By Lesroy W. Williams
Observer Reporter
(Basseterre, St.Kitts)—It was a gala affair when Reed Data Services celebrated their 20th anniversary with an Awards Dinner at the St.Kitts Marriot Resort Ball Room on May 9, 2008 with management, staff, workers and dignitaries.
In attendance on this auspicious occasion was His Excellency Sir Cuthbert Sebastian, Governor-General of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honorable Sam Condor, Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Timothy Harris, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry and Commerce, the Honourable Dwyer Astaphan, Minister of National Security, Justice, Immigration and Labour, the Honourable Curtis Martin, Speaker of the National Assembly, the Honourable Shawn Richards, Member of the National Assembly, Mr. Tad Smith, C.E.O. of Reed Business Information US, Mr. Bill O’Brien, Chairman of Reed Data Services, Ltd., and Mrs Gwen Zeh, Vice President of Reed Data Services among other dignitaries, management and staff.
Reed Data Services started 20 years ago, on April 8, 1988 with 28 employees involved mainly with data entry of subscription qualification cards. Today the company employs more than 200 well- trained, highly skilled workers. The mission of R.D.S. is to contribute to organizational success by integrating cost effective progressive services, with effective leaders and high performance teams that meet or exceed customer expectations, while promoting employee growth. The corporate shared values of R.D.S. are customer focus, valuing our people, passion for winning, innovation and boundarylessness.
Examples of work performed by the well-trained R.D.S. staff include: magazine subscription and book/product transaction processing, web request verification and data base maintenance; development and deployment of e-mail promotional blasts; development and maintenance of product files for list rental; company research and industrial classification research and coding; research, input and maintain construction project bid information; internal list request selections and output generation/formatting; subscription and advertising related accounts receivable collections activity and quality control of all tasks performed.
Reed Data Services is known for an environment that fosters high productivity and worker satisfaction and well-being. It reaches out into the wider community to assist with generous donations to education, sports and charitable organizations.
“I really love Reed Data Services because it is a company comprised of great people, doing great work, providing substantial value to its customers and that’s what it’s all about,” said Bill O’Brien. Mr. O’Brien in his address said that the company is agile, adaptable and capable of great change under the leadership of Mrs. Gwen Zeh. Mrs. Gwen Zeh, Vice President of Fulfillment, Reed Business Information, Reed Data Services Ltd, has been with the company for 18 years. She and her husband Dave have been living in St.Kitts for the past five years. Mr. O’Brien took pride in the fact that 11 of the 28 workers who started with the company are still with the company.
Mr. Mark Wilkin, President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce said, “The level of interest exhibited by students from the visiting high schools was very high on the walk through day at Reeds. Students expressed a desire to enter the industry as it offers significant career opportunities for them. The future therefore continues to show positive and indeed sustainable indicators for R.D.S. and indeed for data processing in St.Kitts and Nevis.”
Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris, who gave the keynote address lauded the employees.
“The award tonight belongs to the ground crew, the 200 strong staff employed at Reed Data Services who represent the lifeblood of Reeds. Without you on the floor, without your work and your commitment, Reed Data Services would never have been here to celebrate,” he said.
In speaking of the 20th Anniversary of R.D.S., Dr. Harris said, “the achievement of such a milestone is by no means a small feat, given the current global economic realities in which companies that are not able to compete are forced out of business.”
“If we were to conduct a complete analysis of the economic impact of the operation here at Reed Data Services, I am certain that the benefits would extend beyond the creation of employment opportunities for over 200 individuals. The company utilizes the services of a number of domestic service providers, including financial services, telecommunications services, and education services. Commercial transactions among all these sectors augur well for economic activity in the Federation,” Dr. Harris said.
Dr. Harris said that the government was committed to supporting Reeds.
“From our government’s perspective,we remain committed to our policies of offering fiscal and other incentives to industries at our designatedindustrial parks. We have for instance extended generous tax holidays, duty free concessions on all equipment and other inputs into the operations here at Reeds. Concessions also include duty free treatment with respect to the import of a service vehicle, office furniture, gifts and awards for members of staff on special occasions including Christmas and birthday celebrations. By supporting your company, your government is supporting your work,” he said.
Dr. Harris said that he was pleased to learn that R.D.S. had availed itself of the opportunity to obtain two lots at the Conaree Industrial Park for the purpose of building a new facility which will bring all its operations under one roof.
When all had been said, the night would not have been complete without the sumptuous meal that included Caesar Salad, Red bliss potato salad with red onions, roasted corn and baby shrimp salad, mixed greens with light lemon pepper vinaigrette; roasted garlic and rosemary chicken breast, pan seared grouper with plantains and curry butter sauce and stewed beef; seasoned rice, pasta primavera, mixed vegetables flambé with anis/marinated grilled vegetables; apple smoked ham with Kittitian molasses glaze, course grain mustard and country biscuits; Caribbean pineapple cake, coconut cream pie, brandy bread pudding, tutti fruity cheese cake, chocolate pecan tart and fresh fruit with cardamom syrup.
Kibiane Willett-Maynard roused the audience with her celebratory tribute specially composed for the anniversary and the RDS Starlite Choir beautifully rendered their moving piece.
