Faison Gowdy, Mary Claire Parrish and Jon Wright have a few things in common.
All three are on the C Spire team and known to be dedicated, high-achievers in their areas of expertise — Faison in IT, Mary Claire in HR and Jon in PR and marketing. All three are native Mississippians, having earned their degrees in the state, as well.And, as the Covid-19 pandemic hit in March, all three were given chances to grow or advance their careers within C Spire. “I didn’t expect this opportunity right now,” said Jon. “I’m very thankful.”
Jon had spent the last year in Public Relations for C Spire, planning events and building relationships with the community. “As you can imagine, the pandemic put an end to those events real quick,” he said. “But the marketing team needed help with their internal communications, which is more important than ever with so much of our team working from home. I was excited to make the move.”
In June, Jon was promoted to Internal Branding and Communications Strategist.
“It’s a completely different role, but I love it,” he said. “I’m learning so much from VP of Marketing Jim Richmond. We’re doing a lot of brainstorming and working with managers and employees to continue our strong internal culture.”
Mary Claire, an HR Sr. Manager, shifted her focus from team member engagement and retention to helping C Spire thrive during the pandemic. “We have more than 1,800 employees across the Southeast,” said Mary Claire. “Our wireless, home internet and business IT services are essential to the well-being of the community. So, during the pandemic, we are having to consider how our team’s roles need to change to ensure we are meeting our customers’ evolving needs. It has been an exciting challenge to help our business become even more efficient and productive.”
In March and April, Mary Claire worked closely with C Spire’s leadership team to place more than 100 team members in temporary assignments. Many of those team members have transitioned back to their original roles, but several have made shifts into new positions.
Faison was one of those people. Up until a few of months ago, Faison was working in C Spire’s Wireless division. “I repaired and refurbished iOS devices. One minute I might be repairing a speaker, the next replacing a screen.”
By April, the demand for repairs had dramatically decreased, leaving him wondering what was next. That’s when C Spire offered him the opportunity to train as a technician in the Network Operation Control Center, the site where the C Spire’s wireless and fiber networks are managed.
As a new technician, Faison is working with a group of highly experienced teammates who are helping him learn the ins and outs of the job. “Reginald Haslett is a great teacher, and so is the rest of the team. I’m really grateful that I get to learn from their years of experience.”
Faison is now helping troubleshoot network issues and working closely with the engineers in the field. “I can’t thank C Spire enough for this opportunity to advance my career,” he said. “It’s just so uncommon right now. This is a great company.”
C SPIRE CAREERS
Are you passionate about serving customers? Eager to learn, innovate, and grow? If you’re ready to make your mark on the world of technology, C Spire is the place for you. Learn about career opportunities here.
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