Awards, Recognition, and Networking: 2018 National Conference

DALLAS, TEXAS – This year some of the team members from Summit Consulting had the opportunity to travel and represent the company at the annual national conference. For two of the team members it was their first time traveling to the conference. They had the opportunity to learn from the best in the business and to see where they could be in years to come. The theme of the conference this year was to “Be So Good” so of course we asked CEO/ President, Jillian Seaton, why she thought “be so good” was the theme and we also asked the rest of the team for some of their highlights from the national conference.

Jillian told us she thought the theme was chosen this year based on the fact we represent some of the largest companies and in order to keep expanding and reaching new heights we have to “Be So Good” we can’t be ignored. This comes down to finding a way to win with integrity while getting results when nobody else can.

Our Human Resources Manager and Recruiter, Brittnee King, has only been with the company for a little over 3 months and said that some of the highlights for her first conference was being able to see the growth potential in all positions in the company, as well as, the way that she can positively impact those results. The breakout sessions Brittnee attended during the conference allowed her to get some coaching from some of the best in the business. She can’t wait to use some of this knowledge to help propel her career here at Summit Consulting. Brittnee is excited for the new mentors she was able to meet that will help her reach the goals she has set for the future.

Some of the Team Leads that were invited to the conference had some great feedback for us as well. Paul Tegen, first time attendee, said the conference gave him a more definitive vision for where he is headed and how to get there. His favorite quote from the conference was “When you set goals large enough, you gain the clarity of making the right decisions to help you get there.”

Chad King, the current Assistant Director, left us with the quote “Shed the Shame, learn from the past, and let your actions and attitude determine your future” when we asked about what he took away from the conference this year.

Overall this conference has set the tone for the next year in the office. We are excited to see who from Summit Consulting will be getting up on stage next year to collect some awards and bonus money. The only way to do that is to “Be So Good!”

 

 

Get to Know Cree Menefee

Where did you go to school?

What motivates you?

Being a part of something greater than myself. I see the end picture clear as day and know that every little decision along the way is just one minor piece of that picture!

 

Who would you most like to meet and why?

Eleanor Roosevelt because she is the embodiment of a strong woman! She was ambitious and courageous; accomplishing a tremendous effort toward civil rights for all people groups, as well as our education systems.

 

Name one short term goal?

I wouldn’t consider it a short term goal, but I am definitely going to own a food truck in the future!

 

How would you describe yourself?

Deliberate, relational, focused, sarcastic, goofy.

 

Favorite TV Show of all time?

If you could eat only 3 foods for the rest of your life, what would they be?

Tacos, Enchiladas, Carrots

 

What celebrity would play you in a movie of your life?

Mary Lynn Rajskub

 

Estimate how many windows are in New York.

200 Million

 

If you could be any animal in the world, what animal would you be and why?

A penguin…at the zoo. They’re so playful and coordinated! On a hot day, they just take a dip!

 

If you could have one super power what would it be.

What are some of the most beautiful places you’ve been?

The Island Krk in Croatia

Graz, Austria,

Szkesfehervar, Hungary

Chadron, Nebraska

Cattaraugus County, NY

 

Pineapples on pizza?

Ew, no! Never!

 

What would you name your boat if you had one?

Rum Runner

Here’s Why Summit Consulting Loves the Fall (Get Excited!)

Fall is here, and every single one of us at Summit Consulting (Glen Burnie, MD) is pumped! We borrowed a few members of the Summit Consulting team to find out what they’re most excited about with the new season upon us. After you read their answers, if you weren’t already, you’re going to be just as excited as we are. Enjoy! …

I enjoy going to orchards, concerts, sporting events and festivals. Fall is always a good time for wine tastings and tourism. I enjoy being able to have fires and wear warm clothing and accessories. –David M.

I love being outside. Typically during fall I like taking lots of pictures (the leaves changing and such) and having bonfires. I also love the holidays and take all of them pretty seriously. -Ashley V.

I absolutely love the fall season! It means football is back and I love watching college and pro football. I’m a die hard fan of the Tennessee Volunteers and the Miami Dolphins! It’s also my favorite time of year to enjoy bonfires and some good spiced wine! -Jill S.

During the fall I love to watch football and do some Halloween/Thanksgiving type of event like pumpkin carving or cooking/eating with large groups of friends/family. -Chad K.

I love watching my beloved Redskins, watching the leaves change colors and drinking hot cider. -Ashley M.

