As we commemorate National Women's Small Business Month, we're honored to spotlight the inspiring stories of female entrepreneurs who have made significant strides in the business world. These women exemplify resilience, innovation, and leadership, paving the way for future generations.
We are excited to share the experiences of Christie McKenzie, a remarkable leader in the staffing industry. Christie's journey from temp assignments to becoming a VP showcases the power of determination, continuous learning, and the importance of mentorship. Let's dive into Christie's insights on overcoming obstacles, finding balance, and developing leadership skills in the ever-evolving landscape of small business.
We are excited to share the experiences of Christie McKenzie, a remarkable leader in the staffing industry. Christie's journey from temp assignments to becoming a VP showcases the power of determination, continuous learning, and the importance of mentorship. Let's dive into Christie's insights on overcoming obstacles, finding balance, and developing leadership skills in the ever-evolving landscape of small business.
Tell us about your career path that you led you to where you are today?
My family started Supplemental Staffing in 1978. Prior to the 2000's, there were no computers, so everything they did, including payroll, was on paper. As you can imagine, there was a lot of manual work needing to be done. My sister and I helped with whatever projects they threw our way until we entered high school. During our high school and college years, we worked several temporary assignments along with our own jobs outside the company. Our parents had a strong work ethic and did a great job instilling that upon, and I'm grateful they did. When I started college, although I loved our family business, I was ready to try something different. I graduated from Bluffton College and Marywood College with degrees in dietetics and wellness. I worked as a Dietitian for a couple years until I realized my heart was back at the family business. In 1998, I came back to Supplemental Staffing and started my "official" career in the staffing industry. I worked from the bottom-up; temp jobs, admin, payroll, recruiter, manager and now VP.
What were some of the barriers or obstacles you've faced & how did you overcome them?
The first barrier: My parents gave me many amazing opportunities in the company, and I'm grateful for all of them. But being a family member, I knew there was going to be a lot of skepticism from others because I was the owner's daughter. It was a role I didn't want. I wanted to be treated and seen as employee, not a family member, so I never revealed to anyone I was the owner's daughter. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things hindering my attempt to conceal my family tree (1) there was no denying who my parents where when you saw us together – we looked alike, and (2) my parents always introduced me to everyone as their daughter. I pleaded with them not to introduce me that way, but it fell on deaf ears. It took me until my 30's to realize why they did this. When I had kids of my own, I realized it was because my parents were proud of me and wanted everyone to know who I was and all I accomplished. It's funny because I now do the same with my kids. I get it. Kids change everything.
The second barrier: Our industry gets compared to the used car industry – everyone wants a deal at the lowest price possible. But that's not who we are. Our focus has always been and always will be our excellent customer service. We put a lot of on-going training into our staff, we're updating our systems, our owners are local, and we keep in constant contact with our clients. A lot of companies only focus on price. And sometimes clients leave us for this reason. But often, they come back because they realize you get what you pay for. Turnover is costly. Our goal is to minimize or prevent turnover. The lowest price just sends "bodies". We send qualified people. We do this by getting to know our clients and their supervisors. We keep in touch with our clients and employees. In the end, this reduces turnover and ultimately saves our clients' money.
Who inspired you to become a leader and why?
I must give create to both my parents. My mom was my inspiration for being a strong woman. She worked and ran a successful business, took care of our home, took care of my sister and I, signed me up for every activity she could find (whether I wanted to do it or not), she taught me how to play racquetball (she was a champion in the sport and won lots of tournaments), and she taught me the art of creative thinking (if there's a will, there's a way – I just need to get creative). My dad was my inspiration for entrepreneurship. He found a bankrupt staffing company in Pontiac MI in 1978. He moved our family (without even having a house up there) and started our new family journey. There were so many uncertainties in everything during that time, but our family felt safe because we knew my dad would find a way to make everything work out. He was a prolific reader and could communicate with anyone and everyone at any educational level. He was a networking king! At least in my eyes. He was involved in everything; including Toastmasters, BNI, Rotary, Kiwanis, local and state level governmental organizations, and much more. Dad introduced me to everyone he knew, and I hoped one day I could do the same for my kids. But the biggest inspiration I got from my dad was his passion for fun. He made sure for all the hard work our family put into the business, we also balanced it out with personal fun. Even on a modest budget when times were tough, we always found a way to make time for family fun.
