The management team of the Warrenton License Office hosted an open house with snacks and drinks July 12, marking more than three months since the Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce took over the office.The Chamber took over management in March after being awarded the state contract to run the license office. At the time, managers were challenged with reversing negative public perception.Now, Chamber Executive Director Jan Olearnick said she is enthusiastic about how the office is running and the staff behind the desk.“We’re excited because we have a good team, they’re working well together and they understand the value of customer service,” said Olearnick. “We understand that people have a choice (of license offices), and we want them to think of us.”The Chamber team started out by making physical improvements to the office, spending two days repainting and replacing the carpet. The team has been making other small improvements over time, and upgraded the equipment at the office to make services more efficient, Olearnick said. But the main emphasis has been on having positive interaction with customers.The license office is like a dentist’s office, Olearnick explained — “You don’t want to go, but sometimes you have to go. When you do have to go, we want people to say, ‘Well, that wasn’t as painful as I thought.’ ”Angela Polston, the assistant manager at the license office, said customers have commented that the atmosphere in the office is friendlier and more welcoming.“Things definitely work more smoothly. It’s more of a team now,” Polston said.She added that the staff at the license office has worked to provide efficient service and minimize the wait time for customers.“I hope that if we have anybody out there who had a bad experience, that they would come in and give us another chance,” Polston said. “We’re all here to do what we can to make them happy and show them that things are changed here.”

Visitors attend an open house at the Warrenton License Office Thursday, Juy 12. The Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce took over management of the office in March, and is emphasizing a goal of providing great customer service. 

Record photo/Adam Rollins