Pub. 2 2019-2020 Issue 1

As a woman, I can only speak for what happens within my company, but I am very team-oriented. My personality is one that is very willing to help. My phone is on 24/7, and I am hands-on when necessary. My employees and customers see me on job sites — and in my earlier years some- times with my children in tow! I remember in the early days, when I was asked to bid a job, I had my children with me either in the office or car. I would include them in helping me put a small bid together, and they would help me do the math with their calculators. It is also fun to drive on the roads we have helped improve or build. The children and employees alike take pride in what we create. If you could look back at your career, what are three things that you have learned that you would tell a younger person — or another woman — looking at entering this industry? Learn how to be STRONG. Without strength, you can’t succeed. Any busi- ness, but especially this one, has a lot of ups and downs. There are seasons and cycles, and you are going to have to power through. Success is a building process. It doesn’t just happen. Second, DON’T BE AFRAID. Early on, I was attending a contractor’s expo surrounded by men. One of the guys asked me what I was doing there. Shouldn’t I be out buying shoes or something? I smiled, replied, “I bought my shoes yesterday, so I am totally good to be here today.” Don’t let people intimidate you. And finally, NEVER FORGET the importance of the people around you. We all play a part. Every position is equal and a piece of the overall puzzle. I don’t care whether you are a janitor, mill operator, laborer or owner, the job cannot get done without the participation of everyone. Do you have an“aha”moment? You know, I have a lot of them! There are two that stand out. The first was about a year after my divorce after all the ups and downs. I persevered. I had rebuilt from everything that had been taken fromme, and the company and I were stronger than ever before. The second was after a few years of rebuild- ingwhen I was able to purchasemy car with cash. My license plate says, “UGOTTHS.” For my company and me, it is a daily reminder that, again, success doesn’t just happen; it’s something you build every day. What motivates you? My family, friends, andmy employeesmoti- vate me. My company provides jobs for a lot of good people and their families. I take pride in what we do. I love my company and the people that I surroundmyself with. I never thought I would be running a construction company, but it’s who I have become, I suppose. CMR is what I have created and I take pride in the team we have. Tell us about your family? I have five adopted children, ranging from 22 to 14, and yes, all of my children have worked for CMR off and on. When I started CMR, all my children were babies. Just this past year, Holden, my oldest son, helped estimate and bid projects and won his first roto-milling project, Jantzen ran ground on a roto-milling crew and Brekker was working in our excavation division. The girls have helped in the office and my oldest, Paislie, runs a sidecast broom. I remarried in 2015 to Mike Kelley. He was my former CMI Salesman, Roadtec service technician and later on was an employee for a few years. Mike helps within the company with the equipment and when we married in 2015, I gained four bonus children and now have two amazing grandchildren, so as a mother of nine and grandma of two, life these days is busy; well, busier, which I thrive on. 3 30 continued from page 29