Women in Business - 1
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2 - Women in Business
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“I don’t want to go out on the level. I always want to be seeking to do better than what I did before.” - Debbie Spafford
Women in Business - 3
Spafford’s hard work pays off with big rewards Liberty Best
lbest@ubmedia.biz
and finish her bachelor’s degree. “I have always been an ambitious person, I always push myself, I just wanted to get my Bachelor’s Degree, that wasn’t good enough I had to get my Master’s too,” she said. “I probably would have gone on to get my Doctorate too but my husband’s health deteriorated, it takes a lot of time and I didn’t want to take the time away from my family.” Spafford said she has always been driven to do better and do more, when she finally got to where she is, it is as far as she could go and she said it has been very rewarding. She knows all the history and staff and knows what happened 20 years ago at the hospital. Spafford is the person that has had the longest tenure out of any employee at Ashley Regional Medical Center. She likes her job and especially likes the people she works with. Spafford said she doesn’t
Debbie Spafford, 62, started working at Ashley Regional Medical Center 33 years ago and worked up the ranks to her current position as marketing director, risk manager and patient advocate. “I started as a part time PR and clerk in the ER, and the hospital gave me continued opportunities and I decided to go back and finish my degree,” Spafford said. Spafford worked while getting her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. After four years Spafford went back to school again for her Master’s Degree, in English and technical writing. “I just kept moving up in the company, they said ‘well, she’s got good skills let her try this, SEE SPAFFORD on 14 let her try that’ and I ended up here, and I’ve been doing this since 1996,” Spafford said. She said as she grew up that her parents always told her she could do anything she put her mind to. Spafford said her mother was especially encouraging with it. Spafford said she married a really good man that has helped her and encouraged her to also do her best. “He has kind of taken the back seat and let me be out in front and he doesn’t mind that at all, he’s very quiet, and without his support I could never have done all the things I have done because he’s so, he’s amazing, he really is and he’s probably my biggest cheerleader,” she said. Spafford has been married for 42 years and said her husband has been with her from the very beginning of her career. Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 5:00 pm When she was in her first year of college, she worked at Dixie Memorial Hospital, in Saturday and After Hours St. George, and worked as a nurse’s aid and had the intention to go into nursing. When she by Appointment graduated from Dixie state in 1975 with her prerequisites, she got married and decided to wait a few years before applying to nursing school. 789-1234 “I had only gone one semester and found that I was expecting my older son, the timing was bad,” she said. 758 West main, Vernal She raised children for 20 years, working only part time, before deciding to return to schoolout Miranda Miranda Miranda Bradshaw Bradshaw Bradshaw was was was visiting visiting visiting from from from out outof of oftown town town when when when she sheshe received received received an an an
We gave Miranda a Christm Thankforget. you to all who contribute to she’ll never our community & businesses 49495 - State Farm
Miranda Bradshaw was visiting from out of town when she received unexpected gift on Christmas day. She went into labor early at her Brian house,Miranda atMiranda only 30 weeks. When she arrived at Ashley Regional, Dr. WeWe We gave gave gave Miranda a aaChristmas Christmas Christmas K. Breitenbach delivered little Archer safely into the world and gave M she’ll she’ll she’ll never never neverforget. forget. forget. Gorum a Christmas she’ll never forget. unexpected unexpected unexpected gift on gift gift Christmas on onChristmas Christmas day day. day. . She She Shewent went wentinto into into labor labor labor early early early at ather her at parents’ parents’ her parents’ house, house, at house, only at at30 only only weeks. 30 30weeks. weeks. When When When she she shearrived arrived arrivedat at at Ashley Ashley Ashley Regional, Regional, Regional, Dr. Dr.Karl Karl Dr. Karl Breitenbach Breitenbach Breitenbach delivered delivered delivered little little little Archer Archer Archersafely safely safelyinto into into the the the world world world and andand gave gavegave Miranda Miranda Miranda a Christmas aaChristmas Christmas she’llshe’ll she’ll never never never forget. forget. forget.
Making Communities Healthier.
