/>iAt IMS, we believe our people are our greatest asset. In honor of our incredible team, we are thrilled to go “beyond the bio” and share the personal stories of employees across our organization.
They say, “Only a well-oiled machine runs smoothly.” At IMS, Administrative Office Manager Becki Bowers and Consulting Services Scheduler Becky Sabala help supply the oil.
Becki and Becky are essential members of our Consulting Support department, whose key role was described in last month’s employee spotlight as “supporting our entire consulting team and helping them best serve our clients across the board.” These behind-the-scenes team members have more in common than their names—they are both part of the system that fuels our trial consulting services and helps us to “Operate as One” in support of our trusted clients. Read on to learn how Becki and Becky found the litigation support industry, how their roles have evolved, and which accomplishments they’re most proud of.
Becki Bowers, Administrative Office Manager
Becki Bowers combined her interest and passion for organization and facilitation into a career supporting experts in the field of legal consulting. In addition, she oversees a team of administrative support staff to ensure that tasks are completed with “Quality & Excellence” across multiple departments and service lines. Becki’s focus and passion for people and connections are essential to her work and allow her to be a leader in and out of the office.
Q: How did you get into this industry?
A: I always had a history of administrative work—in higher education, home furnishing retail, and the insurance and architecture industries—then I joined The Focal Point, a litigation graphics boutique firm that serviced top-tier law firms throughout the country. I was hired to assist Chris Ritter (TFP’s Chief Visual Strategist; now the Strategy & Jury Consulting Senior Advisor at IMS) and I was excited to be working with trial consultants and graphic designers. I was able to use my skills to assist with office management duties and serve as a liaison between Chris and the consulting team.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department/role?
A: I always like knowing everybody in my division and the company. I like knowing who everyone is and what they do, and I like knowing who has the answers. I tell people, if I can’t help you, I can tell you who you need to talk to in order to get it done or to figure out the answer. I’m heavily involved with pulling all the systems together too, like timekeeping and proposals, and making sure that when decisions get made and handed to me, I make them happen.
I also really enjoy the employee engagement side of my role. I like to think of ways to keep everyone integrated and on common ground. Staying together through COVID and getting to interact with each other during that time was difficult, so that’s why we began the “workday pause” events to try and have some activities and opportunities for mingling in a virtual setting. It was such a hit that our team has continued to plan these events even now that we are on the other side of the pandemic.
Q: What internal accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: A major accomplishment has been helping IMS implement Microsoft Dynamics and getting it to work for our case management needs. We needed a Dynamics guru on the consulting side, so I took that on and learned a lot from the experience. It’s an ongoing process and growing entity, but it’s become the right tool for us. I’ve made sure we’re using it in a way that keeps information straight for everybody. I do most of the training for consulting too, so it’s been a pretty big achievement.
Q: Are there any other stories you’d like to share?
A: I personally loved when TFP first integrated with IMS. I had the opportunity to go on a little tour in October 2019. I went to Dallas and Pensacola and met everyone in the main office. Bill Wein and I were a team for the pumpkin carving contest. That was so much fun, and it was a great memory. Then, in December, I was able to attend the All Employee Meeting in Pensacola. That was special to me because I also got to meet Brian Patterson from TFP; he worked in New York, and I previously never had the chance to meet him in person. At that event, we met all our new IMS family, but then as the original TFP family, we also hung out and had a lot of fun together.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: We’re so niche, and everyone is very intelligent and very talented. You’re working with people who are experts in what they do and have incredible work ethics. Our team is just amazing.
Q: How do the IMS core values align with your own?
A: I believe that “Operate as One” and “Quality & Excellence” most align with my own values. After TFP merged with IMS, I found that the company really did operate as one. Everyone is cooperative, understanding, and in good communication. I also believe 100% in “Quality and Excellence”. We have an additional level of internal quality control; we want everything to be right and correct for our clients. My motto this year has been “stay steady, stay ready” because things can change, and my team needs to continue supporting consultants to keep the business moving along.
Becky Sabala, Consulting Services Scheduler
Becky Sabala is a collaborative problem-solver who is always focused on improving internal processes and procedures for the benefit of colleagues and clients alike. She truly exemplifies the IMS core values and delivers “Quality & Excellence” on a daily basis. Becky may have only joined the IMS team a year ago, but her positivity and drive have already made a significant impact and helped pave the way for future innovation.
Q: How did you get into this industry?
A: Truthfully, I was looking for a good company, with good people and solid benefits that I could grow old with.
Q: How did you find IMS?
A: IMS found me by way of Phil Kenney. We previously worked together at a training consulting company and have kept in touch. When he shared that IMS was hiring, we talked about the culture—the personal touch and healthy leadership style that was present. We talked about where IMS was and where it was going. It sounded like an opportunity that I would not want to pass up. I then connected with Stephanie in HR and knew that somehow, I needed to become a part of this organization.
Q: What do you like most about your specific department/role?
A: I love the opportunity to work with so many different teams, individuals, and service lines. As a part of the Consulting Support team, our reach is far and wide. We are able to hear about challenges and turn them into learning opportunities for multiple teams. We are cross-functional throughout the Consulting Services division.
Q: What internal accomplishment are you most proud of?
A: We implemented a scheduling function that did not exist six months ago. We have deeply impacted and added value to each of our service lines while increasing the capabilities of reporting and infrastructure. We are continuing to break barriers and increase our knowledge and systems while looking at how to improve tomorrow.
Q: Are there any stories or memories you’d like to share?
A: As I mentioned, this role did not exist six months ago. My first meetings were just brainstorming about what it could look like. Chris Sizemore (IMS Vice President of Client Services) and the consulting leadership team knew what was needed and wanted, but they were still figuring out exactly how to get there. With their plans and knowledge and my previous scheduling experience, we have built an exciting scheduling foundation. Weekly, our focus pivots just a bit from where we were the previous week; our success thus far has turned plans into reality and encourages us to continue.
When you can look into the eyes of a department head who is overwhelmed with the task of managing 30+ contractors, ask a few questions, request access to the existing process, and come back within two days with a solution in an existing platform—and immediately see the relief in the department head’s eyes—that is what makes the planning, lessons learned, challenges, and wins worthwhile.
Q: What do you think sets IMS apart from competitors or other companies?
A: Our core values are exemplified daily. It’s simple; we care. Each person you come into contact with cares deeply about their role—they’re passionate about what they do and their impact on the organization.
Q: How do the IMS core values align with your own?
A: Living a balanced life with positive intent is so important to me. Leading with kindness can set the tone for a much more positive experience for all parties, and I think the IMS core values speak to that. I also believe that “Quality & Excellence” should be the bar we keep our eyes focused on.
