In the Company of Leaders

You Can Deliver What You Promise

When General Manager Gary McCollum (left) shared his vision that, one day, applicants would line up for jobs at Cox Northern Virginia, he was greeted by skepticism. After all, employee morale was low and turnover on the rise. The system, which had just been acquired by Cox, had an antiquated delivery network in dire need of an upgrade. Customers were defecting, and franchise agreements contained unrealistic commitments. But Gary persevered. He built a strong management team committed to greatness. Together, they rebuilt employee confidence, supervised Cox’s most complex technical upgrade ever and resolved longtime disputes with the county government.

Known for his personal touch, Gary visits customer homes frequently and volunteers extensively in the community. Four years into a five-year plan, Gary and team are seeing a tremendous turnaround. The system was recognized as 2003 “Cable System of the Year” by Cable World magazine and the Virginia Cable & Telecommunications Association, and Gary received “The Vanguard Award,” the cable industry’s highest recognition of leadership. Most gratifying for Gary is witnessing Cox become an employer of choice, as promised. “Employees see that the vision is real, not just a pipe dream. They know we can provide great service not only to customers, but to each other.”