Recognizing Our Best: Kathleen Heath

Kathleen Heath spent much of her life as a single mother caring for her family. At 71, she went to work for Cox Communications. Over a career that spanned 20 years, the customer service specialist became known for treating customers like family.

Kathleen retired last fall at 91 but left a lasting impression on those who worked with her. “If you sit with her for just 5 minutes, she’s going to tell you about her family, which is amazing and really fits our culture,” said Steven Panza, director of customer care at Cox Communications. “Also, she believes that all of our customers should be treated the absolute best that they can be treated.”

Caring For Customers

Kathleen brought a sincere passion to her role at Cox Communications, and it was evident in each of her interactions with customers. She said her greatest reward was at the end of calls when customers showed gratitude for her thoroughness in meeting their specific needs.

“She’s passionate about anything that she talks about or does,” said Brenda Lambert, supervisor of capacity management for Cox Communications. “It was always about her passion for the customer and making sure the customer’s needs were handled with that very first transaction. She lived that brand for her entire career.”

Cox Values = Life Values

Kathleen’s dedication to serving others characterized her tenure at Cox Communications. “It always made me feel good to think that I had done something good for someone,” she said. “Maybe I just brought a little sunshine — that’s the way I felt with the customers I talked to every day.”

Kathleen says Cox’s goals run parallel to the values she was taught as a child. “You can accomplish whatever you want as long as you do it with integrity, honesty, passion and you believe in what you’re doing.”

The Governor James M. Cox Award

The Governor James M. Cox Award, named for our founder, recognizes those whose stellar job performance exemplifies What We Stand For. Selection does not depend on winners’ tenure or role within the company, but rather on what they’ve done — or are currently doing — through their work at Cox to build a better future. It is one of the highest honors for Cox employees.