(Administration - Fort Smith Office) - Make no mistake about it, Fort Smith, Arkansas is home to Lacey Nietert.

The longtime resident and Datamax biller is proud of the history there. She’s got parents and grandparents nearby, and frequent family gatherings that occupy much of her time away from the office.

In her career, like most of us, she’s experienced the ups and downs and the professional moves that make a difference. For Lacey, the move from the newspaper industry to Datamax was a big one for her career growth. Suffice it to say, she’s found a home here, too.

What led me to Datamax?

Lacey was an employee at the Southwest Times Record newspaper in Fort Smith for 20 years, doing administration work for five and sales for 15. As the industry continued its battle against the Internet and a 24-hour news cycle, she loved the work but felt the pressure. Unfortunately, Lacey was a victim of a massive layoff when COVID-19 hit in the spring of 2020.

However, she had a friend at her church.

“I go to church with a friend who is actually a customer here at Datamax. Kristen had mentioned to her that she was looking for someone to do administrative work here in Fort Smith, and my friend mentioned me immediately,” Lacey said. 

My experiences at Datamax:

Moving from newspapers to copiers does come with a transitional learning period. But Lacey says she benefitted from both her local colleagues and the remaining Admin team around the state to lean on when there was uncertainty.

“It’s just so amazing how much I’ve grown as a person here. I remember the first week, I had to go to Little Rock for training, and the initial thought was, ‘'How am I going to learn all of this stuff?’ Not knowing anything about copiers, familiarizing myself with sales orders, and learning the machines, it was a lot. But it’s nice to know I can ask anybody and get an explanation quickly."

What makes me want to stay at Datamax?

Lacey’s manager, Kristen Finkbeiner, makes it a point to visit Fort Smith at least once a month to catch up with Lacey. She appreciates that commitment to in-person collaborations and face-to-face interactions. It’s part of why Lacey’s made it a point to vocalize her own commitment to making a full career for herself at Datamax. It’s so much more than just a job for her.

“Kristen is so thorough, and it’s highly appreciated to know just how much someone cares about you. If you need something, she’s just a phone call or email away,” Lacey said. “I enjoy the atmosphere. I enjoy the people. I enjoy the open-door policies. It’s all just very encouraging.”