“Dr. Breitenbach was there with me every step of the way. He w so calm and composed that despite our concerns and fears, w “Dr. Breitenbach ““Dr. Dr.Breitenbach Breitenbach was was was there there there with with withme me meevery every everystep step step of ofthe of thethe way. way.way He Hewas .was He was comforted. We wish we could have allfears, our babies at Ashley R so calm so soand calm calmcomposed and andcomposed composed that that that despite despite despiteour our our concerns concerns concerns and andand fears, fears, we wefelt felt we felt Ashley Regional Medicalcomforted. Center wants congratulate Debbie Spafford her 2017 Women inAshley Business award. We are honored to have comforted. comforted. Weto We wish We wish wish we we we could could could have have haveon all all all our our our babies babies babies at at Ashley at Ashley Regional.” Regional.” Regional.” – Miranda Bradshaw, new mommy her as an employee at Ashley Regional Medical Center for over 33 years. She is an excellent example of hard work and dedication both at – Miranda ––Miranda Miranda Bradshaw, Bradshaw, Bradshaw, new new new mommy mommy mommy
the hospital and in the community. There is no doubt that she plays an invaluable part to the business world in the Uintah Basin.
At Ashley Regional, our expert team provides the compassionate, care you and baby both Thank you.deserve.
At Ashley At AtAshley Ashley Regional, Regional, Regional, ourour our expert expert expert team team teamprovides provides providesthe the the compassionate, compassionate, compassionate, quality quality quality care Also, you care care and you you baby and and baby baby both both both deserve. deserve. deserve. we would like to recognize all the dedicated women that make Ashley Regional Medical Center a success.
Visit Visit Visit AshleyRegional.com AshleyRegional.com AshleyRegional.com Like Like Like us us uson on onFacebook. Facebook. Facebook.
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44 - Women in Business
A N I T H N C E E L VA SIRE
rises
p l Enter a b i r T , Ute
CEO
“Do what you do, and do it well.” -Valentina Sireech
Women in Business - 5
Success means building a better tribe
LeeNichole Marett
lmarett@ubmedia.biz
It only takes a few minutes’ conversation with Valentina Sireech to see the passion that she has for the Ute Tribe. It’s a passion that she carries with her into her position as the CEO of Ute Tribal Enterprises. Sireech was hired as the CEO of UTE in May 2016, but she has served as acting CEO on two other occasions. She also worked as Marketing Director for six years. It’s safe to say that when it comes to the business of the Ute Tribe, Sireech knows all the ins and outs. “I have a Master’s of Fine Arts, which I finished in Savannah, Georgia, in 2010,” said Sireech. “I came home for a little while and was planning to go back as an adjunct in Savannah, but there were some family circumstances at that time. My nephew was diagnosed with a degenerative brain disease, and that was very hard on my mother. She was the only one taking care of him at that time, and I just knew that I needed to stay.” She was appointed as acting CEO for UTE in 2010, but that wasn’t her first experience working with tribal enterprises. “The enterprises were always a big part of my life,” Sireech said. “I actually worked for the enterprises during the summers while I was in college. I did that through my Bachelor’s and my Master’s. I’ve always had a passion for the enterprises.” During her first appointment as acting CEO, Sireech focused on bringing tribal businesses up to speed with the modern world. “I noticed that a lot of our businesses needed upgrades,” said Sireech. “It had been almost 16 years since some of our businesses had been renovated. That was my focus at that time. Bringing about that change was so important.” Working with other business partners, Sireech’s team was able to secure $1.7 million for the renovation of the bowling alley in Fort Duchesne, as well as securing funding for renovations to the Ute Plaza, the Ute Petroleum stores and other local businesses. Sireech then moved into a position as Marketing Director for UTE, where she devoted her time and energy to building bridges. Now, she continues those efforts as CEO.
