CZ CONCIERGE SERVICES
Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson
According to a recent study by the Independent Transportation Network (itn), Americans may outlive their ability to drive safely by six to 10 years. Many older adults don’t recognize the changes in their driving skills until it is too late. They want to maintain the freedom, flexibility and independence that operating their own vehicle affords. But, sadly, some become safety statistics before they realize that they should have made changes in their driving habits sooner rather than later. Americans are living longer and there will continue to be more issues dealing with transportation for seniors. “When people ask me what I do, I turn around and ask them, ‘What do you need done?’”
Christine Zika started cz Concierge Services with the busy professional in mind. But she soon found out that they aren’t the only ones who need her services. In fact, there are few people who couldn’t use the services Zika offers, which is just about anything that would take some of the stress out of their lives.
Zika assists corporations in planning and executing their special projects. But she also helps their employees complete their own personal tasks. One day she might be making travel arrangements for the multinational technology and consulting giant ibm. The next day she’s walking her 84-year-old client’s dog.
“What stresses one person out may not stress somebody else,” Zika said. “Concierge services are really about assisting those who need it. I enjoy helping Margie as much as I enjoy helping ibm.”
Simply put, companies and individuals outsource there business & personal tasks to cz Concierge Services and rest easy.
Zika said she doesn’t replace employees, she makes businesses more productive. “Cz Concierge Services is not a substitute for good employees, we are a tool to give good employees time to be great,” she said. “Our concierges will meet with you where you want to meet and organize the details of the project and tasks ahead.”
By using a concierge for extra projects and the small, time consuming tasks, management and employees will have the time to be more
34 | STREETSCAPE MAGAZINE
Productive in the workplace while also finding an improved work and life balance, Zika said. “We are personal assistants for every day.”
Located in St. Charles, cz Concierge personal assistants will travel to any location within a 25 mile radius which includes all of the Metropolitan St. Louis area and Metro East free of charge.
Zika said her services can be an addition to the benefits package of any business. “Corporations are now trying to provide benefits for employees beyond health and dental. They understand that employees are an asset not a liability. They want to help them deal with the ever growing stress of work and life.”
Zika said employers are losing on average $13,000 per year for every disengaged employee. “In our fast-paced, 24/7 world, more American employees are feeling chronically overworked. Studies have found these workers will make 20 percent more mistakes and this leads to less productivity for the company, higher stress levels, resentment and more time off from work,” Zika said. “Progressive employers who help their employees find solutions to balancing their home and work life will find a happier, more productive employee.”
A company can offer this incentive to their employees in three ways: by purchasing a membership plan, through a unique reward system or as part of an incentive program.
Coming from a business background herself, Zika knows what balancing work and home life is all about. She has worked as a special events planner and membership services representative in the nonprofit sector as well as on the administrative side of business as an office manager and executive assistant. She said it is in these positions that she learned how to understand the unique needs and problems of executives and all employees.
“I worked crazy hours. I always used to say if I could just get someone to do my grocery shopping life would be good,” Zika said. “Well, we can provide that service. We can deal with the cable guy so the person doesn’t have to miss a sales meeting or inventory time—so they don’t have to have that conflict of what’s more important, home life or work life.”
Zika said she might locate a gift for a special event, organize a basement or find bids for a concrete project or a tree cutting service. She has been a wedding planner and even arranged a month-long stay for a family from England while their daughter underwent a rare kind of surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “It’s any task that you don’t want to do or simply just don’t have time to do,” she said.
Other personal tasks cz might perform include: assistance with temporary or permanent relocation services, making library runs, planning birthday parties or baby showers, researching vacation travel plans, running errands for aging parents or even waiting in line at the Department of Motor Vehicles.