What advice do you have for women looking to grow either their own business or within the company they work for?
I've got 3 pieces of advice that have been beneficial for me. (1) Find a strong business mentor. A mentor makes all the difference in the world. Think of it this way; the more we experience in life, the wiser we get. If you find a mentor who shares all their personal and professional experiences, you just doubled what you know. You can bounce ideas off of them because it's a safe space. They can give you new options you many never think of. This gives you more tools in your toolbox to choose from. (2) Continued education. Whether you have a degree or not, keep learning new things. Take local or online classes – no matter what your age. The world is constantly changing. If you only rely on the things you learned in school ump-teen years ago, you're probably out of date and out of touch with today's world. For example, the nutritional advice I learned in college in the 90's is probably out of date by now. That's why in the dietetic industry, people are required to take continued education on an annual basis. Things are always change. People don't trust those that are out of touch with today's reality. (3) Network, network, network! Who you know makes all the difference. People open doors. People are like your living Google reviews – they talk. They tell other people about you. But none of this can happen if you don't network.
How do you balance your career, personal life and passions?
I'm not sure, I'm still trying to figure that out! Life has just always been busy for me, and I kind of like it that way. Being busy has allowed me to experience many things both personal and professional. I've become quite skilled in multi-tasking. Pre-kids, I kept myself busy with work, networking, traveling, and going out with friends. Post-kids, I became busy with work, carpooling, lots and lots of volunteer commitments (PTA, sports team boards, Girl Scout leader, school activities, etc.), taking care of kids, traveling (I love to travel!) and then of course more work after the kids went to bed. Now I'm an empty nester, and I'm loving it! I'm not gonna lie, the kid's years were great but super busy. And frankly, I have no idea how I survived them, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. I loved those years. But now that my kids are adults, I've more time for me again. I've started new hobbies. I'm taking various classes such as woodworking, cooking and belly dancing to name a few. And I'm getting back to business focused networking. Being balanced is different for everyone. For me, having lots of activities was the key to my happiness and success. I found if I'd get too focused on one activity then I'd get burnt out. Having multiple options to choose from worked best for me. The most important thing here is to learn how to identify when you're getting off-balance and quickly change direction before you tilt. If you miss those ques and allow yourself to tilt, you're no good to yourself or others. Your number one priority is you. If you take care of you, you have a greater chance at becoming successful in your career and enjoying your personal life. Everyone is different, so find out what works for you through your trial and error. Be patient and give yourself forgiveness as you discover your own key to a balanced life.
What specific strategies or resources do you believe would help women develop or enhance their leadership skills?
Sometimes people feel more comfortable when they network or surround themselves with similar people. For example, back in my mid 20's, my dad suggested I sign up for a "Leadership on the Golf Course" seminar. I was nervous because I didn't want to be the only female or amateur golfer there. But my dad assured me there'd be other women and non-experienced golfers attending. I reluctantly said yes and signed up. When I got there, I was the only woman, and everyone was obviously an experienced golfer. I immediately became uncomfortable and stressed and wanted to leave as soon as the speaker started. This is what I mean by people feeling more comfortable when they're around similar people – I wanted to be around other women and unexperienced golfers. In my mind, no one looked like me and I stood out like a sore thumb. But thankfully it wasn't my first time being in an uncomfortable situation, and my parents taught me how to (1) settle myself down and (2) trust that I'll learn something new if I stay. So I stayed. And it turned out to be a wonderful experience that gave me new memories to laugh and reflect on. I'll never forget the young man who volunteered to be my partner. He made me drive the cart (mind you I'd never driven a cart, so I unintentionally created several laughing moments due to my inexperience) and he coached me until he saw I was feeling comfortable. Even though I believe in the benefit of networking with people you feel comfortable with or people that are like you, there's also a benefit in participating with groups of unlike people. Because of this belief, I belong to several networking groups and love the diversity of them. I'm in women-only groups, family business groups and groups focused on people in specific cities, industry specific groups and national groups. I've developed my leadership skills through trying new things, surrounding myself with similar and diverse people, and learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I'm a stronger woman today because of these opportunities and for that I'm grateful.
What upcoming TRCC event are you most looking forward to attending?
