Transitions Group (TG) held its 15th annual Oran Awards Ceremony on Thursday, March 8, 2018. The ceremony is the highlight of the year, providing an opportunity for the company to celebrate its successes, and more importantly, its people. Recipients are selected based on peer nominations and a month-long committee selection process.
Barney Lehnherr, President, looks forward to the awards ceremony each year, “It is one of my favorite days of the year, recognizing our great employee owners and their accomplishments from the previous year. Plus, it’s a day to remember and keep alive the memory of Oran Adams, the ceremony’s namesake, who was and remains an important piece of our TG history and culture.”
The late Oran Adams was a maintenance and custodial team member of Furniture Options in Wichita for six years. He was a friend and mentor to all he met, always having a kind word or a bit of fatherly advice. The most coveted award a TG team member can receive is the Oran Adams Award of Excellence, which is presented to the individual who best exemplifies the values of Adams: integrity, leadership and dedication.
Sean Vaught, Operations Manager, Furniture Options-Dallas, is the 2017 recipient of the Oran Adams Award for Excellence.
Sean Vaught, Operations Manager, Furniture Options- Dallas, was this year’s recipient in recognition of his ability to overcome numerous obstacles during Hurricane Harvey. Vaught worked above and beyond to ensure every customer request was fulfilled, anticipated product need, set delivery schedules, loaded trucks and delivered furniture. Often the first one to work and the last one to leave, he maintained a positive outlook and kept service at the forefront.
“I get to work with many great employee owners and for them to nominate me makes me proud,” said Vaught. “What I know about Mr. Adams is he pushed his peers to be the best person and do the best job, whether delivering furniture or cleaning offices–put your personal signature on it. If he were still here, he would probably say I could still do better, so I want to work even harder, help my team members and do what I can for the company to be successful.”
Oran Adams' three sons, along with their wives and a longtime family friend, were in attendance for the event and warmly welcomed Vaught to the family of recipients. Milford Adams spoke of the gratitude his family has for the continued honoring of their father and the importance of meeting the recipients, such as Vaught.
"Meeting Oran's sons has inspired me even further," reflected Vaught. "I feel like meeting them and talking with them one-on-one has given me more insight into who he was and what he stood for. It is definitely a lot to live up to."
Vaught started with Furniture Options in 2014 as a delivery driver and has been Operations Manager in Dallas since 2016. "I love the culture and the people I get to work with on a daily basis. I am more than proud to come in every day and see what I can do to remove the obstacles from their daily tasks and to encourage every team member possible to do their best."
The annual awards ceremony is representative of a people-first culture from customers to employees.
Other award winners include:
- Rookie of the Year–Outstanding 1st Year of Service: Giselle Magana, Marketing Representative & Administrative Assistant, Furniture Options, Wichita
- Office Team Member of the Year: Cory Hilger, Senior Field Services Representative, ExecuStay and Oakwood Midwest, Kansas City
- Warehouse Team Member of the Year: Chris Clark, Warehouse/Deliver, Furniture Options, Oklahoma City
- Guest Experience Award: ExecuStay and Oakwood Midwest, Wichita
- Sales Growth Award: ExecuStay Midwest, Houston
