National Women’s Small Business Month Series Q&A Featuring Mandy Chapman of Roytec Industries
October is Women’s Small Business Month in America! To celebrate, we’re featuring Cherokee-based women-owned businesses all month long. These inspiring stories will shed a well-deserved light on their incredible leadership, business acumen, and resilience.
This week, we’ll hear from Mandy Chapman of Roytec Industries – a wire harness and wire assembly manufacturer located in Woodstock, GA. Follow along on cherokeega.org and via social media to like, follow, and share.
To someone without a background in manufacturing, how would you describe what Roytec does? What type of products are your wiring solutions used for?
Roytec manufactures electrical wire harnesses and assemblies. This basically means wiring that goes into different equipment and things that big companies sell. Our wiring goes into many things, including elevators, lighting, and the big refrigeration units that you see in grocery stores. Makita power tools is also one of our customers. If you see wiring in something, we have the potential to produce it.
Roytec has been a part of the Cherokee Summer Internship Program for the past five years. What has this program meant to your company?
We love getting these kids in the door. They have a mind for learning and developing different skills, which is great to see. Hopefully, they really enjoy it and recommend us to other people for a job.
As a female business leader, what is your greatest advice for women who are looking to breakthrough as a CEO within their industry?
- Work hard.
- Don’t be afraid to wear different hats within your company.
- Learn as much as you can.
- Be flexible about what you might be doing – I never like to hear, “That’s not my job.”
- Make sure you show that you’re not afraid to do anything – although, I am a little scared to drive a forklift! Other than that, I’m not afraid to do anything else. I have done different jobs within the company.
- Make sure you learn to listen.
- Follow up – whether it be with your customers or employees.
- Always do what you say you’re going to do.
What do you love most about being in Cherokee County?
I grew up here, so I love that portion of it. Driving and seeing different places where I took ballet classes, went to the park, or went to school, and most of my family is here.
The people are nice, there is a lot to do, and there are so many restaurants to choose from in Cherokee. I love going to Downtown Canton and Downtown Woodstock. I remember my grandfather taking me to fly kites where the Walmart sits now off Riverstone Parkway, so it has changed drastically!
What daily habits have helped your business be successful?
Make sure you always follow up in a timely manner. One thing I like to do is clear out my inbox as much as possible within the first couple hours of my day. It fills back up, but I try to start the day as fresh as possible.
I also think it is important to get up early and get a jump on things so you’re prepared for the day. This took me a while to get used to because I am a night owl, but I’m used to it now!
To learn more about Roytec Industries, visit http://www.roytecind.com/.