2025 State of Excel: Awards, Milestones, and All Around Good Times

🎵 Celebrate Good Times, Come On! 🎵

There's a party going on right here. The most exclusive, anticipated event of the year happens every February. No, not the Super Bowl, but it feels like it to Excel Courier! We're talking about our annual company party, the State of Excel (SOE).

State of Excel is an important event for us as we honor the entire team's dedication and hard work. We don't mind sounding redundant when we say that our success is a direct result of our people’s efforts and commitment.

SOE is also a chance for everyone to dress up, and enjoy each other's company outside of our everyday office life over drinks, food, and singing. 

Keep reading to see how the night unfolded and who our award winners were!

Table of Contents:

• Department and Tenure Recognition
• Steve's 20th Anniversary
• Beau's 30th Anniversary
• Presentation Of The Values Awards
• Employees of the Year for Delivery, Logistics, Solutions, and Driver
• The End of the Night

Everybody, Come on Up: Department and Tenure Recognition

Excel Courier is a united front, and this event is a powerful reminder of the incredible talent, dedication, and teamwork that drive Excel's success. As we came together to reflect on the past year, one thing became clear—our achievements are rooted in the hard work and commitment of our team. 

1 Beltsville warehouse team (from left to right): Vernon, Brady, Becky, and Tim pictured with Chris (center). Not pictured: Shawn.

2 Dispatch team (from left to right): Duarte, John, Britney, and Stevie pictured with Chris (center). Not pictured: Patrick, Ben, Chris F., and Kele.

3 Client Services team (from left to right): Juan, Taylor and Jennifer pictured with Chris (second from left). Not pictured: Daion and Joe.

4 Courier Operations team (from left to right): Daryn and Leo pictured with Chris (center). Not pictured: Ryan N.

5 Solutions team (from left to right): Reggie and Ashley pictured with Chris (center). Not pictured: Shweta

6 Sterling warehouse team (from left to right): Louis, Irving, Anthony, Darrius, and Ashraf pictured with Chris (third from right). Not pictured: Anwar

7 Independent Contract Driver nominees (from left to right): Mr. Jessup, Tyanna, Darroll, Wayne, Juanita, and Sanjay, pictured with Chris (third from left). 

8. Administration (from left to right): Vic and Leslie pictured with Chris (far right). Not pictured: Joyslin

11. Sales team: Patton and Chris. Not pictured: Jack. *Chris joking that he's tailing behind Patton*

9. Leadership team (from left to right): Julie, Stephanie, Chris, Stacey, Ryan, Steve, and Casey

10. Richmond warehouse team (from upper left to bottom right): Angela, Calvin, Quadell, and Christian. You were missed!

Steve's 20th Anniversary 

The first remarkable milestone we celebrated was 20 years of dedication and leadership from our Director of Operations, Steve Sawyer! 

For those fortunate enough to have worked with Steve over the years, you already know what an invaluable asset he is to our team. His expertise in warehousing and logistics is truly impressive, and he brings an elite level of strategic thinking and problem-solving to everything he does.

Beyond logistics, Steve has a unique talent for turning the seemingly impossible into reality. He's our very own MacGyver, with the ingenuity to transform what looks like a jumble of resources into a flawlessly executed project, often with the simplest of tools – a zip tie and a paperclip might be all he needs! 

He has an unbelievable ability to create order out of complexity, ensuring that every detail is managed. We consistently receive praise for the exceptional cleanliness and organization of our facilities, which is a huge testament to Steve. 

His dedication to our entire team is incredible and we are very grateful to have worked alongside him for two decades. So please join us in congratulating Steve on this amazing achievement!

Beau's 30th Anniversary 

We celebrated ANOTHER huge milestone: 30 years of knowledge, friendship, and unwavering commitment from our beloved Fleet Manager, Beau!

Beau's journey with Excel Courier began on February 20, 1995, a time when our company was just a small, close-knit group with a handful of drivers. Beau could be seen cruising around town in his Isuzu truck, relying on dispatch, paper maps, and good old-fashioned local knowledge to navigate the city streets.

Fast forward to today, and Excel Courier has grown to a team of over 250 drivers, which is growth and evolution Beau has been an integral part of.

Beau, thank you for 30 incredible years. You are a treasured and beloved part of Excel Courier's legacy, and we are so fortunate to have you on our team. Here's to many more years of success and happiness!

Valued By Our Peers: presentation of our Value Awards

Our Peer Awards truly reflect peer recognition. Everyone had an opportunity to vote for who they believed embodied our core values of Customer Service, Accountability, and Teamwork. And we received SO many it was hard to narrow down. 

1. Service - Juan Regalado, Client Account Manager

Juan’s unwavering dedication to customer service ensures that every interaction leaves a lasting, positive impact.

A couple of Juan's nominations:

“He goes above and beyond with clients as often as possible & thoroughly, making sure to hit all information points to provide an understanding of what will go into the job we are doing for them, big or small."

