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How is
your current job different from when you worked at Ford
Motor Company?
Big corporations invest big money in training. That’s great
when you’re right out of school and still a student. The
training I got at Ford set the trajectory for my career. I
wasn’t steering the ship, that’s for sure. How could I? I
didn’t know anything except what I’d read in books. Today,
I’m still a student, but now I have a reservoir of
experience to draw from as I help Commodore grow. The people
are great. It’s incredibly gratifying, both personally and
professionally, to be involved in so many facets of an
organization. My ideas, good or bad, can be measured in
moments; results are immediate. It’s intense. There’s no
anonymity. It’s accountability in the extreme.
What
impact will your new position as Vice President of
Organizational Development, have on Commodore’s culture?
Organizational
Development is about molding a company’s values and
attitudes, so the culture that results is healthy and able
to adapt to market challenges. Everything I do is geared
towards developing an open culture that’s focused on
learning and performance. Culture is potent. It forms
leadership on all levels of the organization. It determines
how we pursue our goals. Commodore can’t ever be “just as
good.” We have to be better. That’s why we spend so much
time focused inside, on our people, so they have the skills
and knowledge to be excellent. You can’t just talk about
being excellent. It has to be organic.
What
strikes you most about working in the construction industry?
I love it. That’s what strikes me most. Two years into it,
the complexity of the industry still amazes me. So many
spheres of influence. I didn’t bring any preconceptions
about how business should be done. Joe didn’t want
business-as-usual for Commodore. That’s why he hired me.
Having permission to do things differently is a rare and
exhilarating charter for me…as much today as it was the day
I started.
What
role does Philanthropy play in your life?
I’m grateful for people in the world who can write checks.
We couldn’t live without them. But, when you don’t have the
financial means to write big checks, and you still want to
contribute, the only alternative is to roll up your sleeves
and contribute your time and your energy. I’ve been involved
with Horizons for Homeless Children for six years now,
raising awareness about the thousands and thousands of
children in Massachusetts who don’t have shelter. The
challenge and the children are compelling. My brain lights
up most when I’m able to take the stuff I’ve learned in
business and apply it where it makes a real difference in
people’s lives.
Which
part of your brain functions best?
I’m a broad brush girl. I have to work harder at the tiny
details to make sure big concepts actually happen. I think
my brain’s pretty integrated…but it’s my gut I really trust.
What
energizes you?
My family. My husband, my kids, my parents and
sister…they’re my world. For me, nothing’s been more complex
or rewarding than watching my boys grow. I’m happy not to
measure progress any more by whether or not they come when I
call or have their napkin on their lap. Now I’m watching
them launch into adulthood. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not done
with them yet, but I marvel at how fast they’ve become
citizens of the world.
How do
you balance your career and raising a family?
My husband’s very engaged. I couldn’t do it without him. We
try to provide a safe, learning environment. Maybe it’s a
little more permissive than some, but I want to be sure they
have a well-stocked coping arsenal for making decisions when
we’re not around. I think the biggest challenge for working
moms is making sure you take the time to hear the voices of
your kids. So many other adult voices, distractions and
demands can drown out young voices. If you let that happen,
you’re going to miss some good stories, and they’re going to
stop talking.
When
are you happiest?
I’m
happiest when I’m with my family at our house in Maine on
the Schoodic Peninsula, near Acadia. I love cooking and
looking out at the Bay. I’m a crazy wild cook. I’ll cook
non-stop for a day and we’ll have food for a week. It’s so
remote up there, you could be on the porch, naked, playing
the saxophone and nobody would see or hear you.
How big
is a 2x4?
Ha! A trick question! It’s actually 1
1/2” by 3
1/2”. At least
the wood ones are. Impressed? When I joined Commodore, I
wouldn’t have known a 2x4 if it hit me in the head…and I
probably still wouldn’t know the dimensions if my husband
hadn’t told me! He’s a craftsman.
What
makes you laugh?
My 15 year old’s stories about caddying. What men do when
they get birdies…and when they don’t. It’s hilarious.
What
one thing can’t you live without?
After my family, everything is trivial. But champagne does
comes to mind. |
