'We are all set for exponential growth'
Q: Describe your company.
A: We transform spaces into places people want to work. We produce custom office furniture with our full interior design staff, flooring department and manufacturing plant. We are a one-stop shop for all your office needs from the beginning stage of architecture to final touches of artwork.
Q: Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
A: No, we have hired and ramped up over the last two years. We are all set for exponential growth. I have an amazing talented, hardworking team of employees who impress me daily with their devotion and innovation.
Q: What will your company's main challenges be in the next year?
A: Maneuvering through what the post COVID-19 office will look like.
Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?
A: Raising the heights of cubical workstations with acrylic material, so companies do not lose the open office feel, while providing safety and security for their employees.
Q: If you had one tip to give to a rookie CEO, what would it be?
A: Hire people smarter than you, give them guidance and then get out of their way and let them do their magic.
Q: Do you have a business mantra?
A: Work and play hard. We need to hear laughter every day.
Q: From a business outlook, who do you look up to?
A: I look up to people like Darren Hardy, author of "The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster" and John Ruh (my 73-year-old mentor).
Q: What is one interesting fact about you or your company that most people may not know?
A: We started out selling 100% used office furniture and now we sell less than 1% of our total sales.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Play volleyball with my friends, play with my granddaughter and do anything outdoors, especially spending time on my boat or swimming in my pool.
Q: What book is on your nightstand?
A: "The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster" by Darren Hardy, "The Three Moments of Joy" and my gratitude journal.
Q: What keeps you up at night?
A: My husband's snoring (Ha, ha). I also mention my brain because it does not stop spinning about unsolved problems I am working on.
Q: If you were not doing this job, what do you think you would be doing?
A: Being a race car driver or doing consulting services.
Q: What was your first paying job?
A: Doing accounting work for my uncle's janitorial business. I started doing this when I was 15.
Q: If you could put your company name on a sports venue, which one would you choose?
A: Wrigley Field.
Q: What is one funny thing that has happened to you in your career?
A: In a meeting, we were talking about doing a "Yes Men" campaign and I said that we could change it to Spanish and call it "Si Men." I realized how it sounded right after the words came out of my mouth; I was very embarrassed and turned red.
Q: Two people to follow on Twitter and why. (besides your company)
A: I follow Arianna Huffington because of her book called "Thrive." I also follow Brené Brown, a popular author, because of her inspirational words.
Business owners need to know they can be vulnerable sometimes too.