🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏

Job: Customer Service Manager – Stages Indoor Cycling

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Job Title

Customer Service Manager

Company / Organization

Stages Indoor Cycling

Job Description

About the Company

Stages Cycling came to market in 2012 to completely blow the category of power measurement apart. Six World Championships and less than a year later, the world’s most data-driven, obsessive, professional cycling team, Team Sky, chose to exclusively ride Stages Power meters to victory in the most grueling professional cycling races in the world including the world time-trial championships.

Stages Indoor Cycling brings commercial fitness facilities an indoor cycling experience that provides the quality training of an outdoor ride with a fun and entertaining atmosphere that makes the time fly by. Our visual display presents an entertaining experience while our patented power meter provides accurate and reliable power data.

Role and Responsibilities

Responsible for the processes and systems related to the servicing customers and support of Customer Service Team. Directs the delivery of administrative and operational assistance designed to promote revenue growth, productivity, and exceptional levels of customer satisfaction. Provides team members with the appropriate training, tools, direction and motivation to enable their success. Advocates for customers to internal departments to ensure feedback and data are available for continuous improvement of our products and service.

Personnel Responsibilities

· Delegate Customer Service tickets and follow up to Stages Indoor Cycling (SIC) Customer Service Representative(s) as needed
· Develop, monitor and implement staffing models for work unit against forecast/actual volumes.
· Work with HR to attract, recruit, hire, and onboard customer service personnel to meet staffing needs
· Ensure personnel have adequate tools, training, and resources to effectively perform their job functions.
· Report to Human Resources any instances of harassment or discrimination that are witnessed or reported by an employee.
· Mentor and train direct reports.
· Carry out annual reviews with direct reports.
· Develop, modify and report operations dashboard/scorecard for work unit reflecting departmental performance against goals.
· Develop, capture, analyze and report departmental performance against goals.
· Analyze departmental workflows and implement any enhancements that may positively impact efficiency and productivity.
· Incorporate changes in processes as necessary to positively affect customer satisfaction scores, processing efficiencies, and service level agreements.
· Actively manage evolving data requirements and work closely with the IT function and software vendors to ensure various software interfaces/functions perform correctly.
· Monitor the performance of employees of the operating unit for any performance deficiencies and provide individual coaching for performance improvement.

Customer Technical Support

· Provide sales and technical support to our domestic consumer and dealer accounts
· Support pre-sale and post-sale technical support on our indoor cycles and power meters
· Communicate with customers via email and phone to support escalated situations
· Interact with other departments in Portland and Boulder office through appropriate channels
· Provide exceptional customer experience in all communications with customers
· Stay up to date on internal communication regarding our product updates, relevant competitor products,  industry developments, internal processes, customer facing processes, warranty and other technical support processes, trouble-shooting techniques, and other relevant information
· Lead Customer Service team meetings and trainings
· Assistance in installations or preventative maintenance for white glove installs as requested by the service team
· Work with Operations to help implement, monitor, and maintain support portals, communication channels, and customer touch points
· Monitor activities and needs within National Accounts and respond appropriately along with National Accounts Lead

Warranty Management

· Work directly with warranty team to achieve timely resolution as needed
· Understand and communicate to customers and service techs components of the bike and parts needed to solve technical issues
· Monitor inventory levels of parts and communicate with Purchasing Manager to order more parts when inventory runs low
· Maintain knowledge of changes to bike components and manage projects when large scale replacement of parts is required. Determine priority customers who need first stock available. Coordinate between internal staff, customers, and install techs.
· Communicate regularly with International Sales Director to understand warranty and part order needs
· Communicate regularly with Key Accounts to understand warranty and part order needs
· Provide update to Customer Service and other departments on part changes, current issues, and status of resolutions

Field Technician Support

· Create monthly service bulletin to communicate current issues and solutions to field technicians*
· Occasionally travel to customer sites to provide customer service, technical support, or to oversee installation*

Represent Customer Voice Internally

· Develop and analyze customer satisfaction metrics for enhancing overall performance of services to the external customers.
· Perform customer satisfaction audits and measure results in order to continue to meet and exceed customer expectations.
· Effectively communicate with all department heads with specific feedback for improved workflow and customer satisfaction.
· Be the active “voice of the customer” in the organization, reporting to other departments issues with the customer experience and advocating for customer satisfaction whenever appropriate.
Other tasks and projects as assigned

*Designates non-essential job responsibilities

Qualifications and Education Requirements

· This is a full time position.
· Experience as a customer service representative.
· High level of organizational skills.
· High level of flexibility and creative problem solving.
· Ability to work independently and self-manage duties and tasks.
· Ability to use customer management and order processing systems, with training.
· High level communication and interpersonal skills, including high-volume telephone and written correspondence.
· Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively with customers or employees of Foundation Fitness/Stages Cycling.
· Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts and percentages.  Ability to apply concepts of basic math.
· High reasoning skills: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Preferred Skills Experience with Customer Service communicating via phone and email, Knowledge of bikes and bike parts, Experience with word, Spreadsheet, and inventory software.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

· Ability to sit and type at a computer for the duration of the day.
· This position is primarily an in office position.
· Quiet office environment with noise from call center and occasional customer visits.
· Able to lift 50lbs.
· Able to squat, bend, carry equipment, move heavy equipment with moving devices; able to use fingers, hands, and arms to build equipment; able to use tools to build equipment.

