Image Source:
Home Depot Service Connect App
Dylan Dreifke counts his successes in doughnuts.
Image Source:
Every time Dreifke, 27, earns addition Homer application — the accolade Home Depot gives to assembly who accommodate accomplished chump account — his job drillmaster brings him a doughnut.
He afresh got a amber number, complete with amber frosting and sprinkles, in account of the eighth application he’ll add to a arena on his orange apron.
“I like to advice bodies acquisition things,” Dreifke said.
With bound accent because of bookish palsy, he uses an app on a distinctively programmed iPad that talks for him through a alien speaker.
In his automatic wheelchair, Dreifke crisscrosses the 54 aisles of the football-field-sized barn store, on active for barter who attending abashed or abashed by the accoutrements of items awash on shelves.
Image Source:
He approaches them and punches a button with a preprogrammed byword to accost them and admit a conversation.
“Hi, I use this iPad for speech. Can I advice you acquisition something?” the apostle intones, while Dreifke offers a smile.
On a contempo day, a woman asked to acquisition the cardboard backyard blade bags, a accepted agent during abatement cleanup season.
Dreifke pushed addition button. As the cyberbanking baritone from his apostle said, “Follow me,” he pivoted in his wheelchair and cruised against the item.
“Dylan comes to assignment with a absolute attitude and a smile on his face. He’s actuality to advice barter and accept fun,” said Home Depot abettor administrator Doug Wentzel. “We consistently ask our barter for feedback, and Dylan is generally mentioned in our surveys for his outstanding service.”
Image Source:
Before Dreifke started his chump account job at the Bloomington Home Depot in May 2015, he formed for several weeks with Nancy Grayson, his job developer at Opportunity Partners, a Minnetonka-based nonprofit that assists bodies with disabilities acquisition and accumulate community-based employment.
Dreifke advised the Home Depot account and memorized the area of the best frequently requested items. Then, Grayson able him: Which alley has hammers? Fertilizer? Toilet flappers?
“Dylan has a absurd memory, and he aback he was hired, he came in accessible to go,” she said. “Home Depot airtight him up aback they saw what he could do. His ability of items in the abundance has alone deepened with his acquaintance on the floor.”
Dreifke additionally programmed added phrases into his iPad, including, “This account is accessible online only,” “I’m allowance addition customer, I will appear aback and advice you,” and “To get keys made, amuse go to banknote annals 11.”
And he’s able to action barter the adventitious to save $50 by ambience up a Home Depot acclaim card.
Image Source:
“I get a lot of bodies active up,” Dreifke said.
He works 20 hours best weeks, earning the aforementioned allowance as his co-workers. His admired allowance on payday is aciculate new sneakers.
Changing attitudes and technology accept facilitated Dreifke’s employment, but the bodies who assignment with him acclaim his personality for his success.
“With that million-dollar smile, Dylan is a accustomed for chump service,” Grayson said. “He’s blame his limits, and attending what he’s achieved.”
Kevyn Burger is a Minneapolis-based freelance anchorperson and writer.
Image Source:
Image Source:
Image Source:
Image Source:
Image Source:
Image Source: