Submitted Nov. 23, 1998
Special Events
Hi! My name is Becky Stewart. I was the first manager of HPS Manufacturing when it started in the fall of 1993. It was very interesting to get in on the beginning of this project. I learned a lot about real world things such as what it's like to have people work for me. Some of them appreciate what I do, and some of them resent me, and nearly every perception is based on how well I communicate with each person individually. I also learned about bureaucracy and red tape. I remember making a presentation to the school board to show them how successful we were and could be, and trying to convince them that we really were worth their money. We were not only able to make a profit, but we were able to have some real world business experiences in the process.
The thought which has stuck with me the most is how much easier it is to sell something when you know every facet and detail of how that product came to be. Working with HPS Manufacturing meant being able to be proud of the product that we turned out, because we worked hard at it and knew what went into it. Now that I work in corporate America, much of what I learned at HPS helps me understand the people and environment that I work in. I work for Idaho Power Company, a small utility which serves portions of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada. Idaho Power was recently named the most efficient utility in the US by a study in Public Utilities Fortnightly. Once again I find myself working for a company whose product (or service) I can be proud of.
In the three years that I have been at Idaho Power I have come to realize that the most significant things I learned about small business are also applicable and important in a larger corporation. I still know that communication is probably the most important step, as a manager, to ensuring that employees are satisfied, loyal, and permanent. As an employee, communication is also the most important factor in building a network of coworkers that I can trust and depend on and gaining the confidence of my manager and employer. I have also learned that knowing why I am important to the company makes the days seem shorter and the work more enjoyable. Last, but not least, I continue to realize that working hard and doing my best always makes me feel better, no matter who else notices.
Since leaving HPS, my life has changed drastically. After graduating in 1995, I moved to Boise, Idaho to live with my aunt. It was a change of scenery and a chance to meet new people. I started working at Idaho Power in September of 1995. It is a great place to work and I have been able to observe many different jobs before making a choice about my own future career. I am currently the administrative assistant for the Delivery Business Unit Year 2000 Project at Idaho Power. It is interesting and exciting to be part of this important and high profile project.
On August 16, 1997, I married Lance Stewart. Our first year of marriage has been very enjoyable and we are looking forward to many, many more. Lance will graduate from Boise State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in the spring of 1999. It has been a long four years and he is happy to be nearly finished. As soon as Lance gets an engineering job next year I will go to back to school, probably to get a Computer Science degree. I have discovered that I enjoy working with computers and I seem to be able to learn new applications very quickly. I am interested in programming, tech support or perhaps in helping others learn how to use computers.
Good luck to every one in HPS Manufacturing as you continue to learn and keep up the great signs!
