Magnus Marketing Blog

On Tuesday afternoon, Kohl's lost a valued member of its staff. A co-worker and friend, Mary Jane Simone, passed away. It was very sudden and unexpected. In a strange, but "higher authority" questioning experience, she happened to meet up with a colleague accidentally at a local Shoprite and was sitting in the breakroom at Kohl's on Tuesday afternoon - just hanging out after doing some shopping. That night, apparently in her sleep, she passed away. I like to think that we all were given a chance to say goodbye to this selfless and caring woman who not only had kind words for everyone she interacted with at the store, but also for her family for whom she went to great lengths to take care of.

When co-workers unexpectedly pass, it brings an interesting set of circumstances to a company. Mary Jane's position was posted on the board, an unusual thing - given the management usually selects or asks people for that type of position. On the one hand, there are the emotional issues of losing a friend and family member, on the other hand, there is the need to retain productivity and get the organization back to efficient running. Yes, we are just resources - cogs in the wheel of the machine - but we are human beings and contributors. Some, like Mary Jane, make the machine run a bit better.

We will miss Mary Jane and are memorializing her on a plaque so she will always be part of our Kohl's store.