Online Stores Blog

Ed Horne is not just October’s employee of the month. He is also one of the most genuinely nice people currently working at Online Stores. Call Ed up on the phone and you won’t hear him sigh or grumble before he says hello. Ask Ed for help and that’s exactly what you’ll get, and it won’t be two or three weeks down the line, either. As a matter of fact, Ed is so top-shelf that if any of us were really as smart as we all think we are, we’d begin each day by asking ourselves one simple question: How can I be more like Ed Horne?

Ed burst onto the OLS scene way back in July 2007, when he was hired as a Customer Service Representative. Within a month, however, Ed was transferred to the Custom Department, where he worked for 11 months before once again being moved, this time to the Wholesales/Sales Department. Of course, as we all know, Ed eventually became a member of the IT Department, but only after what he calls “a long campaign.”

Today, Ed’s official title is Database Administrator, and he is responsible for keeping not only the database but also StoneEdge in tip-top shape. He is also charged with reviewing and uploading spreadsheets created by the Merchandising Department. Despite the importance of these duties, Ed likes to joke that his “primary job” is keeping Crystal Hammersley, his supervisor, happy.

Ed has been married to Ashley Horne, our HR Manager, for nine wonderful years. They are the proud parents of three handsome boys. Gabriel, the couple’s oldest son, is five years old. Ed likes to consider him “the negotiator” because he’s always trying to change the rules of their household through a little wheeling and dealing. “His current campaign is to reduce the hours at Kindergarten from six hours to four.”

Ed and Ashley’s second-oldest son, Elijah, is two years old and a type-one diabetic, receiving four to six insulin injections per day, not to mention finger pricks to check his blood sugar. Don’t think Elijah sits around feeling sorry for himself, though. Ed assures us that he is the family’s “fighter,” constantly starting wars with his older brother and parents.

Finally, last but not least is Ed and Ashley’s son Jakob, who was born just last year. “He’s already getting into everything,” says Ed, “and he’s also not taking any guff from his older brothers.”

Ed says he takes pride in his “geeky-ness”; that he likes to fly his “geek flag pretty high.” His primary hobby is miniature war gaming, and in particular the games Warhammer 40K and Warhammer Fantasy. “I have been seriously involved in the game for 4 years, and I even have a weekly article on one of the biggest 40K blogs.” Ed has also played these games competitively and even won a few tournaments.

Ed’s favorite book is Alien by Allen Dean Foster. His favorite movie is Star Wars and his favorite band in Metallica. He is also a huge Zombie fan and openly admits to having debated the “what ifs” of the impending Zombie invasion. According to Ed, “It’s not a matter of if” zombies will invade the earth, “it’s a matter of when.”

Todd Savini began working for Online Stores on July 1,2007. Prior to that, he worked at Spreadshirt in the customer service department, as well as at a hotel as a night auditor. He originally applied at Online Stores to work as a customer service representative due to his past experience, but was brought in to work with flagpole sales. Today, Todd is working as a Purchasing Agent. He manages thousands of items in the United States Flag Store all while attempting to keep a balance between COGS and the customer service department. He also strives to make sure that OLS receives the respect it deserves from its vendors. Todd places his recognition as employee of the month as his fondest memory of working here at Online Stores.

When he isn’t working, Todd enjoys spending time with his soulmate, Amy. The couple met here at Online Stores, and has been living together since. Amy’s 6 year old son Logan also lives with the couple. Todd enjoys playing Lego’s and swimming with Logan, as well as picking on Amy. Todd loves spending time with Amy and Logan, enjoying his life as much as he can. The couple also owns several pets. Todd describes their dog, Nikki, as basically being his daughter. They also have two cats, Sam and Max. Max stalks Amy while she gets dressed and Sam bites Todd for attention.

Todd attended WCCC and UPG studying biochemistry and education, but claims to have been too interested in extracurricular activities to continue going. He finished three years of his degree before leaving. In the next 10 years, Todd hopes to sneak away to Vegas to marry Amy, finish working on their house together, hit the lottery, and continue to work hard at everything he does. He would also like everyone to know that he is not as mean as he appears, and that everyone should live life to the fullest, because you never know what tomorrow brings.

