As a leader, I do my best to lead by example, be optimistic, share positive energy, and support my team. This is a challenging, ever-changing industry and it is important to be forward thinking and adapt quickly to daily obstacles. Our day-to-day job is not easy, and it can be overwhelming at times. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, I realized at an early age that you must invest your time and be committed to your work to ensure your business thrives in good and survives in bad times. SEACORP is in the service industry, and it is the integrity and reputation of our company that leads to high customer retention and lasting relationships.

My leadership journey started at a young age, right after I graduated college and began working full time at SEACORP. As a young leader, I didn’t have the experience and understanding of leadership that I have now. It took time for me to understand the importance of surrounding myself with the right people. I have found you must surround yourself with people who share your values and want to work towards the same goals. I have also found the most difficult part of leadership is effective communication and making sure everyone is moving forward towards the same goal. We work in a challenging, high-pressure industry and it’s hard be positive every day. I don’t always get it right, but I think part of being a good leader is listening, acknowledging your weaknesses, and taking accountability when you make mistakes.

At SEACORP we are implementing automation when possible. The goal is to eliminate manual work, streamline our workflow and reduce the cost per shipment. Our industry is slow to adopt new technologies and automation is difficult because the ocean industry is not standardized. We are consistently working with our Transportation Management System provider to ensure we are working as efficiently as possible and staying up to date on any new and available technologies.

Our company owner and President, Myra Heavner, empowered me right away to make decisions and encouraged me to lead within our company. She taught me the importance of listening, sharing your time, empowering others, and showing empathy. All these qualities lead to strong relationships, and relationships are the foundation of a successful and sustainable business. A good leader builds trust in their relationships and treats people the way they want to be treated.