“It’s my goal and passion to strengthen the economic problems that our tribe faces daily,” said Sireech. “I know in my heart, I can be the catalyst in developing a functional economy for my tribe and by helping the pave the way for the future Native women in business. I feel that I have a vested interested in the economic well-being of our people. It is my goal to work to improve employment opportunities by helping to develop and manage profitable businesses.” Sireech says she is honored to serve in her position as CEO. She’s proud of what UTE has accomplished and excited about what the future holds. Her biggest motivation is doing the best she can for her community. “The main thing that drives me is giving back to my community, giving back to my tribe,” said Sireech. “I’ve been influenced so much by this community.” There have been multiple influences in Sireech’s life that have inspired her toward success. “I would have to say my mom was the greatest influence on my life,” said Sireech. “She always tried to make sure I was always doing my best and doing what I wanted to do. She always wanted me to stay strong, stay independent, and not let anybody get in the way. She was all about equality in every single way and I learned a lot from her from how to make strong family connections, and how to set goals to become a strong woman. Through positive and negative times growing up, I have used every experience as a life lesson, and something to grow from.” One of the most powerful impacts on Sireech’s career was a talk given by Gary Davis, CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise. She attended a Reservation Economic Summit in 2012 where Davis was the keynote speaker, and his words changed her life. “I remember he stood up and said, ‘We are able. We are ready. We can do it. We can build communities and businesses that we are proud of.’ That made such an impression on me,” said Sireech. “I realized that this is actually happening. Tribes are actually developing profitable businesses. They’re bringing their culture into those businesses. It can happen, because it’s already happening. For me, that was like, ‘Wow.’” Of course, a job like Sireech’s comes with challenges, and the economic downturn in the
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Congratulations to all of this years women in business winners
Moon Lake Electric Association, Inc. Serving the Uintah Basin Since 1938
visit us on the web at mleainc.com. like us on Roosevelt Headquarters 800 West Highway 40 722-5400
Duchesne Office 184 N. Center Street 738-5322
Rangely Office 1635 E. Main (970) 675-2291
6 - Women in Business
loral
N A L M JIL GOOD
s onald’
O
cD wner, M
F omer’s o l B d an
“Don’t be afraid to put your foot in your mouth. That is the only way you will figure out what works for you.” - Jill Goodman
Women in Business - 7
Goodman celebrates history of feeding the Basin Liberty Best
lbest@ubmedia.biz
Jill Goodman, 62, has been working in the Uintah Basin since 1985. Goodman’s father was the owner of McDonald’s in Vernal, where she got her start in the business, she later bought the business shortly after her father opened a restaurant in Roosevelt. Now, Goodman owns both Vernal and Roosevelt McDonald’s locations and also owns Bloomer’s Floral, in Vernal. Goodman studied science in college and planned on becoming a teacher, after starting her student teaching she realized that was not the route she wanted to go. Goodman moved to Denver, Colorado after college, working for a real estate company. Her mother became ill while she was in Colorado and her father was experiencing the downturn of the economy after the oil field crashed in the 80s. “My parents are dealing with the downturn in the economy here at the same time my mother was fighting cancer,” Goodman said. “Dad said ‘would you please leave Denver and come here,’ and I wasn’t doing anything in Denver that was going to amount to anything anyway, so I came here and I was thrown into it because my mom and dad were focused on my mother.” Goodman started her career as crew in the Vernal McDonald’s and worked her way through management, later becoming an owner/operator in 1994. “I hadn’t planned on making it my career but sometimes I think we all just fall into our careers,” Goodman said. According to Goodman, when she became an owner/operator she couldn’t turn it down because McDonald’s is very particular who they allow to get that status. Goodman said she feels like the restaurants are at their peak, with the last bust hurting, but the restaurants came out of the bust really well. Goodman now has a director of operations that helps her run both locations and said the best part of the experience is working with not only the employees but also the McDonald’s Corporation. “Sometimes, it’s an interesting relationship but they have been really good,” she said.
Goodman said the corporation is very good to keep business diverse and therefore it was not difficult to be a women in business with the organization. “I’ve always gotten loans I applied for, I don’t feel like it’s been a detriment, the corporation is marvelous to work with as far as women,” she said. “I do still feel that there are challenges for women in business and I managed to come in at a good time, with a good corporation and work my way up... I have been lucky.” Goodman said Bloomer’s Floral Shop was opened seven years ago by her accountant and they were not going to keep it going and she always had a fantasy of owning a flower shop, she shortly thereafter, bought the business from her accountant. She said the hardest part of the flower shop is not having a corporation telling her how to run it, with McDonald’s she gets a “road map” to success and it works, with Bloomer’s she
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We’re Grateful for the Women who give so much!
Main Office
1360 West Hwy 40 Vernal, Utah 84078 (435) 789-5409
Little Blossom Center P.O. Box 217 Ft. Duchesne, Utah 84026 (435) 722-5654
Congratulations Jill Goodman on winning the 2016 Women in Business Award!
Thank you for always inspiring us to be successful and being a good example of character, hardwork, determination & chasing your dreams.
