By By RYAN STEWART / Niles Daily Star
NILES - Michigan Secretary of State, Terri Lynn Land, was visiting the Southeast Berrien County PLUS Secretary of State Office in Niles on Tuesday.
The Niles branch was the second of five visits scheduled on the first day of Land's 153-stop tour of Michigan's Secretary of State Offices. According to Land's Director of Constituent Relations Beth Emmitt, “The tour isn't projected to be completed until June 1.”
The purpose of the tour is to recognize each branch office's service and commitment, to seek ideas and input, and to build on the success of her (Land) branch office modernization program. Most of Land's visit to the Niles branch consisted of her touring the office making sure things were operating smoothly and individually talking with employees. She was also able to meet and greet with some customers that happened to be in the office at that time.
The branch office modernization program restructured how the Secretary of State delivers customer services. The new PLUS offices and SUPER!-Centers offer enhanced benefits such as payment by Discover credit card at the counter, extended hours on Wednesdays, with SUPER!-Centers also providing Saturday hours, and Self-Service Stations for license plate tab renewals.
In addition to visiting, Land presented the branch in Niles with the annual ‘Improved Perception of Office and Improved Customer Service' award.
Also on Tuesday, Land announced that finding a branch office that offers the services, hours and convenience customers need is only a click away with the newly supercharged Secretary of State Branch Office Locator.
The Branch Office Locator was highlighted at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Since its introduction on Jan. 13, more than 18,000 searches have been conducted using the site. For more information about Department of State Services or the Branch Office Locator, visit www.michigan.gov/sos.