Recently, Paragon's Management Team, gathered from all over the world, revisited our mission statement to provide refinement. We together determined that Paragon is in business to provide an extraordinary customer experience, one family at a time. The key word in this statement is "extraordinary." What does it really mean? To better define the word "extraordinary," I have asked all Managers at Paragon with direct reports in every department, division or subsidiary of our company to meet with our staff members to heighten awareness of our mission statement and to define the word "extraordinary" related to their particular company function. Once done, I have asked that all definitions be submitted to me. We are doing this to make our mission statement not just something we say in proposals to new prospects, or to our existing clients, but to have all employees at Paragon internalize our reason for being. Words in a service company matter, particularly when they turn into actions and deeds. The fact that one word can make such a huge difference in our mission statement is in and of itself pretty "extraordinary."

In keeping with this thinking, we have added additional talent and resources at Paragon in Operations, Client Accounting, Corporate Accounting, Information Technology Applications and Network Solutions to allow us to provide extraordinary services. We have refocused our efforts on training for our Relocation and International Assignment Consultants to make sure they are well prepared to do their jobs. PRISM 2.0, our new automated operating system, is now fully in place for all existing and new clients, allowing for more functionality related to client and customer access to our system and reporting capabilities. We are in the process of completing a major upgrade of our computers at Paragon in preparation for more video connectivity. We continue to add Paragon boots on the ground as we will shortly add additional service capabilities in Germany, Switzerland, Singapore and China.

We are also developing relocation services for smaller, mid-tier companies - those clients with revenues of $/€10 million to $/€1 billion. These particular clients are more likely to implement more of a flexible benefits approach, rather than fixed plans requiring a different service mindset. Shortly, GenEquity, our national mortgage company will receive FHA approval, which will allow us to provide retail, in addition to the corporate mortgages we already provide. We will be providing retail mortgages this year in Dallas, Texas with a full expectation of growing into other markets in the U.S. Finally, we will begin offering PGR Home Caregiver services to senior citizens in the Dallas metroplex market in recognition of the 75 million Baby Boomers that began turning 65 years old at a rate of 10,000 a day beginning in January 2012. These services are designed to allow senior citizens to remain in their homes, living independently, as long as possible. Once this service is perfected in the Dallas market, we will go national.

The only thing I can say for certain is that change at Paragon is inevitable as we respond to our clients and customers around the world. However, when all is said and done, our mission to provide an extraordinary customer experience, one family at a time, remains constant for all our businesses. We know what we have to do to be successful. Our mission statement is very clear.

Paragon's 2011 Award Winners

2011 President's Award Winner - Marie Scott

Joseph Morabito congratulates President's Award winner Marie Scott

The President's Award is the highest honor an employee can receive at Paragon. To be eligible for this award, the employee must demonstrate a commitment to excellence by moving Paragon closer to our mission and our culture of success.

Marie Scott, Corporate Controller, was nominated for her outstanding work and leadership in the area of advancing our global billing capabilities. Scott led Paragon's effort to respond to a client's need for billing in 22 different currencies and to 89 billing points across the globe. The project was challenging to say the least as Scott had internal staffing challenges to overcome and her regular, full-time duties as comptroller to maintain. In the end, Marie accomplished the stated goals of the project and the client was delighted with the outcome. Through her diligent work, Marie underscored her commitment to advancing Paragon and the global reach of the organization while at the same time emphasizing her dedication and incredible work ethic. For these reasons, Marie Scott has been recognized as the 2011 President's Award winner. In addition to a monetary bonus, Scott will receive an extra week of much earned vacation.

Congratulations to Marie and to the other deserving nominees including:

• Kevin Sheehan
• Stacey Bass
• Andre Rekers

2011 Paragon Community Service Award Winner -
Ryan Hopkins

Ryan Hopkins at a Honduran orphanage

The Paragon Community Service Award was developed to recognize one employee who is dedicated to the last tenet in Paragon's Core Values, which is:  

Community Involvement - We demonstrate a caring attitude for our employees and the people we serve. We recognize that we are what we give back to our community. We feel a genuine need to help others is important to our success.

Ryan Hopkins, Underwriter for GenEquity Mortgage, was nominated for his tireless work with the victims of last year's devastating tornado in Joplin, MS. Hopkins traveled to the storm ravaged area to distribute supplies and assist in the clean-up efforts. In addition, he led a Vacation Bible School in Honduras for three schools and an orphanage, while helping with the construction of another orphanage. Hopkins also serves meals at Solomon's Porch, a ministry that helps feed and clothe the poor in inner city Dallas. For his outstanding dedication to helping those in need, Ryan Hopkins has been recognized as the 2011 Community Service award winner.

