My story of #SummerSixteen

Every summer has a story. And this one was no different.

With the pool closed, the kids back in school and a busy conference season looming ahead, I find myself reflecting on my summer’s journey. It was a summer that began with the most exciting sporting moment in Cleveland history, followed by a well-earned sabbatical and the celebration of a 20-year partnership with a beloved customer.

But throughout the bright summer days, there was a theme. One of long-term loyalty, perseverance and reward. Here’s a synopsis:

Chapter 1: Making history

By now, everyone knows this chapter. The Cleveland Cavaliers did the unimaginable and shocked the sports world in late June. As a diehard Cleveland sports fan, I thought this day would never come.

It was an epic series. No team had ever rallied from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals.

Until now.

I was fortunate enough to be downtown Cleveland the night the Cavs won the series. With friends and family by my side, we celebrated long into the night – a night I will never forget. Finally, the curse was over.

Chapter 2: Looking back while savoring the present

I work for an amazing company that proves this to me each and every day. For example, as a tenured employee, I am eligible for a sabbatical. I was lucky enough to be able to take a break from the grind and enjoy a paid month off this July. This chapter of my summer had two storylines.

The first was a reunion of sorts. I hosted my college roommate and her daughter in our home followed by a trip to my college alma mater with my daughter. She excitedly walked down memory lane with me, then she made memories of her own, winning first place in a dance competition held at The University of Norte Dame.

We returned home – with medals in hand – just in time for me to attend my high school class reunion.

I spent the second half of my sabbatical taking a road trip through the Catskills and Cooperstown, NY, (a trip I have wanted to take for years). I also become the queen of playdates and the posterchild for stress-free back-to-school preparations (since I had the time and energy).

This will be a chapter I will long remember and relish – even with my near-death tubing experience on a river through the mountains in New York. We don’t need to go into the details. The important thing is: I’m alive.

Chapter 3: Celebrating a milestone

The day I returned to the office from my sabbatical was beyond noteworthy. It marked the 20-year anniversary of our partnership with one of my favorite customers, Anheuser-Bush Employees’ Credit Union (ABECU).

In the 1990s, the credit union found that paper was piling up. From massive vaults to crowded file rooms and filing cabinets, ABECU employees battled boxes and folders full of members’ documentation. As a result, processes across the credit unions suffered.

Fast-forward two decades.

Today, every department at ABECU takes advantage of its enterprise content management solution, OnBase by Hyland. With OnBase, ABECU is able to serve its members faster and better. Because of its partnership and dedication to serving customers like ABECU, Hyland has enjoyed continuous growth and financial stability allowing for further and ongoing OnBase product development.

I cannot take credit for my summer’s page-turning story, it was written for me. I was simply a character on a fantastic journey. But I was fortunate enough to experience it, celebrate it and even savor it.

So, what is your summer’s story?

Michelle Harbinak Shapiro

Michelle Harbinak Shapiro

Michelle Shapiro has more than a 15 years of experience in the banking industry to her role as Financial Services Industry Expert at Hyland Software. Her mission is to share ... Web: www.onbase.com Details