"He's an amazing coworker. He always jumps into problems, trains new members, clocks in, and helps when he doesn't need to. He's great with the customers and other team members, he's polite and knows exactly how to handle every situation."

2. Accountability - Daryn McDaniel, Project Manager

Daryn’s commitment to accountability sets the standard for ownership and follow-through, showing us how to take responsibility and get things done.

A couple of Daryn's nominations:

"She does not hesitate to assist in the learning of a new client or correct information for the team as a way of teaching. In doing this, you can see that she, too, is learning as she is teaching and takes it all in while collecting information to grow and know the customer and their needs. Her high expectations of herself and her performance come through in her care with the customer experience & in her expectations from the team to take the same care in the work we do here at Excel."

"She's truly blossomed over the past year, taking on her new role with such enthusiasm and a real sense of responsibility. It's inspiring how she encourages that same level of commitment and dedication in everyone around her. Daryn's a fantastic example of what it means to strive for excellence, and I'm so proud to work with her!"

3. Teamwork - Britney Hall, Dispatcher

Britney’s spirit of teamwork reminds us that when we work together, we accomplish more than we ever could alone.

A couple of Britney's nominations:

"She has stepped up as a trainer & dispatcher to assist our new team members in their knowledge from all sides. Her ability to be a hybrid as a night dispatcher gives her a skillset that not many can master & she has truly shined."

"She always steps up when needed, she gives feedback to her teammates to make Excel stronger."

Employees of the Year: Delivery, Logistics, Solutions, and Independent Contract Driver

This year saw significant growth and development for everyone, but a few individuals truly made an impact for themselves, their teams, and Excel Courier. The leadership team chose these award recipients after carefully assessing those who had the greatest influence this year. Congratulations to all of our winners!

Delivery - Daryn McDaniel, Project Manager

Wow - two-time winner! The growth Daryn has experienced this year is immeasurable. Daryn began her journey at Excel Courier in 2015 as a Client Service Representative. She has consistently demonstrated professionalism and a desire to learn, but it was her transition into the role of Account Project Manager that propelled her development.

She excels at monitoring high-level accounts and projects, keeping everyone organized, and ensuring that all team members are aware of their responsibilities and deadlines. Daryn takes complete ownership and pride in her work, all while maintaining an upbeat attitude. Her level of attentiveness is unmatched, and she genuinely cares about the work she does.

Logistics - Irving Blaize, Logistics Warehouse Lead

Blaize is a very fitting last name for Irving (pictured left) because he burns fiercely and brightly. He's an unstoppable force in our Sterling, Virginia warehouse and is always up for the challenge and helping his team.

He started at Excel Courier in 2021 but it feels like he's been a part of the team for decades. He welcomes everyone with a big smile, and helps clients flawlessly, all while ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and safety in our warehouse. There's a reason he has won this award two years in a row!

Solutions - Ashley MacLean, Solutions Coordinator

Don't be fooled by her tenure. Ashley may be under a year in her role, but she has wholeheartedly taken on the responsibilities of our Solutions division. She monitors and helps manage our largest account, along with over 125 contractors who support the account. She's highly respected and it doesn't take long to recognize that she takes her job very seriously.

Ashley has created efficiencies in the training program that have made us #1 in our client's national market! She continues to demonstrate to the client that, above all else, we will take care of them thoroughly while holding all parties accountable for their day-to-day actions. 

Independent Contract Driver Of The Year - Darroll Brown

This year, we introduced a new award—the Independent Contract Driver of the Year. We can't believe it took this long! We couldn’t do what we do without our drivers. We can promise the world, but without them, we wouldn’t be able to fulfill any of our obligations. 

This year, we invited all of our amazing nominees, and this was a tough one to choose, but one contractor stood out, Darroll. Darroll helps coordinate and also drives for one of our largest accounts, an automotive parts distributor. His work ethic is unparalleled, and he always prioritizes Excel's best interests when liaising with dispatch and drivers. He does everything possible to guarantee customer satisfaction. Additionally, he has been instrumental in training and opening new client locations, becoming a trusted resource for our client's warehouse staff.

A Night to Remember

This is the time of night when we loosen our ties, keep celebrating our achievements, and revel in the camaraderie of being a team! Enjoy this slideshow of how the team does just that.

Celebrating Team Spirit 

As the night drew to a close, it was clear that the State of Excel is more than just an annual event—it's a celebration of the people who make our company thrive. From honoring long-standing team members to recognizing the outstanding achievements of our peers, this night was a testament to the dedication and spirit that define Excel Courier.

Do You Want to be at the next State of Excel?

If you're inspired by the stories of teamwork, growth, and excellence and are considering a career in logistics, we invite you to explore opportunities with us. Join a team where your contributions are valued and celebrated. Check out our careers page at https://www.excelcourier.com/careers to start your journey with Excel Courier today!