OTJ with Judy Randle

EDITOR’S NOTE: “On the Job with …” is the first in a weekly Sunday Inc. series spotlighting area business owners and executives. Check out Danny Carter’s column on this page to find out how you can nominate a local business leader to be interviewed.

Q. If you were a young adult fresh out of college, what would you do first in searching for a job?

A. Networking would be important. Talk to everyone you know. Let them know you are looking for a job. In this economy, I would not hold out for the dream job. I would look for a stable job that would provide valuable work experience.

Q. What was the first thing you spent money on when you received your first ever paycheck?

A. I wanted to buy a house, so I put almost everything I made in savings until I had the down payment.

Q. What was your first job?

A. I had many chores or jobs on the farm and in my mom’s store. The first job I had that was not working for my family was a part-time job selling shoes. For a high school student that was a dream job. I still love pretty shoes.

Q. Do you have a role model or mentor?

A. I grew up in a family of strong, hard-working career women. My grandmother was a teacher who later owned a kindergarten. My mom owned a small country store and helped run our family farm. I learned a lot from watching them negotiate with suppliers, make financial plans and take care of customers.

Q. What is the biggest lesson you as a business leader learned from the recent recession?

A. A business has to be able to adapt to changes in demand. The recession has made business owners more aware than ever of protecting their inventory, which has resulted in an increase in our sales of small camera systems and access control systems.

Q. If you could turn the clock back on one aspect of technology, what would you most like to see go away?

A. I love technology, but I hate automated phone systems. We have a real person answer the phone.

Q. What is your favorite work-related gadget?

A. We recently installed a web-based camera system in the office. I can watch the cameras at the office from anywhere that I have an Internet connection.

Q. Favorite activity outside the office?

A. I love to travel, hike and take photos. I am still learning photography. My strategy has been to take tons of photos; there are always a few good ones. In the last few years I have traveled to Alaska, San Francisco, San Diego, Charleston, New York and Yellowstone National Park. This year I am going back to Yellowstone to go snowmobiling.

Q. What would be your dream job if you picked a position outside your current career path?

A. I would like to buy neglected or run down houses to fix up and keep them for rental properties.

Q. Finish this thought: “On the first anniversary of my retirement I see myself …”

A. I really have a difficult time seeing myself retired. My grandmother used to say that it’s not really work unless you would rather be doing something else. I enjoy what I do.

Q. What is the one trait a strong business leader cannot afford to be without?

A. Perservance. If you try something and it does not work, don’t give up. Try something else. If you try something that works, keep doing it. A sense of humor helps too.

— Interviewed by Danny Carter, managing editor