Her Story
About Michele
I'm currently a controller with over 40 years of experience in accounting. My career began working with my dad in his family business, where I kept his books. After taking a few years off to raise my son, I held various office manager positions before deciding to go back to school. I took night classes and weekend classes to earn my bachelor's degree, graduating in 2016. In 2018, I started my first controller position at Jet Doc Systems, then moved to Functional Products, and now I'm with Anchor Industries. In my role, I oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash receipts. I prepare a daily dashboard showing where we're at financially for the president of the company. I also handle the HR aspects including onboarding, BWC claims, and union issues. I manage general liability insurance and healthcare benefits, and handle month-end responsibilities including inventory, journal entries, and reconciling bank statements. One of my most notable achievements was opening up a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for a company president back before the internet was widely popular - he just told me to do it without any tools, and I figured it out. I'm also a notary and serve as treasurer for my church.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michele
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to God. If I didn't have a faith, I wouldn't have pursued college. Without that, I would be struggling, more than likely. My faith gave me the foundation and motivation to go back to school and advance my career, which has made all the difference in my professional life.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to show up on time. That's pretty much it - show up on time and you'll be ahead of the rush. It's simple but it really makes a difference. Someone once told me you're not a half an hour early or late, and that stuck with me throughout my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just be diligent. Work with a purpose. And know that you can do it. Don't doubt yourself - you have the ability to succeed in this field if you stay focused and committed to your work.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my field, the biggest opportunities would be new investment opportunities and new investment platforms, like AI and Bitcoin - things like that. These emerging technologies are creating new possibilities for how we manage finances and investments. The challenges in accounting are adapting to these rapid changes and staying current with new platforms and technologies.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is the most important value to me. I believe in doing what you would do in public, even if no one knows. It's about maintaining the same standards and ethics whether people are watching or not. That consistency and honesty guide both my professional work and my personal life.
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