Her Story
About Muriel
I've been in my field for 28 years, all with Formica, a building product manufacturer. I started as a temp in November 1997 and was hired on as a support rep for customer service in March 1998. From there, I moved through a complete career path - Customer Service Rep, administrative sales assistant, Account Specialist, inside sales, and then outside sales, which led me to my current role as an A&D Specialist (Architect and Design Specialist) where I've been for 8 years. In this consultant role, I manage Northern and Central Florida, Savannah, Georgia, and Hilton Head Island. My day involves planning appointments with my customer base and speaking to the design community about our products that fit in education, healthcare, hospitality, office buildings - anywhere requiring hard surfaces. I typically do 3 to 5 calls per day in the field, which could be a continued education unit (CEU), a product presentation, or just talking about what would be a good fit for their project and updating their library collateral. Time management and planning are very important in what I do. My most notable achievements include building relationships with the design community, making my monthly business objectives, and helping encourage other people in the field as well as students in college.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Muriel
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say just having faith - my spiritual life and my faith is very strong. I always look for ways to improve. I'm a visual person as well, so I write my goals down. I don't do resolutions, I just write my goals down, and as I achieve them, I mark them off so I can see my achievement. My mother is a huge influence - a lot of that strength in my faith comes from her. And then just my personal development. I can't take the success for myself, because so many people have poured into my life - other women and men that have helped influence and encourage me along the way. It takes a village. It's so important to have your community or your tribe - that support system to encourage, strengthen, empower, and support each other.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Stay encouraged. Know that anything is possible. Make sure that they have a support system. Understand that there'll be days that's not easy, but you just keep pushing forward. Manage your day-to-day activity, just one day at a time. And eventually, they'll get to where they want to be.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I don't see roadblocks. I see planning, and then just keep working on your plan until you make it happen. And it will eventually happen. So I don't see them as challenges or roadblocks, it's just a matter of planning. The only thing that would keep me from moving to the next level of design is to complete school - complete college, or go back to college. Two years would be able to get me in the door with a design firm, if that's the way that I would want to go. But as you get a little more seasoned, you don't look at things the same - everything is important, every detail is important, and every goal is important. Even if you don't make it through that year, it's okay. It's still on your list. As long as you're on this earth, you still have a chance to achieve it.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Florida
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.