Meet our President's Award Winner Tammy Smith

Each quarter we shine a spotlight on team members who exemplify our dedication to service and our core values. This quarter, Q1-2024 - we are pleased to honor Tammy Smith with our CRI President’s Award. 

Since joining CRI in March of 2023 as a Relocation Consultant, Tammy has solidified her reputation as a dynamic relocation consultant known for her exceptional work with transferees, as well as her contagiously upbeat and joyful attitude, in the office and beyond.  

Always on the go, Tammy loves to travel – usually with her sister, her cousin, and other friends by her side. A lifelong resident of Atlanta, Tammy considers it the perfect home base for her adventures around the US and abroad. Her dream is to travel to all 50 states, and she has 28 left on her list. To keep her trips memorable, she always finds unique things to do in each state she visits. She recently visited Utah and fell in love with the hot springs. She’s a planner at heart and is in the process of deciding whether her next trip – outside of the U.S. - will be to St. Lucia or the Maldives. 

Q & A

What components make up a good team?

That’s a great question. I have five:

• Clear Goals – Once everyone knows the goals, then we can work cohesively and get to the end result a lot easier.
• Communication – Whether it’s verbal or written, it’s super important. It’s not only being able to clearly state what you want, it’s how we communicate with one another. Our environment should be a place where our team can honestly state how we feel without everybody wearing their emotions on their sleeve, but at the same time keeping that respect for each other.
• Trust - You want to be able to trust the people that you're working with, and they must trust you as well, because at the end of the day, you spend more time together than you do with anybody else. This trust comes through communication. 
• Diversity- This includes different backgrounds, skill sets…even perspectives. In my church, I lead the premium ministry and the children's ministry, and I probably have about 40+ people that are under me and perspective is so important because we all have one. Just knowing and respecting other’s perspectives, I have learned so much about how to deal with different personalities, and how we can work together to make what we’re doing glorious and flow like it should flow, even with our differences. It’s the same in relocation – I must listen to the transferee’s perspective and see things the way they see things so I can understand what it’s like for them to go through what they’re going through.
• Leadership: People who can develop and provide clear direction and that are not afraid to allow people to grow…I think that is super important. Years ago, I took a class with leadership guru John Maxwell who wrote the book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, and his law, “the Law of the Lead” is about that kind of leader – one who is interested in developing his team and isn’t threatened by their proficiency and growth. 
  
  

What are three (or more) critical traits a client should look for in a prospective relocation management company?

Experience, expertise and a proven track record. Customization and flexibility is also important, especially because things are so automated now – you’ve got to have that flexibility. And even though a lot of the policies are similar, just being able to customize them is critical because everybody's situation is different. Reliability is also important…and last, but not least, you need good communication. These are all the things I've learned during my time in relocation - it's important for the client, but it's also important for the people that are moving.

If you could go anywhere, where would you relocate to?

In the US: Alexandria, Virginia – I love that place! It’s so quaint, I love how it looks and just the feel of it, and the people.

International: Spain. I haven’t been there before but I’ve already planned my trip there – I just need to take it! 

What’s either the best advice you’ve ever received or worst advice you’ve ever received?

Good Advice: I think the best advice, especially when it comes to relocation, was from an executive consultant I worked with. She told me that you cannot wear your emotions on your sleeve in this business. You have to put the needs of the transferee before your own needs and feelings. This has really helped me understand that no matter how much of a bad day I'm having, I'm supporting somebody that is probably going through a lot.

Tell us something you’re excited about.

Oh, I’m excited about so many things. I'm excited about the trip I’ve been planning. And that summer is almost here in Atlanta because I enjoy wearing sundresses and sandals.