In 2005 Shelly came to the conclusion that it was time to throw her hat in the ring and challenge herself to become a business owner after 16 years of experience on the administration side of a family trucking company. KJM hauls liquid asphalt to various asphalt plants, hot mix asphalt and general hauling of road aggregates to and from job sites including utility and general contractors as well as municipalities.
Q&A with Sherry
What gives you a sense of accomplishment and/or drives you to succeed?
This is an exciting time to be a woman in the road building industry. Seeing my drivers come in at the end of a long, hot day with a smile on their face reinforces that what we are doing is both valued and appreciated. Anyone can sign a paycheck. Drivers need to go home to their families knowing they’re making a positive difference. They deserve respect, compassion and fairness. Our drivers take pride in their work and equipment which in turn means contractors will want you on their projects. Proving our value to potential customers and brainstorming for alternative possibilities reinforces your commitment to their vision. It is imperative to invest in newer equipment to assure our customers are getting the reliability they deserve.
How do you prepare for your day and deal with unexpected fire drills, set priorities, and regroup after various interruptions throughout your day?
Staying ahead of my goals and anticipating the needs of the contractors we work for is noticed and appreciated. We are hired to compliment and streamline projects. I make sure to let people know what KJM is bringing to the table and the significant value in our commitment. To be able to adapt seamlessly to your customers’ needs keeps them profitable to choose KJM year after year.
What is the favorite thing about your career?
For the past 30 years we’ve made amazing friends in this industry. It’s really like one big family. I’d also like to think I’ve set a good example for my daughter that anything is possible if you work hard enough. There is a difference between being aggressive and being assertive. Having the flexibility to balance work and home is a major benefit.
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
I am still trying to figure that out but have had a BLAST along the way. I could have never dreamt this career choice up for myself! It’s a good fit.
What would you sing at Karaoke night?
That’s crazy talk – I would never inflict my voice on anyone! I’d rather play the drums!