Norris likes to hire the best folks around–People who are unparalleled in their fields and who like to give back. 

Our departments are peopled with highly trained and technical employees who help keep our clients’ systems and networks running smoothly. Today’s employee spotlight is with one such person who excels at his job but also gives back in a big way to his community.

Today’s profile is with Allen Corey.

NI: What’s your title and included duties at Norris?
AC: Service Technician, I think.

NI: How long have you been at Norris?
AC: Almost 2 years now.

NI: What different positions have you held at Norris?
AC: Remote Service & Technician

NI: How has your tenure at Norris prepared you to be successful in life?
AC: Paychecks help with bills, being able to work on my Low Voltage License with a great incentive to pass and have ½ returned when passed.  Can’t beat that deal, no other integrator has this option.  I have been able to learn more about networking, IT, and electrical theory–more here than 2 previous integrators.

NI: What do you love most about your job?
AC: I have always liked customers happy to see me show up to fix an issue they are having.  Some of my regulars I deal with seem to be really happy with us and it is good to hear.

NI: What frustrates you about your job?
AC: Balance work and coaching football.  In each position at Norris, it has become harder and harder to provide the best service I can with juggling getting to the field in time to coach.  It has become hard to always try to beat the clock, gauge where I will be, how long I need and how long it takes to get to the field for the team.  I announced recently due to the juggling and balancing work with football, I am likely done coaching either this year or after the 2020 season would be my last.  This was a really hard decision but one I fell I have no option in making.  As much as I love coaching kids in a sport that has taught me so much, I need a job and cant lower my standards of service I provide to customers no matter who I have been with.  Some days I do not get a break for more than a few minutes in a day that starts at 5:45 am and ends at 10 pm if I need to be at X places and Y times. 

NI: How long have you been volunteer coaching?
AC: Next year will be my 4th season.  

NI: What does coaching offer you that keeps you coming back, despite the long, long days?
AC: The players, there are a group of tough kids that want a challenge other than playing video games.  Football is one of the most complicated, complex sports mentally and physically.  If they want to learn I will teach them. I would have loved a system like we have grown up.  I had a debt to pay to the sport for what it taught me in life.  

NI: Are you married?
AC: Yes, twice

NI: Have any children?
AC: 1 Kid too smart for his own good.

NI: What lessons have you learned through your duties at Norris that you’d like to pass on to others/your children or the kids you coach?
AC: Time management and keep learning more of what you do most of the day.  If that is flipping burgers be the best burger flipper you can be, but also Work to live, don’t live to work.

NI: Can you talk about one personal goal you have for 2019?
AC: Lose weight and continue to get improvements to up north done to move to Machias in about 9 years and counting.

NI: Can you talk about one professional goal you have for 2019?
AC: Get the rest of the 1st half of my low voltage course finished before the year is out.  Football has slowed that process to a crawl as when the season is going little free time at all till almost the end of Oct.

NI: What do you enjoy doing in your spare/free time?
AC: Fishing, a lot of weekends I will be on various parts of the Androscoggin River fly fishing.  Going to Machias area and my camp every single chance I get. Occasional range time, or archery time.

NI: Anything else I haven’t asked about that people should know?
AC: A lot of things are illegal like taking a money value you seem fit from someone without permission by threatening being held captive.  Unless it’s the government, then it is called taxation and not extortion.

NI: Are you still planning to leave coaching? Or are you still going at it?  
AC: As of now next season I am planning to be my last, which could change pending coaching needs.  But Norris demands, and coaching demands conflict with the time of the season.  If it were easier I would still do it.  If I could coach and make a living from it I would be doing that.  I don’t want to leave the team without anyone.  The sport is declining in numbers statewide, which includes good coaches.  Some coaches are more important in a kid’s life than a teacher. Just as a follow up to the story of this season, here is a message I posted before the championship on our FB page to family and the team. “Last day of football for 2019.  Win or lose I can’t be more proud of this crew.  It’s been a fun and amazing season.  I told the crew this the other night but it will be true.  This game, they will remember the rest of their lives. Any athlete remembers championships win or lose.  Leave it all out there try as hard as you can.  You don’t want to look back and go what if I.  As nervous as I am wanting to stick with a safe base defense.  I know pushing the limits and gambling got us here.  Why change it?  So for your players, be proud of them but let them know to play hard.  This is a life long memory and no matter if they played almost every snap to a few snaps a game they ALL got us here, they ALL worked together.  Every single player is why we are here not just a few of the team.  This is a revenge/IOU game, this game was supposed to happen 2 years ago.  None of us forgot or will forget.  Go, Knights!

After the game: see photos (Champs 20-14 final.  We got our revenge for our upset 2 years ago.)