FSI's Original Employee Retires after 25+ Years

  

Karen’s first and last years with FSI 25 years apart

Lithia Springs, GA – January 31, 2022 – Forrest Marbutt - FSI began almost 26 years ago in 1996.  When Ken and Hoyt Marbutt founded the company, it was just the 2 of them, and they needed someone to help answer the phones on the first day.  They called a temp agency, and they sent us the legendary, Karen Cross.  Karen soon became FSI’s first hired employee, and after almost 26 years, Karen finally retired from FSI. 

Karen went on to do many things at FSI other than starting out answering the phones.  She has helped pack 1000’s of kits in the warehouse.  She has been a CSR.  She has managed kit packing projects.  And her last role with FSI was in our accounting department handling accounts receivables, payables, client billing, etc.

Karen helping celebrate FSI’s 1^st year in business.

It was hard to beat Karen to work.  No one could get here and start their day as early as Karen.  When she got remote computer access after being here a few years, I would be embarrassed to tell you how early Karen would start working from home before she came into work.  She really enjoyed getting an EARLY start.    

Karen helping to model kit packing at FSI during our first photoshoot.

Karen was great at analyzing our processes and making suggestions for improvements.  In fact, she was a multiple winner of FSI’s Idea of the Year continuous improvement program. 

Karen showing off some of her Idea of the Year Awards.

We’ll miss her cooking too.  Karen was known to bring treats into the office that she made, and none of us had to guess who made them.  We’ve had a few chili cook-offs over the years, and Karen was always one of our top finishers, if not the outright winner.       

   

Karen showing everyone how it’s done on the chili-cookoff.

We were blessed to luck up on getting Karen in the beginning and having her stay with us for the rest of her working career.  A great attitude all the way around.  A total team player who looked out for FSI’s interests as much as ownership while also making clients feel like they were the most important thing she had to work on each day.  She was great at everything, including making sure others were trained at following in her footsteps when she was gone.  No one will ever quite be the same as Karen.  We’ll miss her and wish her nothing but the best in her retirement.  She’s earned it, and we thank her for her 25+ years of dedication to FSI.

   

   

   

More fun with Karen through the years.

Fulfillment Strategies International (FSI) focuses on helping companies, from entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 corporations, get their products to the individual consumers, retail locations, or team members by specializing in inventory management, order fulfillment, subscription box management, and kitting for e-Commerce.  FSI can be reached at 678-391-5980 or email info@fsi3pl.com.

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