Women’s History Month | She’s the WOOman

To celebrate Women’s History Month, we are highlighting one of our own!

Customer service, communication, and a can-do attitude are the cornerstones of success for Branch Manager Terri Tillis at City Electric Supply (CES) Gainesville, Fla.

She joined the team in 2002 bringing with her many years of experience across manufacturing, inventory, and distribution.

Of her CES beginnings, she said, “It was a branch in the red for many, many years. I worked to identify the right team, their niche skills, and worked customer relationships.” Her efforts proved successful; today it is a strong business, turning a profit and carrying a pristine reputation for customer service.

According to the 2014 Labor Force Statistics published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the entirety of the wholesale industry touts a 45 percent female employment rate, but of the more than 220,000 individuals employed specifically in the electrical wholesale trade only 25 percent are women.

“When I first came into this industry, it was the hardest. Men were pretty tough on me. I remember one man – I’ll never, ever forget, he was an account for my team and when he called in, if I answered, he would ask to speak to one of the guys. ‘Well, is there anything I can help you with?’ ‘No,’ he’d say.”

After a year, Tillis joined a different team and received an upset call from this gentleman: “You became our ‘WOOman!’ Why did you leave us just as we finally got used to you?”

That was more than 20 years ago and even today, he refers to her as the electrical industry’s WOOman.

When Tillis first selected this career path, she ‘didn’t know anything other than how to turn on a light switch.’ She learned, overcame, and has worked many different positions in this industry, which has helped her to better understand the heavy competition in her area. She’s proud to stand apart from them.

Tillis was initially hired to manage the local store inventory. In 2004, after two committed years, she was promoted to branch manager.

Her first initiative as manager was to help the customers that were overextended on their credit line.

“About 90 percent of our customers were riding the bad debt column so I brought them in one at a time and helped put together a plan that worked each one backward out of their debt. It’s so easy to take that time and help – and it keeps their business out of debt. Whatever I can do to help them help their business is a mutual success.”

Tillis believes customer appreciation is born of employee appreciation and runs her business as such.

“I can’t say enough great things about City Electric. It’s a people company and if you are good to your people, that motivation flows through to the customer. City makes us happy to work here… My plan is to retire from here and I hope to be working until I’m 80 years old! I appreciate the company and I appreciate them giving me the opportunity to be a manager in this business.”