We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Laura , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I can easily attribute my work ethic to a number of things, but I believe that the most impressionable came from one of my first employers, Mrs. C. I interviewed to work for a Family Entertainment Center, I had previously worked at a water park and this was a similar type of business. I thought I was a great fit, and had no doubt I would get the role. This place had a Bowling alley, a Roller Rink, Mini golf, Arcade, and food options.
I applied and was interviewed to work in the Bowling Alley Cafe. The woman I interviewed with was the owner of the entire establishment, (her and her family), Mrs. C.
Mrs. C. was the matriarch of the family who owned the business, she was past retirement age and ran a cafe in the Bowling Alley where she sold her fresh soups, sandwiches made with her homemade bread, and burgers and fries for the bowlers. She was very serious about the cafe, and took a lot of pride in everything made and sold. She was also VERY intimidating. She started my interview with a very cold rant of terrible employee habits that she would NOT TOLORATE, while most of what she mentioned seemed obvious to me, her delivery was intense and somewhat terrifying. Her eyes piercing through me, evaluating me to see if I had what it took.
We were just selling sandwiches, 16 yo me was not prepared for this kind of interview. I was practically shaking. She scared me to death.
I initially thought, she is not hiring me! I remember I was mentally preparing myself for the big let down, and to hear the list of reason she would use justify why I wasn’t the right fit for her job. All my insecurities were at the tippy top of my mind.
Once she finished this long rant, to my surprise, she turned and glared me in the eyes and said, “Can you do those things”? I did not think they were all that hard, nor surprising requests, but I will say, but she was so serious I wondered if I misunderstood something. I timidly said, “yes”. She hired me that day, and I drove home in complete confusion about that entire experience. I was still a bit unsure if working for this woman was a good idea. Spoiler alert: It was.
Mrs. Crismon was an amazing woman. What I did not understand is that the behaviors she instilled in me about being a reliable, accountable, employee, who took pride in their work, would forever serve me in all my future roles.
I took her very seriously then, and was grateful she hired me. Moving forward in my career and life, I have kept many of the root behaviors that were instilled from this one interview/job.
1. Do what you say you will do. 2. Don’t be late, plan to be 15 minutes early. 3. Always do your best. 4. Never lie, or steal (that was a big one for her).
Certainly many other people and experiences have strengthened and shaped my work ethic over the years, but none quite as memorable as those impressed upon me early on by Mrs. C. – Forever greatful for the opportunity and her guidance.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
As the Chief Project Officer at UTOPIA Fiber, the nation’s largest Municipal Open Access Broadband company, I am proud to lead our team in initiatives that empower cities to fund, build, and operate fiber-to-the-home networks. Our recent achievement of reaching 75,000 subscribers underscores the significant impact we have on communities, enhancing connectivity and digital inclusion.
My professional path has been anything but linear. Initially a florist and mechanical engineering student, I encountered challenges that led me to pivot my career multiple times. After running a flower shop that ultimately closed due to unforeseen circumstances, I took a part-time job as an event florist while raising my two children. This experience was fulfilling but financially challenging. A pivotal moment occurred when I was laid off from a transportation job, as an Executive Customer Service for top accounts, following a merger. This unforeseen event led me to enroll in school full-time, which proved to be transformative. Completing my degree opened new doors, leading to a Project Coordinator role with a Wireless Internet Service Provider. From there, I quickly advanced to a Project Manager position, where I acquired invaluable relationships and experiences.
Transitioning from a wireless Internet project manager focused on Tower Installations, into a role at an engineering firm broadened my understanding of project administration, contracting, and construction processes, all of which are critical in my current position.
In 2015 A former mentor reached out with an opportunity at UTOPIA, and since joining in 2018, I’ve earned my PMP certification and advanced to Chief Project Officer, where I now oversee both project management and customer service departments.
Floral design remains my passion. There’s nothing quite like seeing the joy my arrangements bring to others. While I now reserve this talent for friends and family, I have aspirations to revisit this pursuit as a business in the future. I believe that my journey of continuous growth and learning will eventually guide me toward new and exciting opportunities.
My story illustrates the importance of resilience and adaptability, belief in oneself, and willingness to learn and grow in all aspects of your life. I am committed to continuous growth, both personally and professionally, and look forward to the next chapter in my career.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My career path has been unique, and as previously mentioned, not linear.
Being resilient and adaptable, while at the time felt more like a necessisty than developed qualities, have allowed me to naviage professional hurdles but also foster new personal growth.
I mentioned I strongly believe in and practice in my own life, continuous improvement, both personally and professionally. I cannot stress enough the importance of personal commitment to continuous growth. Returning to school to complete my long awaited degree and obtaining my PMP certification has been instrumental in my career progression, opening doors to new opportunities and enhancing my skill set in business management, and project management.
Finally, fostering both creative and logical thinking has played a crucial role in my sucess. It has enabled me to approach project management with both innovative ideas, and structured problem-solving skills, to bring versitility to my professional roles.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always open to opportunities to work with and learn from other professionals who are passionate, adaptable and open-minded. I appreciate those people who can navigate change, and embrace new ideas. Partners or Associates who are open to exploring different perspectives and approaches, especially in a rapidly evolving industry.
I am looking to connect with industry visionaries and strategic thinkers. Collaborators who possess a strategic mindset and are capable of envisioning long-term goals and innovative solutions inspire me, and I love to learn from those who can connect the dots and drive solutions forward.
In the spirit of continuous imrpovement, I will always align myself with strong communicators who value relationships and teamwork. Those who can express ideas clearly, actively listen to others ideas, and contribute to a positive team dynamic.
If you are passionate about your work, committed to continuouse growth and would like to enhance your network, or even to explore new ideas, I would love to connect.
[email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-king-pmp%C2%AE%EF%B8%8F-8906b229/
Contact Info:
Image Credits
1. Floral Bouquet: Photo by Des Shay
2. Laura King: Photo by Laurie Bray Photography
3. PMI Certification – PMP
4. UTOPIA Fiber Logo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