Did we call it? Are you just as excited as the Summit Consulting squad for autumn?

Office Relationships 101

At Summit Consulting (Glen Burnie, MD) our coworkers are our like a second family! We stress the importance of camaraderie here because we believe that the fastest (and most enjoyable) way to achieve our goals is to do so together.

Being part of the Summit Consulting team means that not a day goes by without being challenged. We’re always in the friendly competitive spirit, and we push each other to do our best every day. Whether it’s a pep talk from a coworker, the threat of a pie in the face (yes we really do that to each other sometimes, and it’s amazing!), or just a high five for a job well done, we are on a mission to help each other get to the next level.

So, what’s our best tip for creating the same dynamic in your own office? It’s spending time together before and after work. Yes, you can build a relationship within normal working hours, but the strongest bonds are built over breakfast or a beer. Check out our Instagram to see how the Summit Consulting team bonds!

Meet Vitality, Our Leader of the Week

Vitality Nikolaenko is Summit Consulting‘s Leader of the Week! Vitaliy is a student at Loyola University Maryland and is majoring in history in philosophy. He started working at Summit Consulting just three weeks ago in pursuit of a career that would allow him to gain sales experience. He has reportedly had a blast with the team ever since!

What makes Vitaliy, Vitaliy? He sets himself apart with enthusiastic energy, maintains a never ending positive attitude, and makes sure he is developing himself on a daily basis. Vitaliy stresses that learning is a must on a daily basis. He makes sure he gets better every time he steps in the office. Vitaliy also admires the team and family environment at Summit Consulting. “It gets competitive and intense, but at the end of the day, you get to work with people you respect and care for, and who expect the absolute best from you that day.”

Vitaliy demonstrates leadership by actively learning new things, taking plenty of notes, and applying the advice he receives from his leaders. “Leadership is taking in information, processing it, categorizing it, applying it on your own, picking out what works for you and what doesn’t, and then teaching the same principles to other people so they can start developing as well.”

Vitaliy is hardworking, has a great attitude, an exemplary work ethic, and is a prime example of a true leader. Congratulations Vitaliy on Leader of the Week!

For more from Summit Consulting (Glen Burnie) visit us on LinkedIn!

These 6 Quotes Will Change Your Life

At Summit Consulting, we encourage our employees to always maintain a student mentality because we strongly believe in continuous self-improvement! Even the strongest leaders should never stop learning. In the spirit of personal and professional development, we gathered 6 quotes from a couple of people who are or were no strangers to success, check them out!

Bill Gates

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.”

Estée Lauder

“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.”

Mark Cuban

“It’s not about money or connections—it’s the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone…And if it fails, you learn from what happened and do a better job next time.”

Steve Jobs

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful … that’s what matters to me.”

Aristotle

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

Oprah Winfrey

“The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but on significance—and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.”

Now get out there and seize the day!

For more inspirational content from Summit Consulting, follow us on Facebook!

 

Learning about Our Employees’ Favorite Summer Activities

We asked a few of the Summit Consulting employees questions regarding their summer activities. Summit Consulting knows that there is more to summer than just work so we were curious as to what they had to say.

Q: In 2-4 sentences, tell us about your favorite ways to enjoy the warm summer weather! Do you have any favorite activities? Are there certain trips you like to take? 

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Chad:

Play outdoor activities like cornhole. Also drinking nice cold beverages. Spending quality time with family as well.

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David:

I like to take time in the summer to be outdoors. Whether it be traveling to see the many sites of Maryland or simply going out on the water, there’s no shortage of things to do where I live. Summer is also the perfect time to go out and be social with your friends. Personally, I always enjoy the local live music scene.

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Jillian:

One of my favorite activities is to go stand-up paddle boarding! Doesn’t matter if it’s the lake, ocean, or bay, it’s always fun to go out on the water. Other than that, playing any type of backyard game or sport. Of course I cant forget having BBQ’s!

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Cree:

I love kayaking and tubing; just being in and on the water in general! Kayaking is always great for exploring and the adventure of being on the water! At the end of every summer, I go tubing with a big group of friends and we spend the entire day floating down the river and stopping on large rocks to eat and swim. It’s always the highlight of summertime for me!

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Tia:

I like to enjoy a snowball in the shade. (Rita’s will do also) If I am home I like to wait until the sun has gone down before I come out. While the sun is out, I like to surf the web for anything that comes across my mind. (Sought of how I found this internship) I would love to take a cruise and visit family down south this summer.

