Her Story
About Cristie
I started out as a maintenance mechanic on the floor, and then in 2019 transitioned from on the floor as a maintenance mechanic to planning and scheduling, and then went from there to maintenance management, running the maintenance department. I have worked in chemical plant, food industry Ocean Spray Cranberry, HVAC industry for Aon coil products, cabinetry for Cabinet Works in Marshall Texas, fur industry making Stetson Resistol and Charlie One Horse cowboy hats when I worked for Hatco, and medical facilities long-term and short-term as maintenance supervisor and tech.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cristie
01What do you attribute your success to?
My determination. When my husband got killed, I sat down and had a long discussion with myself about what I was going to do to raise these kids with a life that they deserve. It took me 4 or 5 years to decide exactly what that was, and that's where I am now.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Do what you love. Because if you're doing what you love, it's like you never really work a day in your life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be ready, be tough and be sure. Be sure that you know when you walk into this industry, you have to know that you're ready to be ready to... you'll have people, especially being a female, you'll have the ones that will help you hand over foot, just like you would them, and then you'll have those that absolutely don't believe that this is where you need to be. So you just need to be ready to take on whatever, and don't let... don't take everything personal.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges now is going to be upper management... them not wanting to spend the money if they don't have to find it cheaper, find it closer. The opportunity is endless because AI will never take the place of an actual maintenance technician. You always have to have my hands on, it don't matter where you are at. So the jobs will be endless and they are forever.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, modesty and servant leadership are my top 3. I keep those written down in a book. I don't lead as I'm a boss, I lead as... I work for them. If I'm not giving them what they need, whether it be a tool, a part, or guidance, or training, then I am... then they can't do what needs to be done. I've failed them as a leader.
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