At work, Paul Addington’s life is all about numbers.
Away from work, it’s all about notes.
And the thread that ties those two motifs together is Paul’s desire for connection — to be part of a team, working toward a common cause and helping each other out along the way.
At Cheetah, Paul is a Business Process Outsourcing Specialist, and on the weekends, he is a musician, playing piano and guitar at New Life Presbyterian Church, in Yorktown, Indiana. Paul holds a degree in Intercultural Studies from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois. As a Badger state native, he is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, and the University of Wisconsin.
He has been with Cheetah since 2019.
What do you like about your job?
Paul: I think the main thing is that I find trust operations really interesting. We have a daily routine and a daily process. But no two days are the same. There are so many scenarios that you encounter. I love problem solving. It never gets boring. And I’ve always just liked working with numbers and spreadsheets. If I could make every single life decision using an Excel spreadsheet, I would.
Do you work directly with clients?
Paul: Client communication is built into our daily rhythm. Something that is neat about it is that after a little while once they get familiar with you and vice versa, especially if you get a chance to interact with them on the phone, you can get to know them on a personal level. So, you develop this familiar working relationship.
What do you like about working at Cheetah?
Paul: One thing that jumps out to me is how much people care about each other. I know that if I ever needed to talk to a coworker, even about something in my personal life, I could send them a text or give them a call and know that I would have a listening ear.
I’ve always felt like there were people who had my back. That’s huge in how we relate to clients. When you work with people who care about you and you feel supported, it propels you to care for the clients. It’s a lot easier to give when your cup is full.
How long have you been playing music?
Paul: I grew up playing piano and then taught myself guitar in college. Music has been a big part of my life. I play probably once a month at church now. But I did lead music at church for about three years on a weekly basis. When I was leading, I always lead from guitar. But now I am usually playing piano. I started taking lessons when I was about 4 or 5. I went to a tiny church where the pastor’s wife played piano. Even though she wasn’t a formal piano teacher, she got me off the ground, and then I worked with a trained teacher for several years.
Any big plans for 2024?
Paul: I’m planning a trip to the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska to visit my girlfriend. She and I share a mutual hobby of birdwatching, and Alaska provides a ton of unique opportunities to view nature and wildlife at nearby beaches, national parks, and hiking trails.
