Bookkeeper Rose Karam certainly knows the definition of “busy.” In a typical work day, Rose processes rent and income changes, new move-ins, utilities, and handles scores of phone calls from landlords and tenants. She’s also in charge of a check run for about 1,600 clients from the Shelter Plus Care, TBRA, and SHP programs. And that’s not all: when she’s not at the office, Rose is busy taking classes at Cleveland State University and will earn a degree in accounting this winter.
EDEN management recently recognized Rose’s hard work by awarding her the September employee of the month award.
A Better System
Rose’s friendly, positive attitude has been a staple at EDEN since she joined the agency in April 2005. Her office overflows with client files, leading her to joke that she’s the agency’s head librarian. But her file-heavy office also provides the vantage point for her to watch employee traffic.
“I tend to have the most files in my office, so I see the amount of time people spend looking [for files],” she says. As Rose noted how often employees must search for files, she decided there must be a way for the agency to improve the current file system – and to save both time and money.
Rose began researching bar code systems that would allow each file to be tracked electronically. She met with representatives from a company specializing in such technology and learned that RFID (radio frequency identification) could be a good solution. In this system, a small strip is attached to each file, and sensors throughout the offices automatically scan the strips and determine a file’s location. Employees can find a file by accessing software right at the comfort of their desks.
Thanks to Rose taking the initiative to research systems, EDEN may obtain a bar code or RFID system in the future. Rose has also suggested other ways to improve efficiency, such as paying landlords via direct deposit instead of mailing checks.
A Background in Business
Rose’s history in the business world likely contributes to her current success at EDEN. In the past, she and her husband had a business called Memory Pillows where customers had a favorite photo(s) scanned, printed on fabric, then made into a custom, washable, high-quality pillow. They also ran a skydiving business in California. Rose was an avid skydiver for years and completed just over 1,000 jumps. Now, she and her husband are involved in a new pursuit: rebuilding a 33-foot Morgan Out Island sailboat that will eventually carry them across the Atlantic.
Whether Rose is solving agency challenges, jumping from a plane or learning the ins and outs of a boat, she approaches each task with enthusiasm and dedication. EDEN is lucky to have her.
