laura ficker

title: Customer Accounts Manager

hometown: Hastings, MN

current location: South Bend

what do you do? I work with people. Most often, this means I field requests from our customers, help plan and carry out upgrades to their websites, coordinate projects with our design and development staff, troubleshoot problems, teach customers and take care of things that happen in the daily life of a website. I spend a fair amount of time emailing, in meetings, making things happen, and taking care of details, always learning more about our websites and customers.

what the best thing about your job? I am blessed to talk with each member of our staff on a regular basis. I also enjoy any time I get to spend with customers. I most enjoy teaching anyone and everyone how to use their website.

how did you get here? I came to South Bend to study education and math at Saint Mary's College. Upon graduation, I took a job in I.T. working at the LaSalle Company. Aside from hardware, I did plenty of emailing, seeing and meeting technology needs. A little more than a year after starting at the LaSalle Company, David asked me to help with customer service at one:ten. Since I was already interested in the growth of the internet and its effects on us and I knew one:ten did good work, his offer piqued my interest, especially since I knew there was a great need to teach and train people to use their websites effectively. What started as part-time customer service has grown into a full time job helping with every aspect of our customers' websites.

the interesting stuff: Originally from the best city in Minnesota, I still enjoy visiting the Twin Cities whenever I can. However, I have grown fond of South Bend. I am a part of the People of Praise and live amidst others in the People of Praise community. I make a habit of following Notre Dame football, running races in town, baking, biking the St. Joe River path, gardening and visiting Lake Michigan.