Women in Millwork: Meet Connie
How long have you worked in the millwork industry?
I started working at Woodgrain almost 29 years ago.
In a few words, describe what you do.
As the CIO, I support a team of approximately 50 IT employees. Our Corporate IT team provides enterprise systems, technology infrastructure, and IT support to all of Woodgrain’s divisions and locations in the U.S., as well as SAP support for Promasa, a Woodgrain joint venture in Chile.
Describe a typical day on the job.
A typical day consists primarily of engaging with my managers and their teams to provide guidance/direction; remove “roadblocks”’ and help solve complex problems; follow-up on major projects and plans to ensure progress, and help resolve resource constraints.
What do you love most about your job?
Working with great people to solve complex business problems that help Woodgrain move forward.
What is your biggest career accomplishment to date?
Collaborating with all of Woodgrain’s business leaders and ownership to gain support of replacing our legacy ERP system with SAP. This is a fundamental building block to enable long-term growth, operational efficiency, and execution of strategic initiatives at all of Woodgrain’s business divisions.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Hang out with my family, camping, hiking, fishing, playing piano, reading and gardening.
What advice would you give to women who may be interested in joining this field?
Don’t get discouraged or carry a “chip on your shoulder” if you run into roadblocks. Overcome the obstacles by focusing your positive energy on achieving results by collaborating and working well with the people around you.
The best career advice I have ever received came from my parents during my youth and I have applied it to every job I have had: “When your employer asks you to do something, do three times as much as what is being asked. Always keep your ‘moral compass’ when faced with difficult situations or decisions. Work hard and stay positive.”