Kelley Yenger, front, was surprised on Friday, Sept. 3, at the Grinnell Hy-Vee, where she works, with the Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service Award. She was surprised by friends, family and co-workers. The prestigious award is given to nine Hy-Vee employees each year out of the 55,000-plus people Hy-Vee employs. Yenger was joined by her family, from left, son, Jeremy; husband Terry, also a Hy-Vee employee; granddaughter Izabella Whitson; son-in-law Josh Whitson, also a Hy-Vee employee; and daughter Tara Whitson. Yenger has worked for Hy-Vee for 21 years and has been employed in the Grinnell meat department for the past three years.
• Grinnell Hy-Vee employee wins prestigious award from company
By ROXANNE DASS
rdass@dmreg.com
What was supposed to be just a normal day at work for Kelley Yenger of Newton turned out to be much more than that on Friday, Sept. 3.
Yenger, an employee of Grinnell’s Hy-Vee, was honored with the Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service Award Friday morning as she went about her usual business.
“I had no clue this was happening,” she said. “First I felt very honored, but then it’s such a surprise to have this happen!”
Yenger, a meat department clerk, was restocking cheese in the last aisle of the Hy-Vee store when her husband, Terry, also a Hy-Vee employee, said she was needed in the deli.
“Terry said Scott (Gilbert) needed some help setting up the banquet, so I went over to help out because that’s what I usually do,” she said.
When Yenger came toward the deli, she noticed a lot of people standing around and wondered what could possibly be going on.
“Then I saw my daughter standing there and got suspicious,” said Yenger.
When she stepped into the deli, she saw friends, co-workers and family waiting for her.
“I was totally blown away by it all,” she said. “I had no idea what was going on.”
That’s when she was presented with the prestigious award.
Yenger has been an employee of Hy-Vee for the past 21 years and has worked in the Grinnell meat department for the past three years. Yenger was nominated for the prestigious award because of her excellent customer service and continual smile while doing her job.
Laura Fulton, assistant vice president of operations – East Central Division, said Yenger fit the bill for the award, which goes to only nine people each year out of Hy-Vee’s 55,000-plus employees.
“We look for employees who go above and beyond customer service, promote Hy-Vee outside of the store and do outstanding work at their job,” she said. “Every time I see Kelley, she exemplifies what we’re looking for.”
Kelley’s co-workers and employees all agreed. Store director Scott Gilbert read some of the their comments, which all centered around her always-there smile and her exceptional customer service.
Fulton has been a witness to that customer service herself.
“Any time I talk to Kelley and a customer comes up, she’ll leave me and go help the customer right away, she said. “Before a customer even asks where something is, Kelley will know immediately that they are looking for something and she will go ask what they need help finding.”
During a Hy-Vee catered brunch in the deli, Yenger was presented with flowers, a letter from Hy-Vee CEO Dick Jurgens, a special name tag and an inventation to an awards ceremony in October.
During the ceremony, all Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service Award recipients will receive a crystal statue, a ring and special recognition for their service.
Yenger’s face will also be known across the Midwest as her photo will be taken and be put on a Hy-Vee semi trailer that will travel across the areas Hy-Vee serves.
But this isn’t Yenger’s first time to be on the side of a Hy-Vee truck.
“She’s already had her picture on a truck, so she just might be the first person in Hy-Vee history to have their picture on two trucks,” said Fulton. “It takes a special kind of person to go on the trucks.”
The truck unveiling won’t be ready for about three months, but once it is ready, Fulton said it will be unveiled in Grinnell for Yenger and the community to see.
“I just want to thank Hy-Vee so much and especially my store director Scott Gilbert for this honor,” she said.
LONG TIME EMPLOYEE
Yenger has worked for Hy-Vee for over two decades. Her husband Terry has worked for Hy-Vee for 33 years.
“I started working for the company through him,” she said.
She started her career in Dubuque, then moved to Ames, Newton and finally Grinnell three years ago.
She and Terry have two children, Jeremy, married to Reanna, and Tara, married to Josh Whitson. They have one granddaughter, Izabella.
“It’s been wonderful working for this great company,” said Yenger.
The Hy-Vee Legendary Customer Service Award if one of the highest awards Hy-Vee presents to its employees. Hy-Vee began presenting the award to employees four years ago.
“Hy-Vee is based on friendliness and customer service,” said Fulton. “We realized we didn’t have a way to recognize our employees who showed that spirit everyday. That’s how we came up with this award.”
Every year, each Hy-Vee store can nominate an employee for their customer service and customers can also nominate employees they think are deserving of it.
Once a person is nominated, they are judged based on several criteria including customer service and friendliness.
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