Hattie Shepard

I attribute my success to two things: my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a strong commitment to hard work. My faith has been the foundation upon which I have built both my personal life and professional career.

One of the Scriptures I have shared with my daughters throughout their lives is Colossians 3:23: "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." That verse has become a guiding principle for me. If I am working as unto the Lord, then excellence should be reflected in everything I do. I am not satisfied with giving the bare minimum or simply checking a box. Instead, I strive to give my very best effort, knowing that my work is ultimately a reflection of my faith, character, and commitment.

My spiritual journey has been a driving force behind the confidence, perseverance, and leadership skills that I rely on every day. Through years of service in ministry, I have learned how to lead with compassion, communicate effectively, encourage others, and remain steadfast during challenges.

For the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as President of the Women's Ministry at my church, providing leadership and support to more than 200 women. In addition, I serve as President of the Women's Ministry for the Whitehaven District Association, where I work alongside women representing more than 25 churches. These leadership opportunities have allowed me to mentor, organize, teach, and empower others while helping build stronger communities of faith.

I firmly believe that my secular success has been strengthened by my spiritual foundation. The lessons I have learned through faith—integrity, accountability, service, perseverance, and excellence—have translated directly into my professional life. My relationship with God has given me the confidence to lead, the wisdom to make difficult decisions, and the courage to continue growing through every season of life.

At the end of the day, I am grateful for every opportunity God has provided. My goal is to honor Him through my work, my leadership, and my service to others, while encouraging those around me to recognize and develop the gifts and potential that God has placed within them.

One of the guiding principles that has shaped both my personal and professional life is simple: treat others the way you want to be treated. Early in my career, that principle influenced many of the decisions I made, including steering me away from sales-focused roles. While I recognize that many sales professionals serve their clients with honesty and integrity, I discovered that type of work was not the best fit for me personally.

I often asked myself, "Do I want to be lied to? Do I want to be misled?" The answer was always no. Because of that, I made a commitment to approach every interaction with honesty, transparency, and integrity. I believe people deserve clear communication, truthful information, and genuine respect.

One of my earliest mentors shared this advice with me, and it has remained a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy throughout my career. Whether leading teams, serving customers, mentoring others, or working within my community, I strive to treat every person with the same fairness, dignity, and respect that I would want for myself.

That principle continues to guide my leadership style, shape my decision-making, and influence the relationships I build every day. I have found that when people are treated with honesty and respect, trust grows, teams become stronger, and meaningful connections are formed that can make a lasting impact.

My advice to others is simple: Be yourself. Be true to who you are, and don't allow anyone to persuade you to compromise your values or your character.

In any industry, and especially in leadership, it's easy to look at someone else's accomplishments and think, "I want what they have, and I'll do whatever it takes to get there." But I've learned that lasting success doesn't come from chasing someone else's path—it comes from staying committed to your own journey. Hard work, persistence, and consistency pay off. Success earned through dedication is far more rewarding than anything gained through shortcuts.

Integrity is one of the most important qualities a leader can possess. When you lead with integrity, you don't have to look over your shoulder or worry about what may come to light later. Your reputation is built on trust, honesty, and accountability.

I also believe strongly in taking ownership. If I make a mistake, I am the first to acknowledge it. I believe in being transparent, accepting responsibility, and focusing on solutions rather than excuses. Accountability is not a weakness—it is a sign of maturity and leadership.

There are no shortcuts to sustainable success. I believe in following the process, learning each lesson, and respecting every step along the way. When people skip steps to get ahead, they often create weaknesses that eventually surface. Like a house built on an unstable foundation, success without preparation and discipline can quickly fall apart.

My philosophy is simple: Work hard, remain persistent, maintain your integrity, take ownership of your actions, and trust the process. When you do those things consistently, success becomes a natural result of your character and commitment.

One of the greatest opportunities in our industry today is not just attracting talent, but retaining and developing the people we already have. For me, creating a successful workplace goes beyond operational results and revenue goals. It is about building an environment where people feel valued, connected, and invested in. Because our team members spend so much of their time at work, I believe it is important to foster strong relationships—not only between staff and members, but among team members themselves. We want our clubs to feel like more than just a workplace. We want our employees to feel that they are part of a team that genuinely cares about their well-being and success. One of the ways we are working to strengthen those connections is by creating opportunities for team members and their families to engage outside of the workplace. We are planning activities such as baseball outings and other team events where employees can spend quality time together and where their families can meet the people they work alongside every day. These experiences help build relationships that extend beyond the walls of the club. A great example was our participation in the Wings for Life World Run event. We invited employees and their families to join us, and the experience was incredibly meaningful. Seeing families connect, support one another, and become part of the larger team culture reinforced the importance of creating opportunities for engagement beyond daily work responsibilities. The positive impact of that event inspired us to pursue even more team-building activities in the future. My goal is to create an environment where employees see their work as more than just a job. While business performance and revenue are important, investing in people is equally important. When employees feel appreciated, connected, and supported, they are more engaged, more committed, and better equipped to serve our members and one another. Ultimately, we want our teams to know that we are not only invested in their professional success, but also in their personal growth and quality of life. ::: This version works well for a leadership interview, professional profile, company newsletter, employee spotlight, or speaking engagement on leadership and team development.

My morals and values are at the core of who I am. Integrity is not just something I talk about—it is the standard by which I try to live every day. I believe in doing what is right, even when no one is watching. That principle guides me in my professional life, my personal life, and my spiritual walk.

I am always mindful of the choices I make because character is built through consistent actions, not occasional decisions. For me, integrity means being honest, trustworthy, accountable, and committed to doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances or whether recognition is involved.

I also believe that a person's reputation is one of their most valuable assets. Money can be earned and replaced, but a good name is something that must be protected and nurtured over time. Once trust is broken and a reputation is damaged, rebuilding it can be difficult. That is why I strive to conduct myself in a way that reflects my values and earns the confidence and respect of others.

Throughout my career and in my service to others, I have learned that titles, achievements, and accomplishments may open doors, but character is what sustains success. My goal is to leave every situation knowing that I acted with integrity, treated people fairly, and upheld the values that define who I am.

As the old saying goes, your reputation arrives before you do and remains after you leave. That is why I consider a good name to be worth more than any earthly reward.