Denise Hayes

Network Sales and Telemarketing Executive

The hills are alive... with the sound of Denise's enthusiasm. Denise Hayes, Samarind's telesales and marketing executive since October, is an outdoors girl who describes herself as "A bit loud sometimes. I'm very straightforward and honest - but I have to be careful not to let my mouth runaway with itself."

This is an unkind self-appraisal from a lady who simply bubbles over with joie de vivre. Denise can't wait to tell you about all the good things in her life: her partner of six years Steve; his children Ashley and Amy, who have become very much her children, too; her dogs and cats and chickens; and a certain lakeside in the heart of Snowdonia which she considers her second home.

"For the past five years me, Steve and the kids have been going to the same campsite at Llyn Gwynant," says Denise. "I just love it there. We go every other weekend. The lake and the scenery are beautiful and the site's got a great atmosphere. We get on very well with the owners and often meet up with other regulars. Oh, and there's no mobile phone reception there either - that's another plus!"

Denise and family all enjoy the great outdoors: camping, hiking, canoeing. Denise's Landrover is another boon which brings a smile to her face.

"I love my Landy," she says. "I can put my canoes on top. The kids and the dogs can squeeze in the back and we have a trailer for all our gear. We like to camp in style - I don't see why you shouldn't be comfortable. I've got a queen-sized bed in my tent!"

She adds: "When Steve and I finally decide to get married, we'll have the ceremony at Llyn Gwynant. Me and the bridesmaids in matching frocks and wellies!"

Partner Steve is an engineer and his hobby is constructing working models of steam engines from the First World War.

"He's quite an authority on the subject," Denise explains. "It's painstaking work and I help him when I can. When I can't I'll just sit quietly reading a book while he works away."

At the family home in Pentre, Deeside, Denise pursues her own hobby of gardening and also raises chickens, which get on perfectly well with her two cats and friendly Rottweilers, Tilly and Mary.

"We've got pictures of the chickens perched on the dogs' backs and one of the cats likes to curl up in the hen-house," says Denise. "We're one big happy family. I feel very lucky."

Denise's positivity also embraces Samarind.

"I love it here," she says. "Everyone's so friendly and supportive. I had no knowledge of IT before coming here, but I worked in sales in the engineering sector - that's how I met Steve - so am used to working in a technical environment. I'm encouraged to go on courses and sometimes I impress myself with how much I've learnt so quickly.

"My job is to look after all the existing customers, which I don't find too tough because Samarind's got such a great track record that I find they're happy to take my call.

"Even the customers are lovely," she enthuses. "I've started swapping recipes with one of them!"

Published Summer 2009