“This
will be the most boring interview ever,” says Betty Brady as we sit down to
talk about her pending retirement at the end of the month. She insists that her
story is not much to talk about but a few minutes into the conversation you
start to piece together a career at Crossland Construction Company during an
important span of history. The interview was anything but boring.
“I
first met Ivan Jr. when the metal building manufacturing company I was working
for (Sonoco) in Chetopa, Kansas was shutting down. He asked me if I was going
to go to work anyplace else. He said Crossland might be looking for some help.
After giving it some thought I called to see if there was still a need. In 1991
the office was confined to where the mail room and benefits offices are now. We
had fewer than 100 total employees and the office staff was just a handful of
people.” Betty remembers that time when
there were really no titles and everyone just seemed to contribute to get the
work done. Her main focus was making sure bills got paid. “It was a much
smaller company but it seemed big at the time.”
Betty
Brady eventually became the office manager. “We really didn’t have a lot of
formal policies and procedures. Looking back it seems like the time went by so
fast.”
Betty
smiles about some of the experiences that lead to deep friendships. She has
worn a lot of hats from accounts payable to managing receivables and, for a
time, she was in charge of the company picnics too. So many memories. Now, she
is looking forward to retirement and taking care of her husband Calvin. People
who have been around for a while know Betty Brady as a wonderful cook with some
unique specialties like pumpkin dip, spiced peaches and candy corn and peanuts.
She loves to decorate for the holidays too. Her house has been a showcase for
Christmas Trees her family and friends have enjoyed over the years.
Betty
knows she’ll have more time for cooking and her family and the holidays she
loves so much but she knows she will miss the deep bonds of friendship she has
developed with the people of Crossland Construction Company. “Good company.
Good people.” When asked for the advice
she would share with a new employee, Betty didn’t skip a beat. “Be loyal. Earn
your pay. Do what you are paid to do.” From 1991 through June 2011 she did just
that. It’s that kind of pragmatism that defines Betty. We wish her all the best
in her retirement.
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