This is a tough one. There are several upcoming events I'm excited about. NOMA, Ribbon Cuttings, and the Impact Ohio Toledo Regional Conference just to name a few. This is my first year being involved in TRCC, so everything here is new and exciting for me. I've attended a couple events already and I've had takeaways from all of them. I enjoy the variety of topics and locations. Being a new member, I've really appreciated the service I've received from the TRCC staff. They've been amazing in helping me get setup online, become informed of upcoming events, sign up for on-line trainings/educational programs, and become a sponsor a TRCC event.
I'm honored to be a participant in Women's Small Business Month! Thank you!
My family started Supplemental Staffing in 1978. Prior to the 2000's, there were no computers, so everything they did, including payroll, was on paper. As you can imagine, there was a lot of manual work needing to be done. My sister and I helped with whatever projects they threw our way until we entered high school. During our high school and college years, we worked several temporary assignments along with our own jobs outside the company. Our parents had a strong work ethic and did a great job instilling that upon, and I'm grateful they did. When I started college, although I loved our family business, I was ready to try something different. I graduated from Bluffton College and Marywood College with degrees in dietetics and wellness. I worked as a Dietitian for a couple years until I realized my heart was back at the family business. In 1998, I came back to Supplemental Staffing and started my "official" career in the staffing industry. I worked from the bottom-up; temp jobs, admin, payroll, recruiter, manager and now VP.
What were some of the barriers or obstacles you've faced & how did you overcome them?
The first barrier: My parents gave me many amazing opportunities in the company, and I'm grateful for all of them. But being a family member, I knew there was going to be a lot of skepticism from others because I was the owner's daughter. It was a role I didn't want. I wanted to be treated and seen as employee, not a family member, so I never revealed to anyone I was the owner's daughter. Unfortunately, there were a couple of things hindering my attempt to conceal my family tree (1) there was no denying who my parents where when you saw us together – we looked alike, and (2) my parents always introduced me to everyone as their daughter. I pleaded with them not to introduce me that way, but it fell on deaf ears. It took me until my 30's to realize why they did this. When I had kids of my own, I realized it was because my parents were proud of me and wanted everyone to know who I was and all I accomplished. It's funny because I now do the same with my kids. I get it. Kids change everything.
The second barrier: Our industry gets compared to the used car industry – everyone wants a deal at the lowest price possible. But that's not who we are. Our focus has always been and always will be our excellent customer service. We put a lot of on-going training into our staff, we're updating our systems, our owners are local, and we keep in constant contact with our clients. A lot of companies only focus on price. And sometimes clients leave us for this reason. But often, they come back because they realize you get what you pay for. Turnover is costly. Our goal is to minimize or prevent turnover. The lowest price just sends "bodies". We send qualified people. We do this by getting to know our clients and their supervisors. We keep in touch with our clients and employees. In the end, this reduces turnover and ultimately saves our clients' money.
Who inspired you to become a leader and why?
I must give create to both my parents. My mom was my inspiration for being a strong woman. She worked and ran a successful business, took care of our home, took care of my sister and I, signed me up for every activity she could find (whether I wanted to do it or not), she taught me how to play racquetball (she was a champion in the sport and won lots of tournaments), and she taught me the art of creative thinking (if there's a will, there's a way – I just need to get creative). My dad was my inspiration for entrepreneurship. He found a bankrupt staffing company in Pontiac MI in 1978. He moved our family (without even having a house up there) and started our new family journey. There were so many uncertainties in everything during that time, but our family felt safe because we knew my dad would find a way to make everything work out. He was a prolific reader and could communicate with anyone and everyone at any educational level. He was a networking king! At least in my eyes. He was involved in everything; including Toastmasters, BNI, Rotary, Kiwanis, local and state level governmental organizations, and much more. Dad introduced me to everyone he knew, and I hoped one day I could do the same for my kids. But the biggest inspiration I got from my dad was his passion for fun. He made sure for all the hard work our family put into the business, we also balanced it out with personal fun. Even on a modest budget when times were tough, we always found a way to make time for family fun.
What advice do you have for women looking to grow either their own business or within the company they work for?
