SHINING STAR
It’s a very frustrating situation.” While most employees see Molly Maid as just a job -- Pelton wants to change that belief. “The reality is that many see working for Molly Maid as a stepping stone toward another job or school. It’s my endeavor to set up this workplace so as many employees as possible will see real career potential with Molly Maid,” Pelton said. Lessons Learned “Wendy and I lived in the Netherlands for nearly two years when our oldest son Carl was a baby. At that time, I worked for Tredegar Corporation, a plastics manufacturing company based in Richmond, Va. Working as a production manager, managing people on the production floor was an experience that translated well to Molly Maid,” he said. “Relating to people, being accessible as a manager and learning the importance of culture has served me well.” While Pelton’s background and preparation have helped him lead, he still reflects on things he would have done sooner if he knew then, what he knows now. “It took me a while to embrace the idea that if a new person isn’t working out – it’s better to just tell them and move on. As owners, we get caught up with just needing people, and if it’s not the right person – you’re hurting your business more than
“THE REALITY IS THAT MANY SEE WORKING FOR MOLLY MAID AS A STEPPING STONE TOWARD ANOTHER JOB OR SCHOOL. IT’S MY ENDEAVOR TO SET UP THIS WORKPLACE SO AS MANY EMPLOYEES AS POSSIBLE WILL SEE REAL CAREER POTENTIAL WITH MOLLY MAID.”
SHINING STAR FROM PAGE 41 “It’s great to see people I hired nearly 10 years ago still be here in the business,” Pelton said. “I have a great office staff – I trust them as they take care of this business like it’s their own!” People reaching their 20th anniversary with Molly Maid of Virginia Beach are in for a treat as Pelton rolls out the red carpet treatment for the occasion. “The most fulfilling times I’ve had at Molly Maid have been helping celebrate the big anniversaries. To recognize 20 years, we give the person the day off paid, rent a limo to pick them up at the office and take them off to the spa for a day of treatments,” he said. “Most of my employees haven’t had that type of luxury before. Seeing them come back pampered and telling us about their experience is just awesome.” While Pelton has impressive employee retention rates, he never loses his focus on keeping his team in place. “I still talk to my folks about hiring and keeping employees and they assure me it’s always been a challenge,” he said. “We’re on pace to finish the year 5 percent over last year. I’d like to see us closer to 7 percent growth, however, we have had challenges with being short a few people this year – just like most businesses out there. At times, we’ve had a three-week waiting period to add a customer to the schedule.
you’re helping by keeping them. When you are desperate for people it’s really tempting to be short-sighted. It took me a while to get that squared away in my head,” Pelton said. He said he also wished he would have been more proactive at reaching out to others in the Molly Maid system sooner. That is a lesson he certainly learned, and has served on the Franchise Advisory Council for five years and as Co-chair for two years. Serving Others Pelton said the importance of the owners and the Home Office having a good relationship can’t be emphasized enough,
Jean Culler celebrated her 20th anniversary with Molly Maid of Virginia Beach in 2009 with a limo ride to a spa.
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