Vernal McDonalds 1050 US-40, Vernal, UT 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Roosevelt McDonalds 621 E 200 NORTH ROOSEVELT, UT 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Bloomers Floral 41 E 100 N, Vernal, UT 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8 - Women in Business
Y M M E L M TA HAS
or, Hu
Fu
irect neral D
uary
Mort llinger
“It’s going to better me for tomorrow, so it’s going to be worth it today” - Tammy Haslem
Women in Business - 9
Attitude is everything when it comes to success LeeNichole Marett
lmarett@ubmedia.biz
Tammy Haslem, of Roosevelt has been a funeral director at Hullinger Mortuary since 2006. It’s a job with a wide variety of responsibilities. “I’m responsible for anything and everything,” Haslem said. “I pick people up. I manage the office. I do the embalmings. I do some makeup, programs, anything that deals with the services themselves. And then, of course, I drive the funeral coach, do the funeral.” Haslem described the circumstances that lead to her job at Hullinger Mortuary as being “so fluke-y.” “One day, John (Hullinger) called my oldest daughter,” Haslem said. “She was 16 at the time. He called and said, ‘Is Savannah there?’ He was my LDS bishop, and it didn’t make any sense to me that a bishop would call directly to a kid, and the thought came to me—I didn’t realize it was meant to be—‘Listen on the line.’ So he said, ‘Can you work for me tomorrow?’ She said no, and I said, ‘I can.’ And that’s where it all started.” Haslem started out just answering phones at the mortuary, but worked her way up from there. “I started just as a phone answerer, and kind of worked up to doing some office work from there. Then in 2002 I went back to school to get my degree,” said Haslem. “My degree is in mortuary science. I graduated from Arapahoe Community College in Denver, and I graduated in 2006. I took national boards and became a funeral director.” Haslem said that she had never previously considered a career as a funeral director, but was strongly influenced by the Hullinger family. “When Roger (Hullinger) came back, he encouraged me to go back to school,” said Haslem. “I waited a year or so and then went back.” Haslem credits some of her success to several strong influences in her life. “My mother was very driven, and so I saw that and kind of followed that line,” Haslem said. “In my professional life, I believe Roger’s the reason I did, because he’s the one that encouraged me to go back and to get my education, so that’s a part of it.” Like so many others, Haslem’s success didn’t come without challenges. One of the biggest
Hullinger Mortuary 457 East 300 North (104-15) Roosevelt, Utah 84066 Phone 722-2426
was finding a balance between her work, her schooling and her home life. “While I was going to school, I was a mother of four. I went through a divorce, so I was a single mother of two, mostly. The other two were grown. Finding a balance was definitely a challenge,” said Haslem. “It was tough. I got up every morning at 4 a.m. to study. I didn’t want to take away from my children’s mom time. I work a lot of nights, and so I felt like schooling should be something that should do that. I could control that, because it was internet, so I got up every morning at 4 a.m. studied from 4-6:30. That was quite the challenge to think about that fact now.” Haslem also considers herself a poor tester, so being faced with the national board exams after graduation was a huge challenge for her. “I’ve never tested well,” Haslem said. “You do your degree and you also have to do national boards, and they’re totally separate, but you don’t get your degree until you pass your boards. So I paid some money and took kind of a pre-test. I didn’t do as well as I thought I should on the boards. There are two different tests, and one I did really well, but the other I didn’t do as well, and it scared me, especially where I don’t test well. So I put off taking my national boards for a long time. I’d paid for them, and I had like a year to do them, but I really procrastinated or feared. It wasn’t really procrastination. It was fear.” It was during this time of being paralyzed by fear that Haslem received what she said was the best advice of her life. “During that time, I happened to run into a lady in town, and she said to me, ‘Are you done yet?’ and I said, ‘Well, I’ve done everything but the boards, and I just haven’t had the courage to do them.’ She just looked at me and said, ‘Get on it, girl!’” said Haslem. “It was probably the best advice I ever got because I immediately decided, okay, I needed to get to it. She basically said that my Heavenly Father would guide me and help me through it all.” That advice to just go for it made all the difference in Haslem’s career, and she says she would give the same advice to other women trying to succeed, whether it’s personally or professionally. “You can do it,” said Haslem. “My favorite saying is attitude is everything. I just think if you go into any situation, good or bad, if you have a good attitude about it and you want to
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contributing to the SucceSS of woMen in buSineSS
Congratulations to Tammy Haslem Wemon in Business 2017 Funeral Directors • Roger Hullinger • Tammy Haslem • John Hullinger For 24 Hour Funeral Service Information Call 725-2427 www.hullingermortuary.com
Learn More at - wbcutah.coM 134 West Main Vernal Utah 84078 Phone: 435-789-1352 Fax: 435-789-1355
10 - Women in Business
T I T D U N NEYC RAH O
r,
Owne
alon
ook S New L
“You’re only as valuable as the people you work with, and I feel like I have the best.” - Randi Honeycutt
