Member Minute with Coleen Jennison

As we prepare for Journey Unseen 2021, we wanted to follow up with one of last year's guests, Coleen Jennison with Cox. The Journey Unseen program’s focus is to facilitate connections between women and provide an opportunity to discuss career advancement for women. This conversation provides insight about their “journey unseen” and insight into how people, organizations and Wichita have shaped their journey.

Coleen has just accepted a new role within Cox and we wanted to follow up with her to see where her journey is taking her now. For more background on Coleen, you can view her 2020 Journey Unseen interview here.

Coleen Jennison, Cox
SVP and Region Manager for Central Region

Please tell us a little bit about your new role.

In my new role as SVP and Region Manager of the Central Region, I will be responsible for leading operations in Cox’s Arkansas, Kansas, Idaho, Iowa, Nebraska and Oklahoma footprint. My responsibilities will continue to include ensuring alignment between regional and center reporting teams to keep our business and our people connected and responding to the challenges presented by the competitive landscape. Will also continue to champion the Cox customer and the Cox employee experience across the region with a strong focus on employee engagement and growing talent.

Describe your company's most recent success.

Cox’s response to the COVID pandemic has been tremendous. From the way we’ve taken care of our employees to how we ensured our customers had the bandwidth they needed during the work/learn from home transition made me tremendously proud. Cox continued to take care of our community partners and provided free services to those most in need through our Connect to Compete program. We were able to pivot quickly to meet unpredictable challenges.

What about your organization are you most passionate?

Our people. Cox has the very best people committed to doing the right thing. It’s an honor to work alongside this team.

To what do you attribute your success?

My philosophy has always been to do your current job to the absolute best of your ability and other opportunities will present themselves. I’ve worked hard, raised my hand for additional projects and developed critical relationships throughout my career. I have also been incredibly fortunate to have both inspiring mentors and dedicated sponsors.

What traits does it take to be successful at Cox?

Traits of success are, in my opinion, universal. Do the right thing, always. Work hard and smart. Be a great teammate. Own your mistakes and learn from them. Pay it back, mentor or sponsor. Humility (one of my favorite quotes is “One of the most important leadership lessons is realizing you’re not the most important or the most intelligent person in the room at all times, Mario Batali.”

What have you enjoyed most about working with businesses in the Wichita region?

What is exceptional about Wichita is the way businesses come together to invest in this community. There is a true desire to grow Wichita and everyone wants to do their part to make it happen.

What is your favorite Chamber event, program, or service?

Honors Night. Love honoring deserving people for their achievements and contributions.

What is something people may not know about you or your organization?

Founded in 1898 by Ohio Governor James M. Cox, Cox remains a family-owned business. We are currently led by four-generation family leadership.

Where do you see your organization in five years?

There are lots of exciting things on the horizon for Cox. In the last 10 years, Cox has invested more than $15 billion in infrastructure upgrades to deliver video, phone, and high-speed Internet and home security and automation service to homes and businesses in our service area. To continue as a leader in broadband services and enable future growth, we will invest at least $10 billion over the next five years, with a focus on enhancing residential and business customers’ experience. We have increased internet speeds exponentially over the last decade and we now offer gigabit service to every home in our Kansas service areas. In our continued efforts to bring innovations into the homes of our customers—things like virtual reality, connected health, connected education, it's going to take a 10G network to deliver it and we are already moving forward with those plans.

What is your favorite business app and why?

After this crazy year, the Microsoft Teams App. How important it was to stay connected when we couldn’t be together. Powered by Cox of course.

Who inspires you?

There are so many people who inspire me for a myriad of reasons. Top of the list would be my Dad. He would tell me growing up that there will always be someone smarter, faster, taller – whatever the trait, and that you can’t compare yourselves to them. You can only do your very best - always. He also told me early on that the true test of a good manager was when their employees go on to succeed them. As leaders that is the best legacy we can leave, that we somehow contributed to the growth or achievements of another.

Journey Unseen 2021 will launch on Wednesday, July 7 on the Wichita Business Accelerator Podcast, which is co-hosted by Don Sherman and Ebony Clemons-Ajibolade. The Business Accelerator podcast is devoted to supporting and learning from area business leaders and provides an impactful way to elevate the visibility of area businesses, celebrate their successes and learn from their experiences. This year's guests are Yolanda Camarena, Vera Bothner and Amy Williams. The special series will run for three consecutive weeks, starting July 7. Listen here.