Day which focused on the customer and providing excellent service.  Below are pictures of our staff who participated.

E. 38th Street

E. Washington Street

River Road (Having Fun!)

River Road

 

NACS Scholarship Program

The National Association of Convenience Stores sponsors an annual scholarship in memory Of Jim Yates and David Erickson to recognize and support industry employees who demonstrate the potential and the determination to someday hold positions of senior leadership in the industry. 

Selected applicants are awarded $3,000.00 for costs of undergraduate career education, community college, or college.  In addition, the scholarship also provides travel, attendance, and lodging at the NACS Show where the selected winners will be recognized at a special ceremony.

 Eligibility Requirements

·         Applicants must be currently employed at a NACS retail member company (Ricker’s)

·         Applicants must continue working for the nominating company throughout the scholarship period.

·         Applicants must be enrolled in/or will be enrolled in undergraduate academic study for fall 2015

·         Scholarships are one-year awards.  Scholarship recipients may re-apply each year, for up to four years, if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

·         The scholarship will be applied to tuition expenses at any accredited college or university in the United States.  Recipients may transfer from one college to another and retain the award.

Application Procedure
To apply, individuals must complete all parts of the application form (posted on The Pipeline).  A completed application consists of an essay and application form to be filled out by the applicant, as well as a nominator’s form to be filled out by a senior company official.  If any of these parts are incomplete or missing, the application will be void from competition.  The deadline to submit applications for a 2015-16 NACS Scholarship is Monday, June 8, 2015.  Award winners will be notified on or before June 30, 2015. 

News from your EAP

Get adequate sleep to help fight stress
Stress experts report that chronically stressed people almost always suffer from fatigue and people who are tired do not cope well with stress. When distressed people get more sleep, they feel better and are more resilient and adaptable in dealing with day-to-day events.

Did you know that most sleep difficulties (about 80%) are either caused or reinforced by our own behaviors or daily habits? If you have trouble sleeping, the tips below will help you get the most out of your hours in bed:

Stay away from stimulants. Coffee, tea, colas, chocolate and some over-the-counter medications contain caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system and increases blood pressure and heart rate. Drinking a can of cola or cup of coffee in the late afternoon can keep you awake at midnight. Avoid consuming caffeine at least 4 to 6 hours before bedtime.

Don’t smoke, especially before bed. The nicotine in cigarettes is a stimulant. Insomnia is among smokers’ greatest complaints. Research shows that smokers take longer to fall asleep and wake up more often during the night than nonsmokers.

Go to bed at regular hours. An erratic schedule can cause problems such as “Sunday night insomnia.” This problem occurs to people who stay up late and sleep late on weekends and then try to switch back to their usual bedtime to prepare for Monday morning. Try to go to bed at roughly the same time each night.

Exercise regularly. Sleep is facilitated by relaxation and exercised muscles relax more easily. Aim for 20 minutes of exercise at least three times a week. Late afternoon is best.

Don’t use alcohol to induce sleep. A nightcap can lull you to sleep, but alcohol typically produces light, unsettled sleep. Also, using alcohol to fall asleep could lead to dependency.

Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Set the mood for relaxation before bed. Start letting down about an hour before bedtime: read, listen to music or take a warm bath.

Don’t take sleeping pills; they induce less restful sleep and can cause serious problems. Oftentimes, the person relying on sleeping pills is left with his/her original insomnia, plus a drug problem.

Your EAP is here to help!

Remember, your Employee Assistance Program can help you and your dependent family members with any type of personal, family or work-related concern.

To obtain no cost, confidential counseling or other EAP services, please call 800-869-0276, or you may securely request services at the EAP website: www.eapconsultants.com. Click “Sign In” and enter your employer’s password.

If you do not know your password, please call or send an email to: password@eapconsultants.com and include the name of your employer.

Employee News

Employee News

Employees on the move....its been a while since we have published Employee News.

Welcome
Samuel Harris, MIT, training at #36 - South Meridian
Ryan Deever, Food Service AM, training at #38 - 71^st Street
Andrew Johnson, MIT, training at #31 - Keystone
Anna Werler, #16 - Tipton AM
Travis Ware, MIT (Welcome back!)
Kasey Vaughn, #4 - Middletown Subway AM

