Philana Callahan
Client Success Manager
There’s a certain “craftiness” to Philana that may not be apparent upon first meeting her.
“I am GREAT at first impressions,” she says, and then laughs. “Actually, I tend to be a bit of a klutz. On a client visit, as I was waving goodbye, I turned around and ran smack dab into their glass wall. Although I hoped they wouldn’t notice, they ran up and asked me if I was okay. Evidently this has happened on more than one occasion to patients visiting their office. At least they won’t be forgetting me any time soon!”
The crafty part comes into play largely off the job. “I enjoy doing pretty much anything creative,” she says, “whether it be creating an out-of-this-world birthday party or shower, decorating our home, or designing bracelets. I run a small shop on etsy creating custom wire bracelets.”
As a Client Success Manager, Philana focuses on helping SmartBox dentists succeed in their marketing efforts. “I’m the ‘go-to’ person for my dentists for anything SmartBox-related. We keep projects moving forward and performing at their best.”
When not crafting or being rudely introduced to glass walls, she is strongly family-focused. “I love spending time with my family. My husband is a firefighter and we have an (almost) 3 year-old son, Ronan. We enjoy time outdoors, especially in the summer, visiting the zoo, swimming, playing at the park, and going to the beach. Ronan’s current obsession is superheroes, so I’m learning about Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk, etc.”
Philana is passionate about both life and her work. “I give my all in whatever I do, whether planning a party or event for a friend, finding the perfect gift for someone, or making a mundane activity for my son into something fun. I really like to make a difference and go the extra mile. This translates into making my clients happy and comfortable, taking the extra time to build a relationship with them. I strive to have a very proactive approach to work, giving my clients everything they need up front rather than them having to ask in the future.”
Helping others to be happy appears to be a life goal for her. “My worldview is definitely based upon my faith in God. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today. My family is extremely important to me, as well as my friends. I think it’s important to spread a little happiness every day – you never know when a compliment or a ‘hello’ may brighten someone’s day. In all aspects of life, I tend to see the best in people and give them the benefit of the doubt.”
SmartBox is lucky to have Philana, and she feels lucky in her current position. “The company has grown significantly since I started almost a year ago. Everyone is friendly and welcoming, regardless of their roles within the company. We get together on a weekly basis and meet as peers, discussing different aspects of the business. It’s a great learning experience. And SmartBox has a great willingness to change processes to improve. So many companies are resistant to change, even if it would improve client experience and productivity. It’s refreshing to work in an environment where your opinion is valued and you are given the tools you need to succeed.”
Philana also believes strongly in empowering others to succeed. “Some of my strongest personal attributes are my desire to help others and my insightfulness. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others and helping them succeed. I want to teach our dentists about marketing, what we are doing to help them succeed and what they can do to help themselves.”