Judy Dean
Judy Dean is a Senior Account Manager at Vauth-Sagel USA LP. She serves as the primary front-door contact for the office, managing order entry, multiple inboxes, incoming calls for all departments, invoicing, scheduling shipments and pickups, vendor meetings, supply management, and staff training. Recently, she played a key role in onboarding an operations manager to redistribute responsibilities, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to operational efficiency.
Judy’s professional focus centers on delivering strong customer satisfaction through direct interaction, rapid problem resolution, and acting as a dependable point of contact for both internal teams and international partners. She values taking pride in her work, listening attentively, continual learning, and asking questions to build competence. Her approach emphasizes creating seamless processes, fostering team collaboration, and maintaining high standards in client service.
Her career trajectory reflects steady growth and versatility, beginning in customer service and progressing through roles as a Production Expediter and Office Administrator before advancing to Senior Account Manager. With four years in her current position, Judy is one of the longest-standing employees in the office. She is recognized for her attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to bridge communication between clients, vendors, and internal teams, contributing consistently to the company’s success and reputation.
What do you attribute your success to?
Growing confidence, embracing a new system, training others, and becoming a dependable source of answers for colleagues and international partners.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering this industry to take pride in their work and to be intentional about listening and learning from those around them. Never hesitate to ask questions—there is no such thing as a wrong question, and asking more than once is perfectly acceptable. I make it a point to ensure my colleagues fully understand, and I am always willing to explain until it makes sense. Asking questions is essential to learning and growth, and I truly believe in supporting others as they develop their skills.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is managing work-life balance while handling a high-volume workload. As the longest-tenured employee and primary expert, I carry a significant portion of institutional knowledge, which can make delegation difficult and increases the risk of burnout. To address this, our company is bringing on additional staff, such as an operations manager, to help distribute responsibilities and ensure continuity. While demanding, these challenges also present an opportunity to mentor new team members, streamline processes, and strengthen the organization’s overall capacity.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me center on family and dedication. I prioritize caring for my loved ones, including supporting my 85-year-old father under hospice care, and maintaining meaningful time with my daughter, husband, and nearly two-year-old grandson through regular visits and family-focused Sundays. I firmly believe that family is the foundation of everything—without it, nothing else truly matters. While my work and family commitments leave limited personal time, I am committed to balancing responsibilities with intentional, quality time spent with those I care about most.