To Our Customers, Partners and Communities…
Christopher Reeve, best known for his big screen role as Superman, once defined a hero as “… an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
By this definition, we each have the “super power” it takes to be a hero, which I think has become quite evident in recent months.
As trying as 2020 has been, the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity to recognize how resilient and remarkable we are as individuals and communities as well as a species. It has also revealed just how many heroes there really are in this world, including but not limited to:
- The front-line workers who have so selflessly showed up at our local businesses and homes to deliver the goods and services that help us maintain some sense of normalcy in uncertain times.
- The first responders and healthcare workers who have answered our calls for help, stayed by our sides and done everything they can to save our lives, despite the risks to their own.
- The parents, teachers and guardians who have spent countless hours creatively educating, entertaining and nurturing children.
- The families and friends who have demonstrated their love and support for us in simple, yet substantial, ways.
- The neighbors who have stepped up to tend to each other’s lawns, run errands for those at high risk, make meals for those who are sick and just share a comforting wave or smile from a window to remind us we’re not alone.
- The volunteers who have supported organizations such as the Red Cross and Direct Relief to help sustain their mission of providing life-saving food, medicines and supplies to people all around the world.
- The strangers who have kept their distance and worn their masks to help keep us safe, hung signs of goodwill to keep our spirits high and expressed simple kindness in millions of different ways.
- The business partners and suppliers who have gone above and beyond to ensure we have the tools we (as companies) need to support our customers, so that they can continue to support their customers.
Though we may be acutely aware of the tremendous impact that even the smallest acts of generosity have on our lives, members from across Zebra Nation wanted to reiterate their immense gratitude for each of them. Watch this:
Once again, thank you to our heroes: the customers, partners, friends, family and community members who have blessed and sustained Zebras with your goodwill! It is because of you that we remain fiercely united in our will to survive and our mission to help others thrive.
This virus may have forced members of Zebra Nation to increase our physical distance a bit more than usual, but it has actually brought us closer together in many ways, inspiring us to embrace “challenges” as “opportunities” to do better and be better. And though the path forward may look a little different than it did before the COVID-19 outbreak, we will continue to work day and night – from home and the front lines – to ensure our customers, partners and communities have the tools they need to carry on.
###
Editor’s Note:
Find out how Zebras have been leveraging their physical, emotional and intellectual strengths to develop new solutions that can make your job a little easier and safer during the COVID-19 crisis. Catch up on recent blog posts.
Jeff Schmitz
Jeff Schmitz is the Chief Human Resources and Marketing Officer at Zebra Technologies. He is responsible for driving preference and demand for Zebra’s brand as a partner of choice among customers, and as an employer of choice among existing and prospective talent. Jeff oversees both the traditional marketing and HR functions, as well as the company’s partner program, business market intelligence, philanthropy and volunteerism, and Inclusion & Diversity.
An engineer turned marketer, Jeff’s unique background in technology has helped him better optimize Zebra’s marketing strategy and sharpen the company’s corporate narrative, while his innate ability to build teams is advancing Zebra’s talent strategy to recruit and retain employees. His passion for brand storytelling has allowed Zebra to better amplify the voice of its customers, partners and employees.
As a leader, Jeff fosters team building and collaboration, and encourages fun in the workplace to ultimately help Zebras capture their performance edge. He is committed to creating an environment where every employee can bring their authentic self to the workplace.
Jeff has served in executive leadership positions for more than 25 years, including at Spirent Communications, Visual Networks and Tellabs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering / computer science from Marquette University and a master’s degree in computer science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Named to Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Executives in Marketing, Jeff serves on the Forbes Communications Council and the Internet of Things Community, and is a regular contributor to trade publications, including DC Velocity. He regularly speaks about the importance of companies embracing digital technology to meet customer demands, and elevating employee experiences to remain competitive.
