While the duties and organization may have initially surprised her, it is no surprise Nicole Dye is thriving in her role as OCA’s Administrative Receptionist.
“Our Administrative Receptionist plays a tremendously important role in this office,” said OCA President Chris Runyan. “Nicole is now the first person you see when walking in the door and the first voice you hear when calling in on the phone. She has quickly learned who that ‘right person’ is when directing visitors and phone calls.”
Beginning in the front-desk role in late May and serving as OCA’s initial point of contact, Dye is quickly establishing herself as a helping hand for fellow staff, association members and others. “One of the things I’m really enjoying is cleaning, organizing and enhancing the functionality of OCA’s office. So, everyone knows where everything is – making sure everything has a place … I also want to make sure the office is nice and organized when we have guests,” she said.
Runyan confirms Dye’s organizational skills. “She is a super organizer. I never realized how much shelf space was in this building until Nicole came along,” he smiled.
While Dye’s managerial and supervisory background is helping in her new role, she admits to being initially surprised when she interviewed with OCA. “When I first got the interview for this position it was through a recruiting agency – but they also handle benefits for different companies, so I was thinking it was for that type of work … When I got here for my interview, Chris (Runyan) was really nice and gave me a brief summary of what I’d be doing after I explained to him the whole misunderstanding, which we both laughed about.”
Dye admits, when first hearing about OCA, she wondered: “What does an association do for construction workers?” She now feels well-versed in how important the organization is and all the services it provides. “Everybody has done such an amazing job explaining the intricate details of what they do, the directors specifically, and also have helped me learn who we are and the history of OCA.“
While she is not working in benefit services, Dye is proving to be beneficial to the OCA staff. Along with her duties of handling office calls, supply orders and deliveries and setting up the venue for multiple meetings and events each week at the association, she’s always offering a helping hand. “I’m knowledgeable in Excel spreadsheets and stuff like that, so I’ve been picking the ears of the directors to see what I can help with,” she said, adding, “I really like busy work … I’m always checking to see if there is anything that the staff needs and asking, ‘What can I work on?’ For me, if you need a presentation created, if you need a spreadsheet created, or if you need a spreadsheet reorganized, or you just need data entry, I’m happy to do that.”
“To have an individual with the requisite skills that can help out administratively, regardless of who needs the help, fills a vital role in effectively getting things done,” Runyan said.
“I like to be of help and service. So, anything I can do, either to make this environment a better working place, a more organized working place, that’s what I’m looking forward to doing.” – Nicole Dye
A native of Columbus, Dye traces her work ethic not only to her parents’ careers as a paralegal and mechanic but also her work as a store manager for CVS Pharmacy and as a supervisor for JCPenney’s Corporate Office Call Center. “I learned a lot from that position in general. I did training, I took escalated calls, I handled supervision of my associates … It was a very good learning experience.”
Growing up on Columbus’ Eastside, Dye lived in Whitehall and attended Whitehall Yearling High School. Dye served as the school’s mascot – The Ram – which at the time she admits surprised many of her friends. “I’m very outgoing and like to talk with people,” said Dye, who had to remain in character and not talk while donning the mascot uniform. “… When I told my friends, ‘I’m the mascot,’ they were all like, ‘Gosh, I never have guessed, because you’re always loud and talkative.’” She adds that she made up for non-verbal stints as the mascot by handling the school’s social media posts. “Fast-forward five, seven years and I was the social media team supervisor for JC Penney’s corporate,” she smiled.
Dye, who has six nieces and nephews, enjoys time in the sun and being outdoors. “I’m really big on the outdoors and hiking,” as she is hoping to meld her enjoyment of visiting area parks with her new pastime – photography. “It’s a new hobby, but it’s definitely something I enjoy doing.”
Ironically, the paths of Dye and her predecessor at OCA, long-time Administrative Assistant & Receptionist Kim Dillon, crossed in the form of Dillon’s husband also being a Whitehall Yearling alumnus. Dillon, who retired last year following 40 years with the association, helped welcome Dye to OCA and train her for the role.
While she admits having big shoes to fill as Dillon’s successor, Dye said it is also an adjustment for OCA staff and members having someone different working at the front desk. “Even though I have big shoes to fill, I also bring my own new shoes.”
“Nicole has been a wonderful addition to OCA’s staff,” Runyan said. “Her enthusiasm for her job is contagious among the rest of the staff. She lives life with a smile on her face and proactively offers help and assistance to everyone on staff.”