Thomas-Conners keeps CH Coakley on the move

Listen to this article

A self-described “customer service girl at heart,” Lazelle Thomas-Conners quickly rose through the ranks at CH Coakley after joining the company as a temporary receptionist and accounts-payable clerk seven years ago.

She earned her bachelor’s degrees in business administration and accounting shortly after CH Coakley — a provider of commercial moving, warehousing solutions, fulfillment, document management and other services — hired her and now serves as its business office manager. Her job involves managing vendor relationships, as well as needs that are critical to administrative flow, such as phones, janitorial services, copiers and office supplies. She also has duties as the executive assistant to the CEO and CFO, and she is a member of the Corporate Culture Committee and the marketing team.

Thomas-Conners said each day comes with revelations, whether she’s running reports to calculate expenses on utilities or repairs to the fleet, routing phone calls to the correct division manager, overlooking proposals to ensure T’s are crossed and I’s dotted, making travel arrangements for project managers, or catering a luncheon for 15 people two hours before they arrive.

“I take it in stride,” she said, adding her favorite part of her job is the people. “There is never a dull moment with the various personalities of our CH Coakley family. We come from different backgrounds and we have individual worries when we go to sleep at night, but for 40 hours a week we strive to bring out the best in each other for the betterment of the company.”

Colleague Mary Christine called Thomas-Conners “the nucleus of the company” and noted that, after seven years in the front office, she knows the who, what, when and where of how the company runs.

“She’s a private investigator when it comes to finding things that may have wandered off and tracking down who had a key last,” she said, adding Thomas-Conners is often called upon for final reviews as well as advice on annual planning, marketing and project development meetings.

“She’ll let you know, in her opinion, what is achievable. She is a joy in the office and her laugh will change your day,” Christine said. “Lazelle is a proud mother and a dedicated daughter.

But most of all, she is a treasured member of the CH Coakley family and we are a better company having her at our side.”