A phrase has been circulating in the COL office of late: “task over title”. In our case, it means that it doesn’t matter what the name tag says your job is – if you’re talented, use it. However, the phrase comes true so often in our lives. Those antlers mounted by the entrance to the lodge weren’t made to be coat hangers – but they sure do a good job of it! Even when we create an outdoor lighting system there are often times we implement fixtures or tools in new and creative ways that get the job done better. To highlight how that theme has helped our business reach the top of the WNC landscape lighting industry, we have to look no further than two of our newer team members.

Talent at Home Base

Bristol, our “Office Manager”, came onto the team near the end of last year and since then has been a monumental contributor to the team – and a prime example of “task over title”. Her job description may droll on about accounting and invoice processing, but in truth her tasks far exceed those. She’s the glue that holds the team together and the support structure that holds us up – allowing every one of our specialists to focus completely on their talents and responsibilities.

Bristol is great at seeing the big picture and the long goal – and measures every step we take to know how close we are to getting there. She see’s gaps in plans and procedures and sews them closed before the great Airship COL can leak. She allows our designer to step away from the paperwork and put his full focus into creating the most beautiful picture. She makes sure the communication between field and office is clear and thorough to make sure every client gets the highest standard of service available.

Talent in the Field

Sometimes talent comes from hard work and experience – sometimes it comes through passion and commitment. Our newest hire, Nathan, truly shows this out in the field. Though initially hired on for the title of “Junior Technician”, he quickly made our management realize that “Junior” was a disingenuous descriptor for an employee so skilled, passionate, and focused. He soared through training and took to our techniques and standards like an otter to the sea. He constant looks for ways to produce the highest quality work and has a great idea for details and opportunities. Educated and curious, Nathan doesn’t stop at the “what” and the “how” but dives into understanding the “why” we make our choices. That way if any adaptations to the design must be made to accommodate elements of the landscape or structure, they will be done in a way that preserves the vision of the client.

When you hire a team made of individuals who all try to reach beyond their responsibilities to support each other and our clients needs, you get an outcome that is organized, well communicated, thoughtfully designed, and carefully implemented. Knowing everyone has the same standards and goals allows each member of the team to put their heads down and focus on what they excel at. When we create an outdoor lighting design for our clients, we don’t just want them to take our word for it that we are the premier  landscape lighting company in western North Carolina. We want to be open and transparent about how we do business, how we think about the work, and how we get it done, that way our clients can see for themselves what sets us apart: care, commitment, experience, and – yes – a healthy dose of talent.