Small Business Spotlight: Resident helps businesses with customer service in Shippensburg area

Melissa Hockenberry

Business Name: First Things First Training and Consulting

Years in Business: 1.5 years

Location: Shippensburg

Contact: ftftac.com or 518-545-4654

Q: Why did you want to start this kind of business?

A: For decades, I have been passionate about making people’s lives easier. Helping businesses focus on improving the customer experience allows me to make both employee and customer lives easier.

Q: How did you get your start?

A: I worked with the Managed Service Providers in the tech industry for 18.5 years. This experience confirmed that there are brilliant entrepreneurs with great skill that are lacking business acumen and a customer perspective on their services.

Q: What does your business sell or provide?

A: I help clients retain customers and revenue by improving their customer experience for both their internal and external customers.

Q: What is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

A: Educating people about customer experience; it is much more than customer service.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do or place in Cumberland County?

A: I am a book nerd. I love the Coy Public Library in Shippensburg. I also love the expanse of the Valley that is present in the landscape of southern Cumberland County.

Rachel Andreoli is the owner of Interior Intuition. She specializes in helping clients design spaces to help them love the way