By Jessica O. Swink
Editor, Small Business Insight
Photo by Paul Chin, Jr.
Every employee of The Source knows Judy Lowman’s “small pile theory.”
“Basically what it means is that I know that projects, goals and classes you take can seem so huge, and you think to yourself, ‘I have to climb that mountain,’” she explains. “But when you break it down into pieces and make it into small piles, things seem much more manageable.”
This is a small illustration of the leadership style Lowman brings to the company.
Instead of having a staff of “yes people,” Lowman says everyone is encouraged to bring their ideas to the table to offer a better service to the customer. She attributes not having to lay anyone off in the last two years as a testament to how she values employees, as well as the understanding of her staff that she is committed to keeping them all employed.
The Source specializes in the galley and laundry services of ship repair. Simply put, Lowman says “we work to be more cognizant of making ship life as pleasant as possible.”
Lowman built her business from one simple ice machine repair to another, and now the business comes highly recommended when any work involves galleys and refrigeration on ships.
“I’m hands on,” Lowman says. “I evaluate and do the final estimates and planning on every job. I run quality assurance and do checkpoints myself,” Lowman says. Lowman reflects that women have come a long way in her industry and are reaching the point of being truly accepted.
“At the beginning of the business, if I could tell I was working with a chauvinist, I’d send a man out to close the deal,” she explains. “These days, the tone has changed, and women are treated with much more respect.”
In fact, one of the takeaways customers have from The Source is that all management positions are held by women who have a long history together and regard each other as family.
- Who were the other 2011 SBI Minerva Award Honorees? Click here to find out!
