LD Staff Writer
We want you to know more about our wonderful people (the lifeblood of our business), so we’re continuing an Employee Spotlight series to share a more personal side of LongerDays!
We asked a series of questions and decided to share the best answers for all the world to see.
Today’s Employee Spotlight is Andrew Zahrt!
1. What is your name?
My name is Andrew Zahrt, but often times I go just by Zahrt… Or even “Z.”
2. What is your job title?
Operations Manager
3. How long have you worked for LongerDays?
I’ve worked at LongerDays since January 2012, so six and a half years.
4. Hometown? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised right here in Muskegon Michigan.
5. Inhabitants at your residence (this includes pets, oh and any family members or roommates!)
My residence inhabitants include my fiancée Colleen and our cats: Nox (she’s all black, and is the princess), Alby (he’s all white, and is the baby), and Darwin (he’s the three-legged grey-and-white cat that annoys the other two).
6. What is one piece of advice you have for someone who is just starting at LongerDays?
Go the extra mile. I know that’s a cliché, but it’s what really sets us apart from other companies in this industry. Going the extra mile will save everyone time in the long run, as it may have been the next step anyway. If you can make it a habit to exceed expectations whenever possible, everyone benefits.
7. Before working at LongerDays, what was the most unusual or interesting job you’ve ever had?
I worked at an after-hours call center for about 5 years. This helped me strengthen my customer service skills. When interacting with customers, you have three different tools: your face, your body, and your voice. When you take away the ability to use your face and body, it really makes you rely on your voice. This translates to LongerDays and our virtual workspace really well, especially when speaking with clients or their customers.
8. What do you think sets LongerDays apart from the competition?
We are in our own lane. We’re not really a “Virtual Assistant” company anymore. We’re not a marketing firm. We’re not a design house… But we can take on a lot of the work such companies would – all for one price and in one place. Additionally, we’re all in the same office, which is like hiring a team of virtual employees with more skill and experience than just one employee.
9. How would you describe LongerDays in 3 words?
With a bit of context… If a client questions if we can do a task, “We Got This.”
10. If LongerDays had a theme song, what would it sound like?
It would probably be something played by LongerBand, the semi-fictional band made up of talented musical employees… But until we’re able to make that up, I’d say it’s probably “Animal Spirits” by Vulfpeck.
11. What is your go-to podcast?
Probably “My Brother, My Brother, and Me.” We just saw a live show of theirs in Detroit on May 4th.
12. What do you do when you’re not at work? Are you active in any clubs or organizations?
Oh boy, buckle up… I’m the president of the board of directors for Muskegon Civic Theatre, the largest non-profit theatre group in Muskegon. We put on 5 regular-season shows every year, plus an additional show for The Penguin Project, which is a group that promotes inclusion into the arts for young artists with developmental disabilities.
I’m also the Cultural Director and Production Manager for the Michigan Irish Music Festival. Our mission is to produce a world-class music festival that promotes Irish culture and heritage, enhancing the community as a destination through entertainment, tourism, education, and philanthropy. Since 2008, the festival has donated over $266,000 in cash and 21,000 pounds of food to the community to help those most vulnerable.
I’m also the Director of West Michigan Student Showcase, an annual celebration of excellence for high school youth of West Michigan. Students are selected by their respective schools in areas of academics, athletics, literary arts, performing arts, and visual arts. High school students from Mason, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, and Ottawa counties have an opportunity to be recognized on stage for their accomplishments.
In my free time (ha!), I livestream video and tabletop roleplaying games with some friends. You can check out our streams at www.twitch.tv/attackofop.
13. What are you currently binge-watching?
Colleen and I just finished “Brooklyn 99,” and we are very happy it was brought back from the brink of cancellation. I’ve also been binging a Canadian show called “Letterkenny.”
14. What was the last really great book you read?
I usually do audiobook format. The last really great book I listened to was “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman. The recording was a cast recording – and was super great!
15. What would you like to be famous for?
I don’t want to be famous for something I have accomplished, but something that I’ve helped someone else accomplish. If I can help someone else get in the spotlight, I’m happy.
Want to learn more?
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