Thanks for all of the hard work Todd, and congratulations on being named September’s OLS Employee of the Month!

Jenni began working at Online Stores in February of 2005, and was officially hired in May of the same year. She was brought in to the company by Carol Harris Staffing. Before her employment at Online Stores, Jenni attended and graduated from Greensburg Salem High School. Jenni now works as a Senior Shipping Clerk, where she says her duties vary daily depending entirely upon where she is needed. At first, she was packing products for United States Flag Store orders, but since then, she has worked in practically every portion of the warehouse.

Jenni’s fondest memory of working at Online Stores is the day she got her first apartment. Fellow OLS coworkers assisted Jenni with her move, making sure she had everything she needed to get started living on her own. If you ask Jenni, she will tell you that it was the kindness and generosity of others that got her where she is today.

Outside of Online Stores, Jenni enjoys spending time with her boyfriend. Together, they enjoy partaking in a variety of outdoor activities. These include fishing, swimming and camping. The couple also enjoys golfing, although it is admittedly not Jenni’s best sport.

In the next ten years, Jenni looks forward to furthering her career here at Online Stores as the company continues to grow. She also would like to get involved with volunteer work to assist those less fortunate than she is. Jenni is a fantastic employee, and her daily efforts throughout the warehouse prove an essential piece of Online Stores’ continued success.

Congratulations, Jenni, on being recognized as August’s Employee of the Month, and keep up the great work!

Accounting Assistant Christina Heck is July’s Employee of the Month. Christina began at Online Stores on April 16th of 2009 after filling out an employment application at a WCCC job fair. Christina’s responsibilities involve a wide variety of tasks, so wide in fact that defining her position is almost impossible. To sum it up, she does a lot to help keep Online Stores running at its very best, and deserves a good deal of recognition for it.

Before starting at OLS, Christina worked at Cabco Inc. as an assembly worker building wiring harnesses and cable assemblies for robots. During her time there, she was also attending school full time. She began her education at Westmoreland County Community College and afterward transferred to the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She majored in Accounting and earned her Bachelors Degree in December of 2008.

When she isn’t working, Christina likes to spend time with her family, friends, and her boyfriend, Dean. Christina met Dean while working with him at KFC seven years ago. Christina loves being outside, so naturally, summer is her favorite season. She loves having the chance to swim. She has a cat named Fluffy and her favorite TV show is Grey’s Anatomy. In the next ten years, Christina hopes to be married with two children. She loves meeting new people, so stop by sometime and say hello!

Congratulations, Christina, on being named the July Employee of the Month!

Lorain began here at Online Stores in February of 2009. Like many OLS employees, she was brought in by Carol Harris Staffing. Her responsibilities involve everything under the vast umbrella of Housekeeping. Maintaining a sanitary and comfortable environment in the Online Stores workplace is no easy task, but a necessary one to keep employees happy and productive.

Lorain does a lot to keep things in order. She is personally responsible for sweeping and dusting every floor and table, everyday. She empties the trash cans and replaces the trash bags in every single cubicle, office, bathroom, and conference room in the workplace. She mops in the kitchen, cleans the counters and wipes down the sinks. She also maintains the cleanly atmosphere in each of the many OLS bathrooms. Despite constantly being used each and every day, the bathrooms are always comfortable and clean.

Our spotless and sanitary work environment depends entirely on Lorain’s hard work, and we all have her to thank for it. I shudder to think what it would be like if she were not here for a week, or even just a day. But even with all of the responsibility, Lorain never leaves her smile behind. She is always pleasant and friendly, greeting everyone
she passes with a smiling hello.

At home, Lorain likes to spend time with her husband Wayne. Together they like to spend time watching the Home and Garden channel and the Do-It-Yourself channel. They also have 3 dogs; Ben – a yorkie, Sugar – a lab, and Lacey – a Pekingese. Congratulations, Lorain, on being awarded June’s Employee of the Month. Thank you for your hard work and enjoy your parking spot this month!