8 SEPTEMBER 2024 | INTHEVUE.COM Alex Chalker Hobbies/Hidden Talents: Family time, home improvement/construction, landscaping, swimming, hiking/biking Organizations: Family Service Society Board Member, Leadership Paducah Alumni Association Class #37 Graduate, Paducah Rotary Club Member, Paducah Young Professionals, Sedalia Lion’s Club T-Ball Coach, Trace Creek Baptist Church Member and Finance Committee Member, Awana Cubbies Director, Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Leader, Mission Week Volunteer What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? Leadership during the pandemic. Rules and regulations, demands and expectations – everything changed at a very rapid speed. This required me to learn fast, lead fast, communicate fast, and sometimes fail fast. Although many of the pandemic conditions have changed, the skills learned during that time still have application today. What career achievement makes you most proud? Selection and participation in Leadership Paducah’s Class #37. It was an honor that I’ll never forget. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? Treat everyone with respect. Whether they are the President of the company, or the “sweeper” of the parking lot, each individual deserves to be spoken to, acknowledged, and valued. We all put our pants on the same way – one leg at a time! On multiple occasions I’ve learned (after the fact) that the person that I was speaking with in the parking lot turned out to be the President of the company! Adam Lamar Walker Hobbies/Hidden Talents: Working in my yard, spending time with family, and working! Organizations: ASSP, AGC Safety Committee What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? My biggest challenge is adapting to the large variety of our customer base. We work in several types of markets from commercial, industrial, government, service, automotive, healthcare, and others. Learning their own expectations can be difficult while still maintaining our own core values. I’ve learned to listen to both our clients and our employees and hear their concerns. Typically, if you listen more than talk, you’ll likely find the solution is already there! What career achievement makes you most proud? I have many employees who are able to call, text, or simply pull me to the side to talk to me about their concerns. As long as I am able to maintain a clear and open line of communication with those I serve, that’s the best achievement for me. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? “If your gut is telling you something, you’re most likely right.” This was told to me by a peer safety manager at a local engineering firm. I was struggling with an issue that I couldn’t prove through past lessons learned, regulations, or any other data. However I knew this particular issue needed to be addressed. I was able to make my opinion known and fortunately my company doesn’t only employ me for my experience and education but also my passion for doing things right. They agreed and we moved on! Alex Goodman Hobbies/Hidden Talents: Golf, gardening, and reading (I’ve read 38 books in 2024 so far!) Organizations: Mayfield Lions Club (Former President and Secretary), Mayfield Graves County Tourism Commission Chairman, Mayfield Housing Authority Chairman, Purchase Players Community Performing Arts Center Board Member What is one of the biggest challenges that you’ve had to overcome in your professional career? I bought Awardmasters a few weeks after my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. I spent the first six or so months traveling to Vanderbilt almost weekly, and left the store in the care of the previous owners as well as my right hand, Ally Brown. Balancing taking care of my mom and taking over an established business was incredibly tough at times, but thankfully, today, my mom and dad are beside me nearly every day! What career achievement makes you most proud? Since purchasing Awardmasters in 2015, our sales have increased roughly 40%. We persevered through COVID-19 and the tornado that ravaged our community. As a small business (five employees and less), we have managed orders upwards of $45,000 that have been delivered worldwide. The growth that we’ve experienced the past few years has absolutely exceeded our expectations, and set us up for even higher future goals. What is the best piece of business advice that you’ve ever received? Even on the toughest days, know that it will get better. There have been moments of incredible stress and worry, but in the end everything has worked out and I am so proud of where my business is today. Sponsored by 40 Under Forty Paducah Area Manager, Pepsi MidAmerica Safety Manager, Beltline Electric Owner, Awardmasters, Inc.
