As I sit here this morning at TFY Headquarters, there is one thing I know for certain. Mrs. Brenda Swaidner will be pulling in shortly behind me. Now, I will likely leave before Brenda, but in the 17 years I have been here at TFY, Brenda has been here & ready to work until the job is done for the day like clockwork! Wednesdays are a big day for her & the payroll crew. That’s when everything must be finalized & sent off to the bank to make sure that you are all paid, correctly & on-time!
Now, you might ask, what is the point of this blog? Brenda started at TFY 35 years ago today. She is one of the hardest working, self-starting, toughest individuals I have ever met. She works tirelessly through every day. Even the days when things are tough, & decisions aren’t easy. Sometimes she must make decisions that aren’t popular. Compliance issues, safety regulations, payroll questions to name a few. Most of the time, she is 100% right in whatever decision she makes, but she is also humble enough to admit errors & work through whatever the issue might be.
Brenda Swaidner is a unicorn! So rare & precious that her work ethic is hard to believe in. Here are some comments that I recently shared with our staff:
Brenda Swaidner is going to complete her 35th year of service to TFY next month. Everyone in this room has been affected by this woman’s tireless work ethic, strong ability to relate to those around her, and overall knowledge of this seemingly simple, but ultra-complex business. 35 years ago, Brenda joined a young business with no clear direction, but she jumped in with both feet. Ready to contribute in whatever way necessary! One thing I know, from the day Brenda started until the day she leaves for retirement (at least 10 years from now), she is 100% for TFY. She never coasts through a day or allows her focus to not be on the betterment of the TFY machine. She is the ultimate team player. She doesn’t always agree with me, but she stands with me & I know that TFY would not be what it is today without her grit, guile, & determination, each and every day!
Especially today, take a moment to recognize and thank Brenda for the job she does and the effect she has on your job. There is no one like her and I am truly thankful to call her a colleague, but even more so, a friend! Thank you, Brenda!
-Jay
