125 Years of Family Serving Family – Connie Sullivan, warehouse worker, Fort Drum

One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 125 years of family serving family.

Warehouse worker Connie Sullivan has made a home for herself at the Fort Drum main Exchange—and she’s relentless in taking care of her store.

“Connie has saved this Exchange thousands of dollars, doing whatever it takes to recover costs from damaged items, even when the initial response is no,” Fort Drum Store Manager Jackie Bellis said.

Connie Sullivan has saved the Fort Drum Exchange thousands of dollars over the years, including in 2019 when she salvaged a pallet of ruined laptops that resulted in a refund of $12,000 to the Exchange.

Her tenacity saved the Exchange $12,000 in 2019 when associates discovered a pallet of laptops that were severely damaged. After Sullivan filed a claim, the shipper said it would refund only $80.

Then Sullivan went to work. She contacted the laptop vendor to see if anything could be done to recover more costs.

“It was kind of a shot in the dark, but she did that all on her own,” Bellis said. “We eventually were reimbursed for the total loss of computers, but it took a good four months for it to happen. It was all Connie and her tenacity.”

Sullivan is proud of the versatility that the Exchange has nurtured in her during a 32-year career.

“Every day is different,” Sullivan said. “Whether I am stocking shelves or trying to satisfy a shopper’s experience, the Exchange has taught me a little bit about everything.”

Sullivan began her Exchange career in 1989 at Langley Air Force Base, then “came home” to New York and Fort Drum in 1991, where she has been ever since.

After spending about six years stocking shelves at Fort Drum, Sullivan worked as an inventory control associate for about three years. But she had a desire to return to her stockroom roots, and that’s when she decided to join the damage and defective team.

“I enjoy working alongside my fellow associates,” Sullivan said. “Over the past 32 years I have met some remarkable people from many different backgrounds. It is amazing to work with such a diverse set of teammates from so many different cultures.”