How to Apply

To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to jobs@stagescycling.com.

New Episode for TV Series on Bicycling In Bellingham!

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Folks:

I have created another episode on bicycling through Bellingham history! This one has a theme of why Bellingham is a nice place to commute by bicycle as well as footage of our own bike to work day parties!

Also, all of the music as well as the illustrations of early Bellingham buildings are my own!

Enjoy!

Mark Allyn
Bellingham, Washington

PBOT has sent five companies letter of intent to join dockless e-scooter pilot

Promotional image from Bird, one of the companies Portland is in contact with.
(Photo: @Bird on Instagram)

The Oregonian has just reported on a letter sent from PBOT Commissioner Dan Saltzman and Director Leah Treat that solidifies the City’s intention to allow private companies to test dockless e-scooters in Portland this summer.

“… Companies could be notified by in the next couple weeks with more information,” The Oregonian reporter Andrew Theen writes, “Portland sent the letter to Skip, Spin, LimeBike, Bird and Goat.”

Here’s the text of the letter (dated May 29th):

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is planning a four-month pilot for dockless electric scooters beginning this summer (the “Pilot Period”). The pilot will help the City of Portland determine whether dockless e-scooters can support the City’s equity, mobility, and climate action goals.

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Ride new coastal forest singletrack at the inaugural Whiskey Run MTB Festival

Fresh new singletrack to be ridden on the southern coast!
(Photos: Whiskey Run MTB Fest)
Register now to save your spot on June 9th.

[This post is part of a paid promotional partnership.]

You probably don’t know there are 11 miles of new, professionally-built singletrack trails open and ready to ride on Oregon’s southern coast just north of Bandon. And that’s why the Whiskey Run MTB Festival exists: to help you discover one of Oregon’s best-kept riding secrets. That’s also why we’ve teamed up with local businesses and tourism promoters to help spread the word about it.

The inaugural event is on June 9th and consists of a ride in the morning (three routes to choose from) and a big afterparty celebration at Bandon Brewing Company. The rides are lead by members of the Wild Rivers Coast Mountain Bicycling Association.

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Lyft to acquire Biketown operator Motivate for $250 million

Portland’s bike share system is now managed by Lyft while it uses bikes and technology owned by Uber.

On the same day Biketown launches a major service area expansion and host of other changes, Lyft is finalizing a $250 million deal to acquire Motivate, Inc. — the company that operates Portland’s bike share system.

The deal has potentially huge implications for the future of not only bike share in Portland, but the sharing of all types of last-mile solutions including bikes, electric-bikes, and “micro-mobility” vehicles like electric scooters.

It’s also sort of an awkward mess. Here’s why: The bright orange bikes Motivate uses in the Biketown system were designed and made by a company known as Social Bicycles, which was re-launched as Jump Bikes in January. Then in April, Jump was acquired by Uber, Lyft’s main rival. That means Portland’s bike share system is now managed by Lyft while it uses bikes and technology owned by Uber. What could possibly go wrong?

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Repairs coming to Greenway Trail root bumps

Parks & Rec says it found a contractor to repair a bumpy section of the Willamette Greenway Trail, starting June 5, ending June 8. That section of the trail, south of Rosswood Restaurant, near Cottonwood Bay, will be closed during repairs. This is good news, coming a month before they close the Springwater Corridor for four months, starting July 1.

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/article/686252

The press release:

Popular commuting and recreational route impacted beginning Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) announces that a section of southwest Portland’s Willamette Greenway Trail will be closed next week to allow for construction improvements. The closed portion of the trail will be in the area of Cottonwood Bay (extending north and south of SW Hamilton Court).

The improvement work and trail closure will begin Tuesday, June 5, and last no later than Friday, June 8, 2018; though PP&R and the contractor are hopeful work can be completed by the end of the day on Thursday, June 7.

Work is scheduled to begin starting at 8am and to end no later than 7pm on each of the days. Commuters, bicyclists, walkers and runners should be aware they cannot proceed through the work area. Alternative routes include using the Sellwood Bridge to travel across the river to the Springwater Corridor Trail. Routes back to the west side include the Tilikum Crossing and Hawthorne Bridges.

PP&R staff will ensure that notification signs are in place beginning on Monday, June 4, 2018.

