Greetings from Joel Leskowitz, SMILE! producer:

Hi! The SMILE! Customer Service Training Program fulfills the mission of SunShower Learning perfectly. For the past 20 years, I have been working to bring joy to people's lives. As a teacher, consultant and film producer, my goal has always been to help people develop their full potential and achieve their goals. SMILE! is a fun way to bring a positive message into the workplace, and it carries many important ideas. Here's how it all started.

A few months ago, I was sitting at a coffee shop (guess which one) hoping to see Frasier walk by, when I noticed an interesting headline in the paper, "No Gloomy Riders on Reggie Wilson's Bus." The article was about a bus driver who delighted his passengers by singing, telling jokes, and, above all, making them smile. I knew I had to meet this singing bus driver.

So, I waited at the bus stop on the corner of First Avenue and Pike Street, just across from the famous Pike Place Market - and those famous fish throwers! A green bus, #27, pulled up and the doors slid open. Reggie flashed me a smile, "Hey, how are you doin' today?" I stepped up, paid my fare and took a seat near the front. As we rolled down 1st Avenue, Reggie told a few jokes. Some of the passengers laughed while others shook their heads and tried not to smile.

"That reminds me of a song," said Reggie. And then he started singing - and some of the riders started singing, too! "You make me smile..." Within minutes, the bus was transformed as the usual barriers to social interaction were falling before my eyes. Strangers were singing, clapping their hands and having a good time together, and Reggie was leading the show.

At the end of the route, Reggie relaxed for a moment and shared his thoughts about the day. "We're all in this together," he said. "I love seeing people get along, but the best part of making people smile is that I get to go home smiling." That was it. We started filming the next week. Over the course of this project, I learned more about Reggie's wonderful personal philosophy that has changed his life and the lives of thousands of people around the city. Now, you can ride with Reggie, too!

By the way, here's that article about Reggie in the Seattle Times.

A big thanks for your interest in SMILE! It's been an honor to work with Reggie and bring out the SMILE! program. It was a pleasure to work with the talented people at Metro-King County Transit. It's given me a new glimpse into the challenges and successes of being a customer service professional. I invite you to read the testimonials from users, explore the SMILE! philosophy and you can also watch the entire film as a streaming movie online. If you need a VHS copy to evaluate with your team, please call or email, and I'll send a free preview copy. I hope you enjoy SMILE!

       Joel Leskowitz, SMILE! producer