Leadership Spotlight: Kathy Roddy
We're pleased to feature our Office Manager Supervisor, Kathy Roddy, for our first leadership spotlight piece of 2019! By working in hardware stores her father owned and/or managed since the age of 10, Kathy developed a strong work ethic at an early age. As an adult, she worked as a bookkeeper for an insulation subcontractor, a position she stayed in for 12 years.
When Kathy became a mother, she made the decision to step away from her job and focus on her family. Once her son was in his teenage years, she felt ready to re-enter the job market.
"It was quite scary coming back after all those years. Things had changed dramatically in the clerical world during my time away. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Office Manager Supervisor, Bonnie Thomas, who was willing to take a chance on me for an Office Manager position in our San Andreas office."
Kathy took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about how her early life helped ensure her success with EA, her advice to those interested in working in the industry, how she practices self-care, and more!
What experiences early in life contributed to your success with EA?
Working from such an early age and seeing the strong work ethic of my parents, especially my dad, has helped me throughout my working life. They showed me on a daily basis what it means to give my all to my employer, be responsible, and take pride in what I do. I've learned through the loss of my first husband and daughter to try to look at life and work events with some perspective. By doing this, I hope I'm able to be there for others while they go through their own difficulties in work and life.
What advice would you give to someone interested in working with youth in foster care?
While my position doesn't involve me working directly with foster youth, I've learned to not judge others so harshly. The youth in foster care have endured things outside their control, and they will continue to be affected by these events throughout their lives. Being willing to truly listen and know when to seek out help for them is quite important.
What do you enjoy doing when you're not at work?
I don't get a chance to do it much these days, but I like decorative wood painting, and crafts in general. I love hanging out with my... gulp... 12-year-old granddaughter. I read before falling asleep each night, and I absolutely love many kinds of music.
What's a hidden talent you have that would surprise most people?
My hidden talent is so hidden I didn't even know I had it! I quit playing the clarinet about 40 years ago. Not too long ago, I took a clarinet out of the case and could actually still play the thing! Well, sort of. (Sorry to those of you who were in the same room).