Brenda Vander Ploeg, President of Direct Supply Inc, got her first sense of earning money when her father would take her to his office on Saturday mornings for miscellaneous chores.
Brenda recalled, “I still remember him taking the cash out of his wallet to pay me and thinking, I earned that money, now do I save or spend it?”
Drawn to the construction industry because she enjoyed seeing the transformation of projects from start to finish, Brenda is constantly in awe of how the latest design trends are often old colors and styles made new again. As a family-owned and operated company that is enthusiastic about exceeding customer’s expectations, Direct Supply believes that who they are and how they treat their customers, vendors, and employees sets them apart.
Beginning her position at Direct Supply, Brenda wanted to become the best wholesale distributor and continues to work towards this goal every day by putting the needs of the customer first. A typical day for her includes negotiations with manufacturers to working the sales desk in their recently remodeled office and showroom.
The renovation to their offices came about due to the need to represent the products they sell in a more effective way. By building the level of confidence and stability with customers, vendors, and employees, Direct Supply continues to evolve, especially during these challenging times.
When asked about the challenges and changes Direct Supply has faced throughout this year, Brenda said “I know that video presentations and conferencing will continue to be a growing part of this business, and I would love to become more well-versed in the technical aspects of electronic communications. While my staff is becoming very proficient with technology, I have a lot to learn.”
As a woman in the male-dominated construction industry, Brenda advises other members of the community to work as a team and love people for who they were created to be, “Everyone has a skill set and value. Always accept, encourage, and support one another. Most of all, love what you do and have fun! Believe in yourself, learn something new, and be true to yourself. You can overcome any obstacles if you have the passion, drive, and desire to succeed.”
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