“Has it really been 25 years already?” Beth Robinson Celebrates Milestone Anniversary

In September, Hixson’s Beth Robinson, Vice President and Director of Continuous Improvement, celebrated 25 years with our firm.  Recently, we asked Beth to reflect on her time here at Hixson and why the firm has been her Employer of Choice for so long:

  1. What is the best thing about working at Hixson?

Wow . . . where to begin?!  There is so much that has been great, but if I had to pick just one thing it would be the people I get to work with every day.  We have assembled an amazing array of talented professionals who are generous with their time and ideas, are willing to try new things and seem to genuinely enjoy each other’s company.  It couldn’t be a better atmosphere for spending 40+ hours of my week.

  1. Do you have a favorite memory from your years here that you can share?

It’s too hard to pick just one!  On a professional level, I would include the times I’ve been afforded the opportunity to get involved in outside organizations like the Center for Quality Management (CQM) or The Greater Cincinnati chapter of the Association for Talent Development (GCATD).  I’ve learned a lot and made many awesome professional friends over the years with both people in similar roles to mine and world class consultants in the areas of quality improvement/Lean and in talent development.  On a personal level, I will never forget how my colleagues supported me and my family when my son was injured in a serious accident several years ago.  This included my boss at the time using his personal airline reward miles to purchase a ticket for me to be with my son in another state and taking in my dog on short notice for the month that my spouse and I had to be out of state.  Other colleagues provided regular encouragement and food when we were able to return home and even helped line up care providers in Cincinnati for us.  It was a truly humbling experience I will never forget.

  1. You could work anywhere. Why have you chosen to stay at Hixson?

I’ve thought about this quite a lot and 25 years is long enough to have developed some perspective!  I believe that what we have created here is a rare combination of opportunities for our associates:

  • We get to do what we love every day, in the company of many talented professionals.
  • We get to make a difference, both in and outside of work.
  • We are supported in growing into the people we were meant to be.
  • And…we get to have a real voice in shaping the firm.

I have worked for four previous employers . . . and have spoken to many people outside of Hixson who’ve shared their work experiences with me.  What is obvious to me is that this combination of opportunities just isn’t the norm.  Perhaps you can get two or maybe even three of the four if you are lucky, but having all four as part of a work culture is very rare.  And we have it here at Hixson.  That’s why I chose to stay (and hope they’ll keep me for a few more years!).

  1. What else do you want others to know about Hixson?

We are a very stable, values-driven firm whose leaders think long term vs. quarter to quarter.  Being privately held and solely owned by our associates allows us to make decisions using a longer-term perspective which has resulted in less volatility with regard to both decision-making and financial returns over my 25 years.  As a shareholder, I’ve really appreciated that.

  1. What else would you like to share with the world about this milestone, Hixson, you, etc.?

As I look back over my 25 years at Hixson, being given the opportunity to be a ‘first’ has been very defining for me…The first employee to serve in a continuous improvement role and to be in on the ground floor in its development, the first to lead our Partners in Education Program, and the first female to be appointed Vice President in the history of the firm.  I’ve enjoyed the challenge of blazing trails and feel truly blessed to have been planted here, in this place, and encouraged to grow in the direction of my passions.  It’s been an awesome ride and I’m forever grateful!

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