Age: 38
Occupation: Vice president,
Paulson Electric, PEC Communications
What’s the best advice you ever received?
Never stop learning. Don’t be in a hurry, and listen more than you speak.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
I played rugby and squash in college, and spent a semester in Moscow.
What do you know now that you wish you had known earlier in your career?
I wish I had known earlier that everyone, even the people with the most confidence or the highest level of knowledge or skill, has made mistakes. It happens to everyone. It is the way you handle and respond to a mistake that is key.
How do you ensure a balance between work and your personal life?
I try not to discuss work at home, and I have been leaving my phone in my bag from the time I get home until after the kids go to bed. On the flip side, I try to make it to as many of the kids’ school activities during the day that I can and just know that it sometimes means longer work another time.
What is the biggest issue facing the Corridor?
One of the biggest issues facing the Corridor is centered on education. The Corridor, like the rest of the state, must deal with uncertainty in education funding and the possibility that there will continue to be very minimal increases in funding for public education from the state. The Corridor must find a path that continues its tradition of excellence in public education in order to provide the opportunities today’s kids deserve and to meet the needs of current employers, as well as attract new business.
What book are you currently reading?
“The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood.
Who are your local mentors?
We are lucky in the Corridor to have so many people in the community willing to share their insights and knowledge. Many people have done that for me over the last seven years, including my parents, who have been a great example to me of how to work hard and grow a business, give back to the community and spend quality time with family.