Women in Business - 11
Honeycutt brings out the beauty in the Basin Liberty Best
lbest@ubmedia.biz
Randi Honeycutt, 35, runs the local salon, New Look, and also has spearheaded the community tradition of the Gobbler 5K, which will reach its sixth year Thanksgiving 2017. “Before the Gobbler, us as a salon usually choose a family in the community to do something for, or a certain person or a good cause,” Honeycutt said. “Before the Gobbler 5K we would do annual scooter runs for local families in need. We’ve also done bake sales and huge yard sales. We usually try to pick one thing so the Gobbler kind of came out of that, in that, it’s the same exact day every single year and it’s just something we know we have on the books.” Honeycutt has always tried to be the best she could be when it comes to helping others, she said she also believes the salon helps people feel good about themselves by making them feel good about their appearance. Honeycutt graduated early and went to hair school, in 2000 and has been at New Look Salon for 14 years and bought the business from the previous owner. There are 10 employees at New Look that help keep the clients taken care of. “We are getting ready to start a new chapter, we are going to have a spa type thing in here in the near future, that’s something big we’re trying to tackle.” She said. “I’m lucky to work with the girls I work with, they are all really responsible and everybody pulls their weight around here. You’re only as valuable as the people you work with and I feel like I have the best.” She said one of the things she has had to learn is the business side of things because she considers herself an artistic person but she has enjoyed learning as she goes. According to Honeycutt, what brought the salon into the charitable activities, is that many of the clients that had come into the salon needed help and she wanted nothing more than to improve their lives. She said the salon is the common area, where they know people. She has even helped one of her stylists and a stylist’s husband. “It’s hard to watch people go through stuff and struggle,” she said. Honeycutt is from Altamont and said she planted roots in the Vernal area, starting small with local fund raising to help those she saw needing help due to illness or other struggles,
and the good deeds just perpetuated into what is now known as the Gobbler 5K. She said the first year was the most challenging, knowing everything was covered and there were little “hiccups” but for the most part the community is awesome. “The whole point of the Gobbler being on Thanksgiving is to be grateful for what you have and give back by supporting other members of the community,” she said. The committee for the Gobbler is a committee of four, with the help of husbands and other stylists at the salon. “There are probably about 20 of us that volunteer and help the day of the race,” she said. Every year, she has seen the race double, first year had about 117, the next year 250, the third year there was over 500 and last year there were almost 600 people that participated in the Gobbler.
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510 South 500 West, Vernal 435.781.3523
Recognizing the Contributions made by so many!
12 - Women in Business
E Inc.
E Y I D N R N U O C C C M
IS ator, R n i d r o t Co
n
Assista
“I’m very happy with taking care of people. I’m a caretaker.” - Connie McCurdy
Women in Business - 13
Taking care of others is its own reward LeeNichole Marett
lmarett@ubmedia.biz
For nearly two decades, Connie McCurdy has devoted her life to helping people with disabilities. As the Assistant Coordinator for RISE, Inc., she has gotten to build her life around her passion. “I work with peopled with disabilities. I assist them in learning living skills in several programs,” said McCurdy. “RISE has a day service program, a supported living program and also have residentials over in Vernal. We also work on employment for people. I’ve been doing this for 17 or 18 years now, so I’ve been here a long time.” For McCurdy, her career at RISE has been the fulfillment of a lifelong passion. However, getting there wasn’t always easy. “I was a single mom and I had three children and I decided I wanted to go back to school,” McCurdy said. “I hadn’t graduated, so I graduated from high school up here in the adult education and went through that, and then I did two years of college. My goal back then was I wanted to do work with people with disabilities. I wanted to learn sign language. It was something I always wanted to do.” McCurdy’s passion for working with people with disabilities has existed since childhood. “When I was younger, I had some friends who were disabled, so I always wanted to do that,” she said. “I took a couple years of college, but I had to quit college because I was single mom with three kids and I needed to work. So I stopped college and went to work.” After leaving college, McCurdy started her own cleaning business. She built up the business for some time before a surprising set of circumstances lead her right back to her passion. “The strange thing was, I had a dream, and in the dream it said, ‘Go get a job at a place like NES (North Eastern Services),’” said McCurdy. “I knew a young lady who was in NES, and she was supported by them, and so I called her up and said, ‘Can I get NES’s phone number? Or another company like NES? Do you know of anything like that?’ and she said, “Let me call you back.” She called me back and gave me RISE’s phone number. I had no idea there was a RISE.”
