Dubuque, IA – HODGE has announced Tom Stoffel, Warehouse Technician supporting their warehouse operation in Peosta, Iowa has been selected as the 2022 recipient of the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award. The award is given to one individual annually who exemplifies outstanding service and loyalty to HODGE, its customers, and the community. Recipients of the Ding Bell Award are nominated by their coworkers and are picked by a selection committee made up of HODGE employees.
ABOUT TOM STOFFEL
Tom Stoffel joined HODGE in 2011 after his previous employer shut its doors. In fact, the award's namesake Stephen "Ding" Bell was the one who encouraged Tom to apply for a job at HODGE. Tom has been supporting the company's warehouse operations ever since.
As stated by Tom's nominator, "Tom has had a quiet, yet enormous influence on our team by reinvigorating the idea that positive actions and behaviors are contagious. Tom’s integrity, hard work, dependability, commitment, and optimism have impacted all of us on a personal level."
Here is what Tom's nominator had to say about his impact at HODGE:
"Tom checks every box and is the embodiment of what the award stands for. Tom has had a quiet, yet enormous influence on our team by reinvigorating the idea that positive actions and behaviors are contagious. Tom’s integrity, hard work, dependability, commitment, and optimism have impacted all of us on a personal level.
Tom recognizes when someone is feeling off and offers his support until they’re back on their feet. He is optimistic, even during hard times, and has a way of grounding his peers when they’re feeling flustered. Tom uses humor to lighten the mood and has a way of changing people’s perspective while also building their confidence. His kindness is contagious.
Tom is the type of person who does the right thing when no one is watching. He is the person who stops to rearrange a stack of unsafe pallets to prevent injury. The person who finds something out of place and returns it to the correct location, so it doesn’t miss the scheduled shipment. Tom regularly jumps in to swap out an empty propane tank, so his coworker doesn’t have to carry it inside during inclement weather. He will quietly clean up the mess others leave behind so coworkers can enjoy their lunch at a clean table. Tom takes initiative to make things right without having to be asked and has an unwavering commitment to our operation. He strives for continuous improvement in every area and never seeks a pat on the back.
In addition to the influence Tom has had on his teammates, he’s also focused on helping others within the community. Tom is a member of the Noon Optimists Club, a worldwide volunteer organization that supports the development of youth and supports the belief that the giving of oneself in service to others will advance the well-being of humankind, community life and the world.
Tom motivates other warehouse technicians and shares his knowledge in a way that fosters personal growth and continual improvement. Tom inspires everyone to try a little harder, put forth a little extra effort, and have a some fun while completing the task at hand."
Congratulations, Tom!
ABOUT THE DING BELL SERVICE & LOYALTY AWARD
The Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award was established in 2016 to honor Ding and his 46 years of service and loyalty to our company. The award is granted annually to a Hodge employee who exemplifies outstanding service and loyalty to Hodge and to the community in which they live. To be a recipient of this award, an employee must not only demonstrate longevity and tenure within the organization, but a sincere commitment to their co-workers and Hodge customers alike. Hodge's employees are the lifeblood of their organization and the award honors Ding’s legacy by recognizing an employee once a year who demonstrates these important qualities:
To learn more about the Ding Bell Service & Loyalty Award and past recipients, visit hodgecompany.com/ding-bell
