Recognized for her exemplary performance and attention to detail in her support of Descartes’ sales and marketing teams

Descartes Excellence & Innovation Award, presented to one deserving employee each quarter, is a peer-driven program which recognizes an individual for their contributions in helping to make our customers, partners, and fellow employees successful. Eligible Descartes employees must have demonstrated ‘Innovation’ by sharing valuable ideas to develop new or better processes, tools, methods, systems, products or services in support of Descartes’ mission; and ‘Excellence’ by performing their job with integrity and to the highest professional standards, exceeding expectations while achieving exceptional results for external and/or internal stakeholders.

Sarah BlessenaarWe are pleased to announce our fourth quarter award winner for fiscal year 2014, Sarah Blessenaar, Senior Field Marketing Manager for Europe and Asia, based in Lier, Belgium.

Sarah’s peers nominated her for her exemplary performance and attention to detail in her support of Descartes’ sales and marketing teams.

 Michel Schoeters, whose work as a Service Manager is supported by Sarah’s efforts, says: “Sarah is not just a team player executing her work in a very professional way, she also facilitates marketing activities in a pro-active manner. Sarah always keeps the service focused on her internal customers with the goals and strategies of Descartes in mind.”

Tamara De Swert, a Product Manager in Belgium, nominated Sarah for the expertise and flexibility she demonstrates as a member of the marketing team.  “Sarah is a real expert when it comes to field marketing. The service and support she delivers within the EMEA and APAC organization is considered highly professional. She is very flexible and continuously adapts herself to the internal situation and current market needs.”

We asked Sarah to share her thoughts on being a member of Descartes O.N.E. L.E.A.R.Ning T.E.A.M. and what she finds rewarding. “Working as a marketeer within Descartes can be challenging, but that is what I like: there are so many solutions in the Descartes-portfolio and the target audience is very broad, it goes from the manufacturer to the distributor, the logistics service providers and the retailer. They all have different needs and so we need to adapt our message to the group and product we are focusing on. In Europe, there’s also the added element of different countries, cultures and languages. But it’s fun to discuss activities within the global marketing-team, to try out new tactics, and to see what results they have. I particularly like working with all the different local sales departments as well as with product management and professional services. We absolutely need their input for our marketing campaigns and it is very rewarding to see a good deal come out of one of our combined efforts.”

At Descartes, our primary goal is to foster success for our customers, partners, and fellow employees. Sarah’s dedication to Excellence and Innovation is a prime example of successfully delivering on this mission every day.

On behalf of the Descartes’ O.N.E. L.E.A.R.Ning T.E.A.M, I extend our congratulations and thanks to Sarah Blessenaar for her award win.

Written by Ed Ryan

Chief Executive Officer at Descartes