Notes of Praise: How JBLE Associates Cheer Each Other On

Tre’vonn Spruiell, a supervisory customer experience associate at the Fort Eustis Exchange, is well represented on the comment board. “Tre’vonne thank you for shining like the star you are,” posted a coworker.

As an HR trainee at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., Lynda Casey found a way for associates to stay connected, even if they’re working different shifts.

Casey created a bulletin board at the Fort Eustis Exchange on which associates could pin notes of thanks, encouragement and congratulations to coworkers.

Morale shot through the roof, store managers said.

Lynda Casey, HR manager at Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB, N.D., stands behind the “brag board” she created.

“We often forget the little things our co-workers do every day to make us smile, make our jobs easier or help in other small ways,” said Casey, who is now the HR manager at the Minot AFB Exchange and has created a note board there. “The small pieces of paper with heartfelt ‘thank-yous’ give associates tangible ways to feel recognized.”

Greater teamwork

Fort Eustis Exchange managers said greater teamwork sprang from the board. A board at the Langley Exchange also provides associates a chance to post notes.

The notes include: “Tre’vonne, thank you for shining like the star you are” and “Grant, you have been helpful to all your associates in a selfless way.”

Store Manager Tammy Toney said the board encourages a team effort.

“The board has helped associates remember that they aren’t in it alone,” she said, “and everybody needs encouragement.”

Do you have a unique way of complimenting associates? If so, we want to hear about it. Send your idea to exchangepost@aafes.com. You just might see it posted on the Exchange Post website.