NAS Jax NEX wins 2005 Bingham Award

Established to recognize excellence in customer service, operations and management at NEX facilities, the Bingham Award is named after the late Capt. W.H. Bingham, who in 1946 was directed by the secretary of the Navy to establish the NEX system.

NEX Jacksonville's Store Manager John Wood ex-plained some of the criteria for winning the award. ''There are three main areas,'' he said. ''The first is performance to plan, which determines how well you performed under your given budget. The next two are the associate and customer satisfaction indexes, which are determined by annual surveys. This tells us how happy our employees are to work here and how happy our customers are to shop here.''

The award is presented to not only the winning NEX, but also its host command. Capt. Chuck Tam-blyn, executive officer of NAS Jacksonville, accepted the award on behalf of the base.

''It's a great honor for me to stand up here and accept this award on behalf of NAS Jacksonville,'' he said. ''Since I've been here, I've been impressed with the management and customer service here, and I know the Sailors are proud of this store as well.''

Gary King (left), senior vice president of operations, Continental United States, presents the 2005 Bingham Award to Capt. Chuck Tamblyn, NAS Jax executive officer and Bill Hockenberry, general store manager of Jacksonville's Navy Exchange.

Tamblyn went on to say that the employees at the base have truly made their store a ''Sailor's store.''

Gary King, Navy Ex-change Command senior vice president of operations for the Continental United States, was there to present the award to both Tamblyn and Bill Hocken-berry, general manager of NAS Jacksonville's NEX.

''As you all know, Navy Exchanges are an important benefit and contribute to the overall quality of life for our Sailors,'' said King. ''Shopping at a Navy Ex-change provides an outstanding value with an average savings of 20 percent before sales tax.''

King explained that the Bingham Award is how the Navy thanks their ex-changes for supporting Sailors and their families and just how well NAS Jacksonville's NEX did last year.

''NAS Jax NEX is the winner in the U.S. sales from $35 to $76 million. NEX Jacksonville's sales this year were $83.3 million, 9.7 percent above last year and profits were up 24.3 percent. All of this in spite of a Super Target opening up just outside the gate of NAS Jax,'' said King.

NAS Jax NEX also in-creased its associate satisfaction index score six points for the second year in a row, which is the largest increase of all large stores.

Also, because of the profit increase, the NEX was able to double its Morale, Welfare and Recreation contribution from the previous year, giving more than $900,000 in fiscal year 2005.

NAS Jax Navy Exchange General Store Manager Bill Hockenberry (right) presents a giant check for a $1,000 savings bond to A-OK Award winner Danielle Jansen along with her parents, David and Twanda. Danielle won the award for receiving a B average or above on her most recent report card.

King also described some ways the NEX has contributed outside of customer satisfaction.

''NEX Jacksonville is an active participant in many base-wide programs and initiatives including the Navy Run, chief's night,

base indoctrination and base clean-up, as well as co-sponsoring Navy Marine Corps Relief Society fund-raisers and Toys for Tots campaigns. NEX Jackson-ville also served as a collection point for Katrina relief donations last year and transferred more than $10,000 worth of food and clothing to the Red Cross,'' he added.

Hockenberry, who accepted the award on behalf of NAS Jax NEX, thanked all of his employees for all their hard work in making this award possible. He then took the time to present another award to a student who won their most recent A-OK award.

''The A-OK program is a way for us to recognize those who put in the extra effort and get good grades,'' he said. ''This award recognizes students who receive a B average or higher on their most recent report card.''

The A-OK award winner, Danielle Jansen proudly accepted her oversized check for a $1,000 savings bond as well as a bag of goodies that included several discount coupons to spend at the NEX.