I've got 3 pieces of advice that have been beneficial for me. (1) Find a strong business mentor. A mentor makes all the difference in the world. Think of it this way; the more we experience in life, the wiser we get. If you find a mentor who shares all their personal and professional experiences, you just doubled what you know. You can bounce ideas off of them because it's a safe space. They can give you new options you many never think of. This gives you more tools in your toolbox to choose from. (2) Continued education. Whether you have a degree or not, keep learning new things. Take local or online classes – no matter what your age. The world is constantly changing. If you only rely on the things you learned in school ump-teen years ago, you're probably out of date and out of touch with today's world. For example, the nutritional advice I learned in college in the 90's is probably out of date by now. That's why in the dietetic industry, people are required to take continued education on an annual basis. Things are always change. People don't trust those that are out of touch with today's reality. (3) Network, network, network! Who you know makes all the difference. People open doors. People are like your living Google reviews – they talk. They tell other people about you. But none of this can happen if you don't network.
How do you balance your career, personal life and passions?
I'm not sure, I'm still trying to figure that out! Life has just always been busy for me, and I kind of like it that way. Being busy has allowed me to experience many things both personal and professional. I've become quite skilled in multi-tasking. Pre-kids, I kept myself busy with work, networking, traveling, and going out with friends. Post-kids, I became busy with work, carpooling, lots and lots of volunteer commitments (PTA, sports team boards, Girl Scout leader, school activities, etc.), taking care of kids, traveling (I love to travel!) and then of course more work after the kids went to bed. Now I'm an empty nester, and I'm loving it! I'm not gonna lie, the kid's years were great but super busy. And frankly, I have no idea how I survived them, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. I loved those years. But now that my kids are adults, I've more time for me again. I've started new hobbies. I'm taking various classes such as woodworking, cooking and belly dancing to name a few. And I'm getting back to business focused networking. Being balanced is different for everyone. For me, having lots of activities was the key to my happiness and success. I found if I'd get too focused on one activity then I'd get burnt out. Having multiple options to choose from worked best for me. The most important thing here is to learn how to identify when you're getting off-balance and quickly change direction before you tilt. If you miss those ques and allow yourself to tilt, you're no good to yourself or others. Your number one priority is you. If you take care of you, you have a greater chance at becoming successful in your career and enjoying your personal life. Everyone is different, so find out what works for you through your trial and error. Be patient and give yourself forgiveness as you discover your own key to a balanced life.
What specific strategies or resources do you believe would help women develop or enhance their leadership skills?
Sometimes people feel more comfortable when they network or surround themselves with similar people. For example, back in my mid 20's, my dad suggested I sign up for a "Leadership on the Golf Course" seminar. I was nervous because I didn't want to be the only female or amateur golfer there. But my dad assured me there'd be other women and non-experienced golfers attending. I reluctantly said yes and signed up. When I got there, I was the only woman, and everyone was obviously an experienced golfer. I immediately became uncomfortable and stressed and wanted to leave as soon as the speaker started. This is what I mean by people feeling more comfortable when they're around similar people – I wanted to be around other women and unexperienced golfers. In my mind, no one looked like me and I stood out like a sore thumb. But thankfully it wasn't my first time being in an uncomfortable situation, and my parents taught me how to (1) settle myself down and (2) trust that I'll learn something new if I stay. So I stayed. And it turned out to be a wonderful experience that gave me new memories to laugh and reflect on. I'll never forget the young man who volunteered to be my partner. He made me drive the cart (mind you I'd never driven a cart, so I unintentionally created several laughing moments due to my inexperience) and he coached me until he saw I was feeling comfortable. Even though I believe in the benefit of networking with people you feel comfortable with or people that are like you, there's also a benefit in participating with groups of unlike people. Because of this belief, I belong to several networking groups and love the diversity of them. I'm in women-only groups, family business groups and groups focused on people in specific cities, industry specific groups and national groups. I've developed my leadership skills through trying new things, surrounding myself with similar and diverse people, and learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable. I'm a stronger woman today because of these opportunities and for that I'm grateful.
What upcoming TRCC event are you most looking forward to attending?
This is a tough one. There are several upcoming events I'm excited about. NOMA, Ribbon Cuttings, and the Impact Ohio Toledo Regional Conference just to name a few. This is my first year being involved in TRCC, so everything here is new and exciting for me. I've attended a couple events already and I've had takeaways from all of them. I enjoy the variety of topics and locations. Being a new member, I've really appreciated the service I've received from the TRCC staff. They've been amazing in helping me get setup online, become informed of upcoming events, sign up for on-line trainings/educational programs, and become a sponsor a TRCC event.
I'm honored to be a participant in Women's Small Business Month! Thank you!
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