For McCurdy, it was meant to be. “I’ve been here since then and doing what I originally wanted to do without the education,” McCurdy said. There are multiple rewards to her work, but McCurdy says that her favorite is watching others’ lives change for the better. “Probably my favorite part of all is watching growth,” said McCurdy. “I’ve seen a lot of wonderful things happen, people that couldn’t do things learning to do things and growing in their strengths. We help look for what they’re strong in and work with them to build those up. I’ve seen people that used to not be able to eat, eat; not be able to change clothing or bathe themselves, to bathe themselves and be able to do their own hygiene stuff. I’ve seen a lot of wonderful stuff and that’s what keeps me here. You have to kind of stand back and be patient with some of that, but you do see some wonderful, wonderful stuff.” Of course, like any job, McCurdy’s position comes with its challenges as well. “One of the challenges is probably being able to coordinate things for them to do, especially in the Basin, because there’s just not a lot,” said McCurdy. “There’s also getting the funding to be able to the things that I would love to do with them, to be able to travel and things like that. The money is kind of rough.” McCurdy credits most of her success to other people in her life who influenced positively at times when she needed it most. “I’ve had a lot of really good influences in my life,” said McCurdy. “When I was cleaning house, I met Irene Hansen. She’s a wonderful lady. I’ve known her for a lot of years, so she kind of took me under her wing and showed me how you should act, more or less. Another one that played a big role in helping me with all the things I wanted to do was I cleaned house for Pat Stringham. Probably I would have to say my sister Kelly Banks is a very big influence on me, and the rest of my family, because they just have always helped me. When you’re a single mother, you need that extra help out there, and those are the people that pulled me up when I needed that lift and helped me out.” Though she’s received a lot of good advice along the way, McCurdy says there are two
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Stewarts Market founded by:
Percy & Erma Stewart and Ardith Attwood Erma and Ardith Helped blaze the path for Women in Business in the Basin. Great food begins with great ingredients. 245 West Hwy. 40 • (435) 722-5650 • (435) 722-0510
14 - Women in Business
SPAFFORD
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think she could find better people to work with. “The biggest thing for me is to keep working hard, keep trying to outdo what I did the year before, I don’t want to go out on the level, I always want to be seeking to do better than what I did before,” she said. Spafford said being a woman in business, she has experienced a little push-back from people, she perceived some of the push-back being because she was a woman. Even with complaints at the hospital, she has noticed that some people have an easier time yelling at woman than yelling at a man. She said all she can do is do the best she can, if it’s not good enough, she is told and she tries to do better. “It’s been a good learning opportunity,” she said. “I certainly wasn’t as good at my job 20 years ago. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve come a long way. I think every body in the world has a theory of the world, one thing I learned, when you are listening to people complain they are telling it from their point of view and their theory of the world, so you have to listen to all sides. I’ve been able to push that to my personal life too. They are telling it from their experience. That’s what I’ve learned.” She said education is very important and allowing yourself to learn along the way.
“The best part of my job is being able to offer training and skills for tribal members,” said Sireech. “I love being able to provide them with structure, work ethic, job training, job skills, those important life skills that they need. That’s the biggest thing that’s important to me on a daily basis.” s Sireech says there is one piece of advice that has guided her path of success. “The key is to learn from failures,” said Sireech. “Make them lessons, not mistakes. That’sl probably the best advice I’ve ever been given.” She also believes strongly in promoting the success of others. It’s the driving force of her work with UTE, and something she feels passionate about personally. For those seeking success in their own lives, whether personally or professionally, she offers this advice. “Do what you do and do it well,” Sireech said. “Never stop learning, and use the resources around you.” Sireech practices what she preaches, and has continued to work to advance her own skills and education as well. “I have been accepted into the MBA program in the John M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University,” said Sireech. “I’m currenly working on the prerequisites.” Despite her busy work and school schedule, she still makes time for her passions. “My second passion is community work, and I am presently a Community Representative for the Myton Ute Indian Community,” Sireech said.