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Ashley:

My favorite warm weather activities are exploring new places to take photographs and hike! I really enjoy sitting outside and reading in historic downtown Ellicott City while drinking an iced coffee from the Bean Hollow (local coffee shop). I specifically look forward to warm summer nights with a light breeze where I can eat dinner outside comfortably!

 

Get to Know Summit Consulting’s President and Our Valued Employees

It’s another busy work week over here at Summit Consulting, so we thought we’d get to know a few of our wonderful colleagues and find out a bit about the college experience that got them to where they are today.

First, we’d like to introduce Summit Consulting’s President,

Jillian Shutt.

Q: What University did you attend?

A: Rider University

Q: Tell us about your favorite college activity and why you enjoyed it so much.

A:  A favorite memory was being part of the cross country and track and field team. Both the men and women won our conference championship my senior year. It was a great way to end my time at Rider.

Next, we have David Lee Michaels, another valued Summit Consulting employee –

Q: What University did you attend?

A: Eastern Michigan University

Q: What was a club or organization that had a meaningful impact on your college experience?

A: I got involved in student government. I learned the benefits of networking and the fulfillment of community involvement. It was a great opportunity for me to gain social skills and learn the value of a perspective that has proved helpful both on and off the clock.

And now we’ll hear from another valued Summit Consulting Employee, Chad King.

Q: What University did you attend?

A: North Carolina A&T State University.

Q: What were some interesting events that took place on your college campus?

A: Homecoming on our campus is very exciting and well known. It is a week long event that is filled with fun festivities.

We are so glad to have all of these invaluable individuals involved in Summit Consulting. It is wonderful to see how each of their different college experiences translated into the exemplary team members they are today at Summit Consulting.

Meet Team Leader, Lee Michaels!

Hard work pays off and does not go unnoticed here at Summit Consulting. We can spot driven and determined employees by their productivity in the workplace as well as their hunger to continually learn more. As an American Olympic sprinter once said,

Life is often compared to a marathon… it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best. – Michael Johnson

A new staff member has already hit the ground running! In the short time working with us thus far, Lee Michaels has already been promoted to a training position. His performance shows that he keeps in mind our company’s “8 Great Work Habits,” our keys to achieving success.

Since he is a fairly new staff member, he took the time to answer some questions to tell us a little about himself! A person with a kind heart, he expressed that if he won $10 million dollars he would buy his mom a Corvette and his dad a Jaguar! Michaels would like to invest in real estate in San Francisco, CA, Annapolis, MD, and Columbus, OH.  When asked what song he would perform on The Voice he answered Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash.

Keep up with Summit Consulting by following us on Twitter!

Meet Ashley from Human Resources!

When you walk into Summit Consulting, the first thing you see is a welcoming smile from our wonderful Human Resources employee, Ashley!  Her energy brings an inviting aura to the main lobby and she is quick to organize meetings with our staff.  Ashley defines herself as a ‘gatherer’ because in her recruiting capacity, scouting out talent is one of her main duties.  She expressed, “To me ‘gatherer’ would imply that I am the one who makes things work!”  Without Ashley, Summit Consulting wouldn’t run nearly as smoothly as it does.

Ashley has a kind-hearted and punctilious personality in the workplace. She loves to take photos outside of the office: “I love how you can capture a moment that you can visually relive for the rest of your life!”  Ashley started this hobby with her uncle when she was in her early teen years.  Trips they had shared grew closer to her heart when he developed cancer.  As a remembrance of the memories with him, she got a camera tattoo that says, “Together in Spirit,” so whenever she is out taking pictures she feels he is close by.

The end vision is always in mind for Ashley.  She comes to work motivated to accomplish her goals, which are centered around needs rather than wants. This attractive quality of Ashley is revealed when asked what she would do with $10 million dollars, she said:

“If I won $10 Million Dollars… I would buy a home that I was very content with and would have it completely paid off with money set aside to decorate, pay utilities etc. for the next 10 years or so. I would then buy my dream car – a Honda Fit! . I would never stop working – I love my job. I would live modestly and enjoy the time I have on earth by donating anonymously to different causes and friends who were struggling. Money doesn’t matter in my mind – people and the impact you have on those people do.” – Ashley

Now you can see why all of us at Summit Consulting (Glen Burnie) are so grateful to work with her!