Introduction
Kendal Hampton is the administrative assistant at Fort Wayne Citilink, the public transportation operator for Fort Wayne and Allen County, Indiana. One of her responsibilities includes posting public notices for Citilink’s board and committee meetings in the local newspaper, the Journal Gazette.
Importance of Public Notices
“Our bi-laws require us to post notices about these meetings so the public can attend if they want,” Hampton explained. “If anyone has concerns, they can come to our meetings and talk to us. We do this to comply with the law and keep everyone informed.”
Transition to Column
About a year ago, the Journal Gazette informed Hampton that they would start using Column to manage public notices. Hampton had to set up her own Column account. Initially, she was skeptical. “I thought, is this really going to be easier for me? But when I checked it out, it was much simpler.”
Learning the System
Hampton spent about 30 minutes learning the new software. Posting a notice, however, took her only five minutes to learn. “The system walked me through every step. It was so easy a baby could learn how to do it,” she said.
Efficient and Easy to Use
Hampton praised the system’s simplicity. “Column gives you everything you need — a copy of the notice, a preview, the estimated cost. You just copy and paste from your word processor into the software. You can also upload the notice or type it in. It’s that easy.” She now spends about five minutes posting a notice and receives the invoice through Column shortly after.
Planning Ahead
Hampton appreciates the ability to manage notices in advance. “I can send notices for weeks or months ahead of time and pay for them when the time comes.” Email and in-app notifications inform her exactly when the notices will be published. “I set specific dates, so I know exactly when the notice will be posted. The newspaper notifies me directly through Column and confirms it’s been posted.”
Streamlined Workflow
Hampton’s role at Citilink is demanding, involving scheduling meetings, answering phones, and assisting the management team. “I handle all the board minutes, organize meetings, events, and trips for managers. I’m basically the Citilink secretary.”
Conclusion
Using Column has eased Hampton’s workload. “Once I’ve posted my notices on Column, I can just let it go. Once it’s in the system, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. It’s just done.”