Beyond the Boardroom: Illini Fire Equipment President Amy Lewis | Business

It’s possible you’ll keep in mind her as Amy Scharlau — the sweet-swinging St. Joseph-Ogden slugger who’d go on to be named 1991’s Information-Gazette All-Space Softball Participant of the Yr and a first-team Educational All-American 4 years later at Northern Illinois.

As of late, she goes by AMY LEWIS — president of a profitable native enterprise and St. Joseph mother with a ardour for a brand new pastime.

“I took up golf as a result of my husband performed and I assumed it might be one thing we might do collectively,” says the Urbana County Membership member and former Stone Creek common, who’s desperate to see what turns into of the newly named Atkins Golf Membership underneath UI possession.

“I performed school softball, so the transition from a softball swing to a golf swing took a while. However I’ve improved — my handicap is a 19. Nonetheless holding out for a golf profession spotlight — my objective is a hole-in-one.”

In between hitting the hyperlinks and working Urbana-headquartered Illini Fire Equipment — a household enterprise began by her grandfather (Walter Carlson) and handed all the way down to her dad (Harold Scharlau) earlier than turning into hers — Lewis took outing to to reply just a few questions from Editor Jeff D’Alessio within the 73rd installment of our weekly pace learn spotlighting leaders of organizations massive and small.

I can’t dwell with out my … time away — a spherical of golf with buddies, a weekend getaway with my husband or a household trip.

At any time when I really feel I’m unfold too skinny, I do know it’s time for a break. Often, no matter I’m coping with appears a lot simpler to deal with afterward.

My one unbreakable rule of the office is … strategy conditions with integrity and honesty, and don’t be afraid to personal your errors. Individuals will respect that greater than excuses.

The worst job I ever had was … keep in mind Service Merchandise? I labored there throughout highschool as a greeter and answering telephones.

Throughout the Christmas season, I’d get lots of of telephone calls each day asking if the shop had any of the “it” merchandise for that 12 months.

The most important enterprise threat I ever took was … buying one other enterprise. I used to be approached by pleasant opponents eager to retire and promote their enterprise. It was a giant choice and I used to be fairly new to the trade, which made me apprehensive.

We determined to make the acquisition and closed the deal two years in the past. It doubled our dimension and expanded our service space and features of enterprise. The transition had its challenges, however now issues are working easily and I can say it was an ideal choice.

My philosophy on conferences is … hold them productive. I can’t stand conferences that rehash the identical gadgets time and again.

Let’s chat a bit, focus on the problems, give you options and a plan to implement them.

In terms of the final luxurious wherein I indulged … I’m on the brink of order a brand new 3-wood and putter. Hopefully, they may arrive earlier than my husband reads this.

The toughest factor about being a frontrunner is … encouraging individuals with extensively totally different personalities, experiences and concepts to develop right into a cohesive group working collectively.

Probably the most helpful school class I took was … Introduction to Monetary Accounting at Northern Illinois College.

I knew I needed to main in a enterprise self-discipline, however previous to this class I used to be undecided on which one. This class made my choice, and set my profession path.

I’m up and at ’em each day by … 5:30, however nearer to 7 on the weekends. Throughout the lockdown, I began exercising very first thing within the mornings, and I’ve managed to maintain up that routine for the final 12 months.

It actually helps to clear my head and put me in the best mindset to start out the day.

So far as my train routine goes … most weeks, I’m strolling on the treadmill or outdoors six days. When the climate is sweet, I’ll commerce that for strolling a spherical of golf.

On a 1-to-10 scale, the impression of the pandemic has been an … 8. When the lockdown first started, the most important concern was the unknown. How lengthy will it final? How will it have an effect on my household, my enterprise and the group?

After a really demanding month, issues turned clearer for the corporate. We have been very lucky that we didn’t shut down and have been capable of hold our full workers all through. We understand how fortunate we have been, and are grateful for that.

With two children in highschool, and a husband in training, that was by far probably the most difficult a part of the final 12 months. Like everybody else, we’ve juggled schedules and adjusted calendars repeatedly.

Our college began full time in-person instruction lately, and truthfully, it felt a little bit unusual after the final 12 months. I believe the modifications the pandemic has triggered in how we have a look at being collectively will take a while to fade.