The work will address bumps and uneven pavement in the Greenway trail due to tree roots. PP&R prioritized the Willamette Greenway Trail paving project to increase the convenience for commuters and recreational users during the upcoming four-month closure of part of the Springwater Corridor Trail, which starts July 1, 2018. Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services (BES), Portland Parks & Recreation, and the US Army Corps of Engineers will work together on the large-scale habitat enhancement project that benefits wildlife in the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. For more information on that project, please visit portlandoregon.gov/bes/76508

Willamette Greenway Trail paving – what to know

Start date: Tuesday June 5, 2018
Expected completion date: no later than Friday, June 8, 2018, and hopefully the end of the day on Thursday, June 7.
Work hours: 8am-7pm
Work location: The closed portion of the trail will be in the area of Cottonwood Bay (extending north and south of SW Hamilton Court).
Impacts: Commuters, bicyclists, walkers and runners should be aware they cannot proceed through the work area. Alternative routes include using the Sellwood Bridge to travel across the river to the Springwater Corridor Trail. Routes back to the west side include the Tilikum Crossing and Hawthorne Bridges.
All contractors and staff will be mindful of noise ordinance requirements for work within City limits
PP&R will install informative signs, as well as any necessary barricades, cones, caution tape, etc.

Washington County advocacy group changes name to WashCo Bikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Take note of changes to the main bike advocacy group in Washington County:

Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition Announces Name Change

The Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition (WashCo BTC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose members have been a consistent voice for the bicycling community in Washington
County, Oregon.

While the roots of the organization can be traced back to the late 1990’s, WashCo BTC officially became an independent non-profit agency in 2005. The mission of the organization is to promote bicycle transportation, protect bicyclists’ rights and improve bicycling conditions throughout Washington County, Oregon through education, advocacy and community. In short, WashCo BTC makes bicyclists and bicycling better in Washington County.

As an organization, we take pride in what WashCo BTC has accomplished to date, but recognize there is much opportunity for future growth. Over the past several months the board and staff have closely examined what we must do to take WashCo BTC to the next level.

As a part of this effort, we have looked at the name of the group itself. Although long-time members of the cycling community are familiar with the name and associated mission of WashCo BTC, we feel it may not effectively communicate what the organization is all about to those who are new to our area.

It is with this thought in mind that we want to share with you our new name: WashCo Bikes.

In choosing this name, we are putting the emphasis on what our organization is all about – Bikes. We are all about the noun – Bikes. We teach people how to ride bikes safely and how to repair their bikes too. Our shop refurbishes, repairs, and sells affordable bikes. This means more people who need or want a bike can buy one.

We are also equally about the verb – Bike. Our summer camps introduce kids to the freedom and joy of riding a bike, and strive to instill in them a lifelong love of biking. By encouraging our members to be the voice of advocacy for those who ride bikes, we help make Washington County a friendlier, safer, and more enjoyable place to bike. And by promoting community rides, we help create opportunities for all county citizens to get out on their bikes and bike!

The change in of name also reflects our overall commitment to further organizational growth and doing things differently. As we move forward, we plan to expand the organization’s programs to more fully meet the Bike needs of everyone who lives in Washington County. Ours is an organization that has historically relied on volunteers for leadership and staffing. As we take this next step in our organization’s growth, we plan to hire additional professional staff who can provide strong leadership and vision, bring fresh perspectives, and offer expertise in areas like program development and program management.

While these changes are going to help take the organization to the next level, they will never diminish our need for dedicated volunteers and supportive members who are committed to making bicyclists and bicycling better here in Washington County.

Weekend Event Guide: Pedalpalooza Kickoff, Pioneer Century, Gateway Green MTB fest, and more

What a weekend we have in store!
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

That buzz in the air is because today is Pedalpalooza-eve. That’s right; the big Kickoff Ride and a whole month of cycling celebrations begins tomorrow.

The Weekend Event Guide is sponsored by Abus Bike Locks. Thanks Abus!

We will do our best to highlight a selection of Pedalpalooza rides throughout the month; but your best bet is to check the official Shift calendar or grab the current issue of the Portland Mercury for the printed version.

But wait, there’s more! The biggest off-road biking event of the season is Saturday. It’s the Gateway Green MTB Festival and Take a Kid MTB’ing Day all rolled into one. It’ll be like an entire Sunday Parkways happening in the dirt in a single park with activities, food vendors, entertainment, and more.

Here’s our guide to the next three days…

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Portland developer opens first privately sponsored Biketown station

One of two Biketown parking areas in the Field Office plaza on NW Front Avenue.
(Photos © Jonathan Maus)

It’s usually a good sign when the private sector invests in a city-run transportation program. Such is the case with the new Biketown station at the new Field Office in northwest Portland.

Believing that access to bike share is an asset for their tenants and neighbors, the developers of a pair of new office buildings on NW Front/Naito between 15th and 17th have ponied up for a station and 15 bikes.

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