After years of playing and coaching volleyball, Shelby Estes knows that success (or failure) is a package deal.

Success is best when it’s shared. Teamwork supersedes individual talent. Move forward together and success takes care of itself. The clichés linger on, but the truth in the concept remains. And after only a few short months here at Datamax, suffice it to say that Dallas/Fort Worth Business Process Consultant Shelby Estes truly “gets” it.

“One person can’t do it all by him or herself. Even if you’re the best player in the game, you have resources behind you. In our case, it’s the IT group, managers, executive leadership, and technicians. It takes the whole unit having the same mindset,” Shelby said.

It’s easy to embed ourselves into our individual roles (making quota, reducing service response times, manufacturer training, etc.). Doing otherwise could be considered a personal inconvenience... an interruption to our day, even. However, as a single-source technology partner, we do many different things. We’re a “package deal” for office solutions. That means it’s up to all of us to step outside our own routine route and communicate the full Datamax package when the opportunity arises.

This takes on many forms. It’s Shelby finding a potential phone system customer and passing that lead on to our IT group. It’s technicians like Chris Hoefer in Longview taking it upon themselves to communicate the dangers of antiquated technology, and communicating such with our sales teams. It’s more than succeeding in our role – it’s thinking holistically about our organization’s ability to help customers.

For Shelby, that all starts with company culture.

The Culture Deal.

“Ultimately, I think culture can make or break a company. I think Datamax takes it to the next level in what they want it to look like,” Shelby says. “With our sales team, it’s holding each other accountable, being competitive, but also the idea that ‘I want to see you succeed, too.’ I go to other departments, and I can have a conversation with a technician. They get it. We’re working for a company with a common goal, and it’s really easy to work for a company when everyone has the same mindset.”

Before her career at Datamax, Shelby worked in healthcare, where her (and her coworkers’) biggest concern was for their patients. She recalls meeting with her Sales Manager Linda Narcho and VP of Sales Clay Mills in her first few interviews, and feeling it very quickly: It felt like family. It felt like they cared about her goals and professional needs. It felt different.

“We want everyone to succeed and have the opportunity to bring value to the table,” Shelby said.

The Value Deal.

Shelby’s already passed on a few IT leads to our Technology Services Group (TSG). She keeps her eyes and ears peeled and when there’s mention of phone systems or IT management pains, she acts on it by verbalizing Datamax’s total value to the customer. It’s not just good for the IT sales group. It’s good for the organization. Most importantly, it’s good for the customer.

“It just comes down to the value for the customer. If I’m going out of my way to mention another solution that has nothing to do with me, I’m not looking out for my own personal interest,” Shelby said. “I think it speaks volumes when I tell a customer, ‘I can offer you resources to make this easier for you.’ It builds a better relationship with the customer and opens up an opportunity for our IT group.”

The Community Deal.

We don’t just connect with customers. We connect with communities. It’s part of the Datamax package deal, and Shelby would love to see more of it. That’s why she’s signed on with sales leadership to drive more community-minded initiatives in Dallas/Fort Worth.

“We’re still working out the kinks (in potential projects). But the bigger picture is, Datamax wants to be involved in the community, and I love that. I love the idea of helping people outside the work environment,” Shelby said. “To me, it’s about donating your time, not just resources and money. It’s in the works. We’re excited about it.”

The Package Deal.

After graduating from Manvel High School, Shelby went on to play volleyball at the University of Texas at Tyler. She later went on to coach 13-year-olds. Sports have taught her a lot in life. You don’t always win, but you can (and should) learn from your experience. A strong work ethic is non-negotiable. And team? It’s never one single entity.

“You’ve got resources around you in sports. We’ve got a lot of resources here. It’s important to utilize them,” she says.