Each year, prior to enjoying the firm’s Thanksgiving lunch, the attorneys and staff at Christian & Small take a few moments to recognize and honor that year’s recipient of the firm’s Terri Lowrey Spirit Award.
In 2011, Christian & Small lost a beloved family member and long-term employee – Terri Lynn Lowrey – after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. To honor Terri’s life and the impact she made on those around her, the firm created the Terri Lowrey Spirit Award, which is given annually to an individual who embodies the spirit and qualities that we all admired in Terri – honesty, a giving nature, compassion, grace, determination, cheerfulness, perkiness, faithfulness, fun, loyalty, intelligence and selflessness. The firm solicits nominations from attorneys and staff, and a committee determines the winner each year based on these nominations.
The first Terri Lowrey Spirit Award was presented to Lois Medders at the 2012 Thanksgiving luncheon, with Terri’s best friend Jane Edgerton receiving the award in 2013. Dana Lindsey was our 2014 recipient, and Jenny Stone received the award in 2015. In 2016 we recognized our late Partner Richard Ogle with our first posthumous award, Partner Duncan Manley was designated the 2017 recipient, and IT Manager Sally Gonder received the award in 2019.
In the last few weeks we received several worthy nominations for the Terri Lowrey Spirit Award – but with five nominations, one in particular stood out to the selection committee this year. We are proud to announce that Administrative Assistant Tammy Love is the 2019 recipient of the Terri Lowrey Spirit Award!
Here are just a few of the compliments Tammy received from her various nominations:
- I have never heard Tammy tell anyone that she could not help them. She has volunteered to help any time she has been needed. I would be willing to bet she has helped every (or almost every) attorney and staff member in this firm and always with a great attitude. She is funny, personable, organized, loyal, smart, honest, and above all, a friend.
- Tammy is an asset to our firm. She is always willing to help anyone regardless of how busy she is. She is always cheerful and positive.
- Tammy is a hard worker. Always happy to help anyone. She has a great can-do, all-in attitude and is very professional. She is a valuable asset to this firm.
- Tammy goes out of her way to help everyone. She is always willing to walk the extra mile. She has a generous spirit and a servant’s heart. Her smile and laughter are contagious. She is always there to put a smile on your face, even when you have had a bad day. She has excellent skills and is dedicated to training others. She embodies the spirit of teamwork that all members of Christian & Small should strive to exhibit.
- Tammy has a fantastic attitude, never says no, and is super pro-active – anticipating what her attorneys need. She deals well with demanding attorneys and helps lawyers in the firm other than those to whom she is assigned when they need it – which turns out to be a lot! She is a very nice person and it shows not only to us but to our clients. I constantly have clients tell me that she is the most outstanding staff personal they deal with at ANY firm – what a compliment.
- Tammy – like Terri – always has a smile on her face.
In the years that we have mourned Terri’s death, the following quote has been a comfort and guiding light to our firm:
“While it is true that most people never see or understand the difference they make, or sometimes only imagine their actions having a tiny effect, every single action a person takes has far-reaching consequences.” – Andy Andrews, The Noticer.
We congratulate Tammy again on this well-deserved honor and thank her for her commitment and service to this firm, our clients, and to all of our attorneys and staff. She is truly a nonstop advocate for our clients, our community, and Christian & Small.