Meet Connie, Head of Procurement
It was the winter of 1989, and Connie Graham had inquired about an open secretarial position in the offices of Shullsburg Creamery. Connie, who was born and raised in Shullsburg, was looking for a job that was close by, and offered the flexibility that was needed when raising a young family.
Connie may have started at the secretarial desk, but soon branched out to other roles including Customer Service Representative, Pricing Coordinator, Accounts Payable Clerk and Buyer. One of the things that she has enjoyed the most is dabbling in the area of package and label design.
In 2019, she became the head of the procurement department and assumed the role of Procurement Manager. Her duties involve working closely with the Shullsburg Creamery sales, packaging and distribution teams, as well as our partners within our supply community, to run an effective supply chain operation for each and every SKU of product (and there are currently over 1300 items). Connie keeps close tabs on these constantly moving and changing parts by reviewing costs, monitoring projections and fluctuating forecasts, while looking for new opportunities, whether it be for new products or materials, or forming new partnerships with suppliers. “There are many challenges that we encounter on a regular basis,” she says, and as she puts it, “The rewarding part of my job is working with the team to make it all come together in the end and satisfy the demands of our customers.”
While ever-changing elements are a given with the nature of her job, Connie notes the more subtle but substantial changes that have taken place over the decades since she first started. “When I first started, it was a simpler time,” she says. “We had a much smaller workforce, and things such as pricing, invoicing, the picking process and the way in which inventory was tracked were all done manually,” she recounts. Connie also recalls the improvements made over the years to the building itself, allowing for growth in the packaging department, cheese factory and office areas. “It’s interesting to talk with people about how different things once were, and all the changes that have taken place of the years,” Connie says. “It’s fun to reminisce with some of the other longstanding employees to hear what they can recall as well.”
Despite the environment of inevitable change, Connie knows one thing has stayed the same. “The one thing that has remained consistent is the quality of our cheese,” she proudly notes. For it is true that despite advancements in technology, Shullsburg Creamery is dedicated to making cheese the traditional way, a process that may take a bit more time, but ensures authenticity. And which of the many varieties of quality cheese is Connie’s personal favorite? “Actually, I prefer our Party Pack,” she says. “You get four of our best cheeses in one package!”
When Connie was asked, “What is a quote you live by?”, she shared a quote by Princess Diana. “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” She believes a kind gesture could make someone’s day.
When Connie isn’t wearing her Procurement hat at the Creamery, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her dogs, going for long walks, and reading a good book while sitting on the beach. She enjoys attending car shows and watching all forms of racing.
Thank you, Connie for your 35 years (and counting!) of dedicated service!
