Collette Employees Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries
L-R: Betty Sullivan, Denise Orlik
Recently, Collette Vacations recognized 52 employees for Milestone Anniversaries ranging from 5 years to a whopping 45 years!
Denise Orlik and Betty Sullivan have combined years of service totaling 75 years! Denise and Betty, who both work in Collette’s air dept, celebrated 30 and 45 years of service respectively. The two women were honored for these milestone anniversaries on January 28 during Collette’s annual Communications Day ceremony.
I spoke with both about their years at Collette.
Denise started with Collette in July 1980 in a satellite office (they called them outer offices) in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts, as a Travel Agent.
“When I first started we did not even have computers until about 1982 so that was quite interesting and we also had to hand write airline tickets. Times have really changed!”
Around 1991 the decision was made to close the outer offices and Denise began the commute from Brimfield, Massachusetts (her hometown) to Rhode Island (about an hour and twenty minutes each way). She made the long commute because, “I knew with the times changing that I wanted to stay with Collette, who was in my eyes the greatest company. I made the right choice with the way the travel industry has changed.”
Today, Denise loves working in the Air Department as Exotic Team Air Coordinator. Denise says Italy has been her favorite place in the world especially the Amalfi Coast and Florence. “To be able to see the world as one of your company benefits – all I can say is ‘wow’!”
Part of Denise’s service award is a two week Collette vacation to anywhere in the world. She told me she is considering Exploring the Alpine Countries or Exploring Greece and its Islands.
An avid sports fan, Denise says she misses her conversations with the late Mr. Sullivan over the Red Sox but adds, “Now Dan Jr. has to listen to me.”
Asked to reflect on her 30 years with Collette, Denise told me, “It’s nice when I am with friends and they complain about their jobs. Not me, I can actually tell them I work for a great company who support and care about their employees.”
I’ll highlight Betty’s incredible 45 years with Collette in a later post. In the meantime, do you know anyone who has worked for one company for 45 years? What do you think makes them stay?
posted by Melissa McKee
Collette Vacations
Tags: Collette, Collette Vacations
