Department/Title: Regional Inside Sales Associate
Worked at Kadant Solutions Since:  1973

Tell me about your career path and how you got to Kadant Solutions.

After graduating from our local community college, I went to work for two years as a legal secretary.  An opportunity arose at AES Engineered Systems for an order entry clerk. I started in 1973 in that role and over the years held many positions - engineering assistant, administrative assistant, parts order representatives and eventually customer service representative. In 2009, Kadant AES and Kadant Web Systems joined together to form Kadant Solutions and the new function of regional inside sales associate was created which I assumed at that time. My standard joke about being with the company for 46 years is that I started at the age of five.

What’s one thing you’ve learned in your time at Kadant Solutions?

Continually challenge yourself to keep learning so that you can not only enrich your own career but at the same time strive to help the customers that you serve. 

What is your favorite aspect of your job?  

The interaction with my customers and building relationships with them. We all have become so email oriented that I find it most satisfying that our customers know that when they phone, they can speak to a person who can help. My customers are important to me and wonderful to work with.

What do you think is the most important quality for success?  

Teamwork is essential to be a success in any aspect of your career and you must be a team player.  At Kadant Solutions, we pride ourselves on our team and work ethic. 

How would you define exceptional Customer Service?

To provide exceptional customer service you must treat your customers as you expect to be treated as a consumer yourself - with the utmost respect, professionalism, and a sense of urgency to their requests.  

Tell me about your family.

I have two younger brothers (they will appreciate me clarifying that they are younger), two beautiful nieces (both married to exceptional men).  I also have been lucky to have a large extended family and life-long friendships. 

Who is your biggest inspiration?

Without a doubt my Mother and Father. They both instilled such a great work ethic in me and gifted us with so many values – the importance of family, friendships, and loyalty to name only a few.  We enjoyed a wonderful childhood. Living in a small town in upstate New York at times in our teen years we probably all thought it was boring, but as you begin to grow and mature you realize just how important a sense of community, family, and friends really is.  I am thankful that my parents left us with that legacy.