SIREECH
GOODMAN
Uintah Basin has been one of the biggest she has faced. “We were in survival mode,” Sireech said. “The Duchesne County Chamber and Uintah County Chamber were in the same predicament. We were able to exchange some advice, some support. Still, we had to make a 21 percent budget cut. We had to cut back on hiring. We felt that it was important to maintain the quality of our services, but for a time there, we were just in survival mode.” On the opposite side of the coin, Sireech says the best part of her job is the work she gets to do directly with tribal members.
has had to learn through trial and error, but says she loves it anyway. “It taught me a lot,” she said. “It taught me to sharpen my skills....I try to stop by once a day to literally stop and smell the roses. It has given me an appreciation for the small business owner, it is tough.” She said it is all in who is hired for the success of either of her businesses. Goodman said if she were to give any advice to young women with business goals, she would say, “a young woman going into business today needs two things: self discipline, also, don’t be afraid to put your foot in your mouth. That is the only way you will figure out what works for you.”
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Pat Musich - Customer Service Specialist Felicia Houston - Director of Operations Carolyn Ellingford - Customer Service Specialist Thank you for all your dedicated service you are at the heart of what we do.
360 South 200 East Roosevelt, UT 84066
(435) 722-5171 www.ferrellgas.com
Women in Business - 15
HASLEM
MCCURDY
succeed, you will succeed. You’ll pull through whatever the trial is. Whatever it is in your life, if you’ll look at it from a good side instead of a pessimistic side, it will always work. It will always be less painful or more rewarding. You just have to have that attitude.” Haslem says she knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed or to want to give up, but that during those times, she always tries to keep the future in perspective. “At one point when I was feeling so overwhelmed with it all, I thought to myself, ‘Well, I could quit, and I’ll be in the same place tomorrow as I am today,’” Haslem said. Each day, I just thought, ‘Okay, I’ll take it a day at a time, and in four years, I will have completed it.’ Or in four years, I could look back and say to myself, ‘Dang it, I wish I’d have done that. It’s been four years and I haven’t done a thing on it!’ I took that attitude of okay, it’s going to better me for tomorrow, so it’s going to be worth it today.”
things that really stand out to her. “This is actually something I read. “Owe no man nothing.” Keep yourself out of debt. That’s really good advice,” said McCurdy. “And just be happy. Things will get better, always.” When asked about what advice she’d give to other women seeking success, McCurdy’s biggest recommendation is to trust in a higher power. “I’m going to be honest: pray about it,” she said. “Make sure that’s where you need to go, because really, if you get in line with God’s will, life is better. Don’t ever give up.” Above all things, McCurdy says that she loves her work. “I’m very happy with taking care of people,” said McCurdy. “I’m a caretaker.”
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Thank you
HONEYCUTT Continued from 11
She said many people participate every year and she has also seen an increase in the amount of people that come into town to participate. “It’s so humbling to see how much, just us taking this much time out of our day or month, for somebody that just needs the help, that is honestly hands down the best thing, just being able to help someone in need,” she said. “(Her favorite part of the salon) Making people beautiful, making people feel good about themselves, making people feel pretty. Feeling better than they did when they walked in the door. Feeling like they have a friend in me, feeling like they can talk to me. I want people to feel good.” She said she just likes people to feel good about themselves.
to all the wonderful Women who make UBMedia.biz Successful
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UINTAH BASIN STANDARD / VERNAL EXPRESS
The Duchesne County Chamber of Commerce extends its appreciation to all the businesses, enterprises and service companies in the Uintah Basin. Hats off to all the women who lead, manage, work and inspire our
communities...
You are the wind beneath our wings
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Thank you! L&L Motor Team 193 East 200 North, Roosevelt (435) 722-2233 463 East Main, Vernal (435) 789-2114
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16 - Women in Business
Sincere Appreciation to the outstanding women in our organization who take to heart caring for other families as they take care of their own. We feel it is an honor to be invited into your home to watch over your loved ones. We provide watchful care to improve quality of life for those we serve.
How do you know when it’s time for hospice? Weight Loss
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Call for a free assessment today
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