When Nancy DeSandre lost her job in 2013, she began looking for work in a new field.  She had extensive customer service experience from  past jobs in the restaurant field so that’s where she began her search.  “In April of 2013 I found an ad for H & S Protection Systems on the internet and applied.  The interview went well and I was offered the position of Customer Service and the rest is now history,” she smiled.

Prior to working for H & S, Nancy was in ministry for 11 years working with men and women who were transitioning from prison  back into the community. “My role was similar to that of a case worker.  Two years prior to  release we would begin the process of  education  and gaining job skills needed for employment outside prison.  I worked with many organizations in the communities of Waukesha and Milwaukee to aide these men and women with housing resources, clothing, food, employment and healthcare needs for when they returned to the community. Many of these organizations and churches are our customers today and I get to talk to some of the same people I worked with in my past position,” she said.

She was also instrumental in partnering with The Salvation Army of Wisconsin, Prison Fellowship and the Department of Corrections to begin the Prison Aftercare Network of Wisconsin (PAN) which is still in existence to aide in the transition for ex-offenders (called “returning citizens”) from prison back to the communities they live in after release. “We trained hundreds of volunteers to mentor these men and women upon release and trained churches how to work with sex offenders who wanted to attend church services” Nancy said.

For H&S, Nancy is the service coordinator out of the Pewaukee, WI office, and her main role is to work with customers who need service and schedule these service issues.  “It involves troubleshooting with customers over the phone to diagnose the issue for the service tech to repair.  I also order all parts for upcoming install jobs as well as stock and service repair parts.  I organize and file paperwork and work to add and organize information in our database to make it more efficient for sales and service.  My favorite part of my job is to train customers on use of their software and phone apps for their new alarm or access systems,” she added.

As a single woman, “who is available to meet someone” Nancy chuckles, “I have four children and two grandchildren.”

DeSandre is involved in many adventurous activities and hobbies.  “If it happens outside you will most likely find me.  I do stairclimbing and train on hills and stairs at the lakefront two days a week year round (yes at -18 wind chills).  I also love cycling — when the snow is gone I am gone.”

 

She recently completed her second year for the Great Cycle Challenge to raise money for children’s cancer.  “This year I rode 300 miles for the month of June. I added whitewater rafting, indoor rock climbing and now backpack camping in a hammock.  This winter I will learn how to survive winter camping. I love winter and why not take advantage of 12 months of camping instead of just 6?”

 

“I talk about H&S Protection to many people and carry a card so I can leave it when I am out.  I let them know that we are local and you will know your rep and your service tech  We pride ourselves on being fast and efficient.  And we guarantee  our work. Can you tell I like where I work?,” she laughed.

(Editor’s note: Nancy is behind the guy in green in the photo below.)