Leslie Washington, #31 - Keystone AM

Alicia Terpstra, #33 - Greenwood AM

Christopher Sherrill, #34 - Ft. Ben AM

MaRiaha Flowers, #38 - 71st Street AM

Ryan Deever, #38 - 71st Street Food Service AM

Chris Hill, MIT, training at East Street

Zachary LaRose - #48 - 146th & Carey Food Service AM

Transfers & Promotions

Miranda Wagner - Promoted to #22 - The Point Subway Manager
Jeff Williams - Promoted to AM (temporarily covering #38 - 71^st Street)
Joe Savage - Promoted to #47 - 96^th & Aronson AM
Megan Metzger - Promoted to #4 - Middletown AM, Effective 4/12
Salah Bukhari - Promoted to  #44 - 151^st Street Store Manager
Ashlie Nicholson - Promoted to #71 - E 38^th Street Subway Manager
Dustin Grimes - Promoted to #49 - River Road Subway AM
 Zoraya Peoples - Promoted to #21 - Edgewood Store Manager
Gretchen Spangler - Promoted to #40 - Avon Store Manager
Shannon Edwards - Promoted to #42 - Northwest & 86th Street Store Manager
Jessica Van Deusen - Transferred to #48 - 146th & Carey Road
Teri Kinder - Transferred to #49 - 146th & River Road
Michael Moore - Promoted to #70 - W 38th Street Store Manager
Paul Lamaster - Transferred to #24 - Exit 14
Jane Tunnell - Promoted to Store Manager, Transferred to #23 - Downtown
Courtney Seal - Promoted to #15 - Pendleton Store Manager
Jason Arnold - Promoted to #2 - Broadway Store Manager
Tiffany Macklin - Promoted to #53 - Coldwater Store Manager
Michael Miller - Promoted to #2 - Broadway AM
Amanda Schoolcraft - Transferred to #3 - Frankton
Joan Willhoite - Transferred to #6 - Elwood
Amanda Barker - Promoted to #7 - I-69 AM
Derek Stone - Transferred to #10 - Exit 10
Jeff Frepan - Promoted to #18 - Ninth Street
Karl Burhorn - Promoted to AM, Transferred to #23 - Downtown
Patterson Day - Promoted to #24 - Exit 14 AM
Nate Tomlin - Transfer to #3 - Frankton
Cloe England - Transfer to #25 - Scatterfield
Brittany Tolson - Promoted to #35 - Brownsburg AM
Brittany Weaver -  Promoted to #41 - Plainfield US 40 AM
William Peters - Promoted to #42 - NW & 86th Street AM
Deborah Shaw - Promotion to AM, Transferred to #49 - 146th & River AM
Chrysta Barnhouse - Promoted to #49 - 146th & River Subway Manager
Jennifer Eachen - Promoted to #58 - Huntertown AM
Amber Groleau - Promoted to AM, Transferred to #71 - E 38th Street
Kasey Flannigan - Promoted to #79 - East Street AM

Farewell

Sadly, we said farewell to Jennifer Shook (Corporate, A/P & Pricebook) on Friday, March 13 and Jane Sunsdahl, #72 - Georgetown on Friday, March 20.  

Best wishes to Jennifer and Jane as they begin a new chapter in their life.

New Arrivals
Randall Brock, DM, is celebrating the arrival of his newest grandchild, Logan Allen, born 3/17/2015. 

Teresa Looper (Corporate) welcomed her first grandchild, Jax Micheal on March 31.

Kera Humphries (#26 - Park One) gave birth to her son, Xavier, on April 1.  He weighed in at 5lbs, 8oz and is 18 inches long.

 
Congratulations, Mom, Grandpa, & MiMi!

Bowen Foundation Scholarship

Kudos to Emmanuel Ricks, #78 - 116^th Street, on being selected as a Bowen Foundation Scholarship recipient.  The Bowen Foundation Scholarship offers African-American students $2,000 dollars a year for educational and living expenses.  Recipients also participate in monthly meetings, mentoring, academic support, retreats, service activities and private tutoring. The monthly meetings help to develop life and communication skills that can be used at work and with friends and family.  The Bowen scholars also have individual meetings to notify students of resources.  The Scholarship criteria includes a minimum GPA of 2.0 and students must have a minim of six credit hours completed before applying.   He was selected out of 71 scholarship applicants!

Students are also expected to meet service requirements by donating time. He participated in planting trees at IVY Tech as part of his service requirement.

Emmanuel was one of two recipients (out of 39 scholars) selected to attend a Florida meeting where he met with the Bowen Family and IVY Tech board members, including Jay and Nancy Ricker. 

Emmanuel shared, “My experience with the Bowen scholars has been life changing and they always make sure that I am on top of things. The Bowen scholars also have a 95% graduation rate within their program from IVY Tech. “  IVY Tech students interested in becoming a Bowen scholar may apply at http://www.ivytech.edu/indianapolis/bowen-scholars.html.

Congratulations, Emmanuel as a Bowen Foundation Scholarship recipient!

 

Sympathy

Sadly, long term (2004) Leo CSR, Ernie Magner, passed away on Friday, March 27, 2015 following a long illness. Ernie was well known and respected throughout the Leo community.  He will be missed by his co-workers  and the Leo customers/community.
 

Sympanthy is also extended to members of our Ricker’s family on recent losses:

Doug Hilder, Corporate, on the passing of his grandfather
Karen Bergstrom, Corporate, on the passing of her mother
Danielle Harra, Park One, on the passing of her grandmother
Amanda Vernon, #10 - Exit 10, on the passing of her father-in-law

Terry Matthews, Director of Maintenance and Facilities, on the passing of his father

Starla McCreary, #14 - Chesterfield, on the passing of her mother

Alexandria Hammock, #11 - Applewood, on the passing of her mother

Helen Underwood, #14 - Chesterfield, on the passing of her father

 

To my Ricker Family,

                First I want to thank you all for the contributions made to my mother’s funeral. I appreciate those who made donations and I’m so grateful to be working for a company that cares for their employees and supports them under unexpected circumstances. Also, Thank you to all those who checked on me and reassured me that if I needed anything that it would be taken care of. It’s the little things that matter and all of you have helped me realize that. Again, thank you for all that you have done and I will forever appreciate each and every one of you.

Alexandria Hammock

Store Manager

#11 - Applewood

 

Employment & Income Verification

Ricker’s has partnered with The Work Number to provide secure instant employment and income verification through automated services.  It can be used when applying for public assistance, applying for a loan, buying a car, leasing an apartment, or similar instances where proof of employment or income is needed.

The Work Number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and streamlines the transfer of information between Ricker’s and verifiers.  It allows you to apply for credit rapidly and easily - even on weekends or during evening hours without the need to provide paper documentation such as pay stubs to lenders or other service providers.  

 Applying for public assistance?  Simply inform your caseworker that your employment and income information is available on The Work Number, and direct them to www.theworknumber .com  or 800.660.3399 for more information or assistance. 

Employer code:  25752

User ID:  Your Social Security Number

The Work Number Client Service Center is available  Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. CT at 800.367.2884.  For TTY (hearing impaired) call 800.424.0253.