Happy Hour… Sharing a 12 Pack with Erica Connor of the Service Department

So many things go into a project especially after the project has begun and much so after the project is completed.  One of those crucial roles is played by the Accounting Department.  This month, we sit down with Erica Conner, the Accounting Department’s Service Billing specialist to hear more about her and about her department’s role behind the scenes to bring project successes to MB.

Erica, give us a brief history of your time at MB: when you started, what your role is, some changes that have occurred, how much you love it, etc.

I started at MB in February of 2008, so I am coming up on 10 years with the company.  I handle billing and invoicing for the Service Department as well as most of the billing for the Buffalo Sewer Authority.  During my time here, the biggest change is the growth. The Service Department specifically has grown exponentially over that time to the point where we just hired a second billing specialist for the department.  I absolutely love it here because of the people; everyone helps each other, works as a team.  Everyone really pitches in and cares.  I really like that.

What’s the biggest challenge facing you and the Accounting Department today?

The biggest challenge, right now, is the electronic integration that we have undertaken in the Service Department.  From the programs to the new Digital Platform, I think it can be a challenge to assimilate both the techs as well as billing.  That said, it will change and enhance our business, and our customer’s experience with us, as well as streamline my job.  I’m excited for that.  I see it making life at MB a lot easier.

Growth seems to be a common theme in the features of this column. How have you seen growth through your eyes in your time at MB?

I think the growth in-house, inter-departmentally (Service Department) has grown over the course of the last 9-10 years.  It’s remarkable.  More project managers means more projects and more field labor and more invoicing, increased revenue, which means that we had to increase our team, with a second dedicated service billing person coming on board (Emily Mott).

Give us a little background on yourself, prior to MB.

I was hired right out of college, so my experience prior to coming to MB was more retai- based.  I worked in retail at Victoria’s Secret and Tanning Bed.  I was a lifeguard at Pioneer, a waitress at Seitz’s in Delavan among other jobs.  I received my 2-year degree in Accounting from Bryant & Stratton and was hired a month out of graduation at age 19. I couldn’t be happier or more fortunate as to how it turned out!

Favorite part about working at MB? 

I love the people here. The environment is so family centered. I love the patio parties and luncheons that Van hosts. It allows me to interact with departments that maybe I normally wouldn’t and meet people and customers as they come in and visit.  It’s welcoming and I really like that.

You work primarily with the Service Department.  How has that experience been for you?

The Service Techs and PMs are outstanding!  In Service, there are a lot of projects going on simultaneously with every PM and every tech so working with the guys in the field and the office is important.  The quantity of jobs that are being churned out through billing I think would surprise some people, and that’s a good thing. That quantity and the role we all play in collections at the billing level as well as the PM level is something that’s unique and effective to the Service Department.  It gives me a lot of satisfaction to be a part of the process from start to finish with the team.  With the Digital Platform, it will kick invoices out even faster with more timely and accurate information.  That’s the goal.  It’s an exciting time for MB!

When you aren’t at MB, what’s a typical week consist of for Erica Conner?

Aside from a vacation at a beach, I usually work around the house with my 6-year-old daughter, Scarlett.  We like to take hikes, shop, cook and bake together.   I love to make pies and cookies.  I would say my specialty is rhubarb crisps or, of course, pumpkin pie made from real pumpkins myself, not the canned stuff.  Everything is homemade, even the eggs are from the local farms.

I recently found out that you play the piano for Church services. How long have you been playing? Favorite songs to play?

I started taking lessons at age 7 or 8.  I always just played for church but hadn’t in some time, until last year when I started again.  “Ever Be” is a favorite of mine.  My daughter loves a song called, “Carry to the Table” because she can play some keys and sing along.

You mentioned your daughter.  Are you raising a future accountant?  Is she trick-or-treating?

Scarlett hasn’t shown an interest in accounting… yet!  She has, however, mentioned that she will be a baker, a hairdresser, and an artist.  As for Halloween, she will be a sloth.  (A happy sloth).

You get to take three movies with you to a deserted island. What are they?

My three movies for the Island would be ‘Ever After’ with Drew Barrymore, ‘Gone With The Wind’, (a classic,) and Frozen. (Cue “Let It Go”!)

You’ve said that you’re a Game of Thrones fan.  What do you think we have in store for the next season? 

I’m not fully caught up, but I will say that I would love for them to bring Ned Stark (Sean Bean) back. He or Khal Drogo (Jason Mamoa). One character that I hated was Jaqen H’ghar (the servant for the “Many-Faced god”).

Every column ends with this question:  MB is made into a movie.  Who would you cast to play you?  Who would you cast to play Jim? 

To play me, I would say Anne Hathaway because she has a unique combination of singing and acting. As Jim Camarre, I would say Robert DeNiro, because he can be tough but he has a great heart and softer side too.