Business View Civil and Municipal | April 2021

20 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL ARIL 2021 POWER QUEST ION Curt Viehmeyer, GM / Co-owner of Sears Trostel Lumber & Millwork, Fort Collins, Colorado: “One of the things we’ve found is that we have to stay in close contact and involved with our customer and their business, so we can provide them with products that are best suited to what they’re doing and help make them successful. We’ve also changed to a team approach rather than a single salesperson – we’ve learned that customers want multiple point of contacts within our company, so they can get answers and responses and service more quickly than a single conduit for communication. So we’ve really worked hard as a team to give them that, without duplicating efforts. And I believe that’s key for moving forward.” Geoffrey Fieger, Attorney and Owner of Quintessence Hotel, Anguilla: “The most impactful thing that’s happened in the last year is our knowledge of human frailty in the face of pandemics, which can kill millions of people worldwide. We are indeed a frail species, a tender vessel… and we should be respectful more of the environment. This pandemic has actually impacted us in Anguilla more than Hurricane Irma because it has really hindered the travel experience, but it’s still the best and safest island nation. You have a test before you come and again when you arrive, and then we have what’s called the bubble in Anguilla and you’re protected within your hotel or at other bubble hotels. It’s really a very nice, safe system they’ve set up. Now we just have to encourage everyone to get the vaccine. We have it here now.” Matt Stevenson, CEO of HSM Group, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand: “In Auckland, especially, there’s been a real drive for people to work at home but talking to a lot of staff, and some new staff that we’ve brought on board, they don’t like it. They like their communication and the break time together to catch up. There is a small percentage that working from home suits them, but I think a lot of people don’t enjoy it. It’s the ‘people contact’ they miss – working solo and Zoom – it’s never the same as face to face. Speaking from a New Zealander perspective, businesses here – we just don’t have certainty after last year and it would be nice to have that. But there are interesting times ahead, and I think flexibility and resiliency are the two key things.”