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A Day in the Life: Lori Crowley, Estimating and Contract Fulfillment Manager
As Clopay Corporation's Estimating and Contract Fulfillment Manager, Lori Crowley is focused on ensuring the collective success of her team.
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No two days are the same for Lori Crowley. As the estimating and contract fulfillment manager for Clopay Corporation, she juggles a large to-do list that involves everything from helping dealers with bids to supporting associates with projects.
"I'm a point person for getting things done for our dealers," Lori shared. "Whether it's digging into the details of a component or pushing for faster ship dates. I also handle requests through our specials department. When it comes to our teams, I focus on driving training initiatives in the departments and spotting opportunities for growth."
Balancing the daily hustle and supporting her team.
Lori kicks off her day by diving into her emails and tackling hot action items. She keeps an eye out for engineering requests that need to be expedited. From there, she's on the phone and answering more emails, while monitoring her team’s productivity. Lori is always looking for ways to make things better and more efficient, and she tries to ensure that her teams have everything they need to do their best.
“Even when things get hectic, I always find time to listen to associates' concerns, complaints, and challenges,” said Lori. “I'm dedicated to boosting my colleagues' confidence. We can often be tough on ourselves, but a little encouragement goes a long way.”
Lori acknowledged the occasional challenges that come with a busy schedule, but emphasized her commitment to providing the support and encouragement her colleagues need to perform their best. Collaboration is a cornerstone of her approach, and she values the power of teamwork in finding effective solutions.
“We can't do it alone,” she explained. “If I run into a snag, talking it over with someone helps figure out a solution together. Sometimes, just explaining the situation to someone helps to provide clarity."
Improving the dealer experience.
With a remote workforce, Lori emphasized the importance of the Microsoft Teams platform, which has been pivotal in enabling her teams to get answers quickly, helping to maintain their momentum in tackling tasks.Lori's teams monitors requests from dealers for items that may not be standard options from both the estimating and technical bid perspectives. When new requests emerge, particularly for a competitor's model, the team analyzes the features offered and communicates these observations to the product development department.
In addition to managing requests, Lori's teams actively suggests product enhancements to improve the dealer experience. These valuable insights, such as proposing a motor cover for operator protection or crating for door protection during transit, contribute to the delivery of high-quality products to the field.
What makes Clopay Corporation unique.
Reflecting on Clopay Corporation as a whole, Lori emphasizes “It’s not our products or processes that make us special, it is the people. Across the organization we have amassed an incredible group of individuals. They are willing to work as one, with a combined understanding that we achieve more together than alone.”
