The Value of Forward Thinking

Inspiring Women with Betty Collins

You've got to be a forward thinker. You've got to be proactive if you want to move forward and get through the "what ifs" when they come. Forward thinking is not always easy. It might not be your personality. So you've got to at least have somebody on your team who's a forward thinker, who can push you to do more, think bigger. In this episode, I speak with Jill Frey, President / CEO at Cummins Facility Services. I consider her the definitive forward thinker. Cummins Facility Services (CFS) is a national multi-faceted facility management company servicing Fortune 500 companies across the US. CFS is a 100% women owned enterprise. Cummins provides services including janitorial, landscaping, snow removal, HVAC, security, floor care, and light maintenance to manufacturing plants, retail stores, medical facilities, schools, corporate offices as well as the hospitality industry. Jill took over leadership of the family business, which began in 1972, after graduating from the University of Toledo in 1994. About being a female in a male-dominated business category... So in my opinion, it's all about respect. You've got to stand your guard and you've got to really stick up for who you are. I've been in this industry literally my whole life. And people can try to say that they can bully me around. But I started in this industry rolling up my sleeves and working with my employees. I know how to do it. I know how to strip and waxer. I know how to do all of that. And that's gotten me so far ahead. I get so excited about my industry and my employees and my people and what's going on. And I think if they don't take me seriously, it's going to come back on them. Jill talks about how have she navigated through this COVID-19 time, and what she thinks that this industry will look like in the future... It has changed our life. And the quote that I like to use for this is what 9/11 did to buildings, COVID-19 is doing to disinfection and facilities. And I truly believe that. Nobody's had a guidebook. No one's had a book of "this is what you do here." It's never existed before. And so we had to reinvent that. And her clients are appreciating her outlook, her forward thinking and quick action... Our clients were telling us that the information that we were sending out is the best information that they are getting from any of their sources. It was amazing. We've had so many clients sending us letters of thank you, presidents of companies. Thank you so much for cleaning our facility. And she ends our interview with three great quotes, and here is one of them... The best way to predict the future is to invent it. This is THE podcast that advances women toward economic, social and political achievement. Hosted by Betty Collins, CPA, and Director at Brady Ware and Company. Betty also serves as the Committee Chair for Empowering Women, and Director of the Brady Ware Women Initiative. Each episode is presented by Brady Ware and Company, committed to empowering women to go their distance in the workplace and at home. For more information, go to the Insights page at Brady Ware and Company. Remember to follow this podcast on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. And forward our podcast along to other Inspiring Women in your life.