Congratulations to Ryan and the other deserving nominees including:

• Teresa Mahlberg
• Rick Calanni

2011 Paragon Service Award Winners

Many congratulations and thanks go to all our Consultants who earned the 2011 Service Award for having a 95% Satisfied average on all their surveys:

• Steve Ford (at 100%)
• Barbara Moskal
• Jessica Stroede
• Otis Lau
• Bonnie Chung
• Lisa Schmitt
• Leann Tantillo

Moving forward, Paragon has decided to award our Consultants twice a year for their service ratings to offer even more incentive to provide an extraordinary customer experience, one family at a time.

Paragon recently held two informative webinars: Elaine Martin, Managing Director of Paragon GeoImmigration, spoke on Hot Trends in Global Immigration: Compliance (It's the New Black!) and Joseph Morabito, CEO of Paragon Global Resources, spoke on Managing Relocation for Shared Services Managers. Both webinars are posted on the Paragon Relocation website for your convenience.

As we move into summer and begin planning those wonderful vacations, we examine a common ailment and some cures to combat the symptoms that can range from simply unpleasant to almost debilitating. Most people who have traveled by airplane have experienced jet lag but few people understand why it occurs.

What is jet lag?

Jet lag is a medical condition known as desynchronosis; a physiological condition which results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms resulting from rapid long-distance travel on a jet airplane. Jet lag occurs when a body clock falls out of synchronization with the destination time. The body experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed; therefore, the body's natural patterns are upset. Rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and body temperature variations no longer correspond to the new environment. While the body realigns the rhythms and the new daily routine, it is "jet lagged." NASA estimates that the body requires approximately one day per time zone to adjust its circadian rhythm.

Who suffers from jet lag?

Anyone can suffer from jet lag, regardless of how often they travel by plane or their age. However, it is more common in people over the age of 60 and thought to be less common in babies and children. The speed at which the body adjusts to the new schedule depends on the individual; some people may require several days to adjust to a new time zone, while others experience little disruption.

What are jet lag symptoms?

The symptoms of jet lag are different for everyone, and also depend on how many time zones you have crossed and in which direction you have traveled. Usually it makes you feel tired and low in energy during the day. It disturbs your sleep, so you may have trouble getting off to sleep, or wake up often at night or early in the morning. You might have difficulty concentrating, and be a bit clumsy or irritable because you are so tired. You may also have other symptoms, such as indigestion, altered bowel habits and low appetite, and feel generally unwell.

Natural ways to combat jet lag

Since the experience of jet lag varies among individuals, it is difficult to recommend one specific remedy. Gradual adjustment over the course of several days, while maintaining a regular sleep length of seven to eight hours should reduce fatigue. To avoid jet lag think ahead and synchronize your body clock before you travel. If you're traveling east, try going to bed earlier for a couple of nights. If you're traveling west, go to bed later.

The following suggestions can also help to reduce the effects of jet lag.

• Drink plenty of water before, during and after the flight to avoid dehydration.
• Don't drink lots of alcohol. The pressurized air in the airplane increases body dehydration substantially, and alcohol affects the body clock by not giving you a full and refreshing sleep.
• A short episode of moderately intense exercise may help reset your body clock after arrival.
• Try to fit in with the daily routine and activities of the new time zone as soon as possible - eat when they eat and sleep (or at least rest) when they sleep.
• When the goal is to catch-up with local time (vs. fall-back to), avoid afternoon naps and eat an early and carbohydrates-rich, low-protein dinner.
• As soon as you board your flight, adjust your watch to the destination time.
• If you arrive in the evening, try not to sleep too much on the plane so that you can go to bed when you arrive. And sleep as much as you can if your flight arrives in the morning, so you can stay awake through the day.
• Natural light can help your body clock adjust. If you traveled west, try to get more morning light after you arrive and avoid it in the afternoon. If you went east, seek afternoon light and avoid morning light.

Lastly, know yourself and plan your travel accordingly. Can you sleep on planes or not? If you can sleep soundly whilst you travel through the air, then schedule your flight to include an "overnight" trip which means one that arrives at your destination in the morning. If you can only snooze for a few moments, you should schedule a "daytime" flight that lands in the late afternoon or evening, at which time you'll be so exhausted from a prolonged lack of sleep that you'll be able to fall asleep at the right time.

Paragon Relocation and Paragon GeoImmigration recently exhibited at the highly anticipated Mondissimo International Mobility Conference which took place on March 13-14 in Paris. Now in its fourth year, Mondissimo has

Julien Bec, Director of Global Relocation Services in Paragon's France office and Elaine Martin, Managing Director of Paragon GeoImmigration at the Mondissimo International Mobility Conference

On the first morning of the event, Paragon GeoImmigration's Managing Director, Elaine Martin, hosted an informative seminar on Immigration Compliance, entitled Hot Trends in Global Immigration: Compliance (It's the New Black), which focused on the importance of complying with immigration and other regulations when transferring employees overseas.

Paragon also recently exhibited at the Worldwide ERC® Global Workforce Summit in Shanghai, China.

Worldwide ERC® National Relocation Conference

May 9-11, 2012

San Antonio, Texas USA 

 

The Forum for Expatriate Management - Totally Expat Show 2012

May 14, 2012
London, UK