ENT 601- SME Interview withLurree Pavis by Mary Schuler
1. Can you please tell me a little about your professional background.
I started in the financial industry in 1993 as an assistant manager for a Consumer Finance company in Florida went on to become a branch manager, won several awards and focused on the mortgage lending side of the company. I was then promoted to District Manager over 9 offices in South Florida in 1999. I decided to move to Murphy, NC from Florida in 2004 so I transferred with the company as a branch manager again as there were no openings for District manager. Once in Murphy, I was not challenged by the role of branch manager any longer and decided to open my own mortgage company in 2005.
2. How did you start your entrepreneurial ventures?
After moving to Murphy, NC in 2004 I opened my own Mortgage company, “Action Mortgage” with my background in consumer lending, mortgage lending and also my business background I felt that I could be successful running a successful small business in the field that I had the most experience in.
3. What were the most challenges and the most rewards as an entrepreneur?
The biggest challenges I would say were being able to start a new business in a town where I had no relationships developed ahead of time, having to go out and cultivate new relationships with realtors, attorneys and so on but it worked out well. The biggest reward is knowing you’ve developed something from the ground up, your idea is making money and in my case being able to help people fulfill their goal of home ownership.
4. What important qualities are you looking for when recruiting the employees? Why?
I’m a true believer that you can teach skills but you cannot teach personality traits. When I hire an employee I think of the role that they’re going to play in my company and what type of person that is going to require to do the job successfully. Do they have to be detail oriented and focused and able to multi task or is it more important that they are outgoing and have a good personality to get along with the clients and referral partners.
5. What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current field?
I used to want to be an attorney so I guess that is what I would be doing if I wasn’t a mortgage originator.
6. How do you balance between work and personal life?
The hardest thing for me to learn over the years is that I can give good service to my customers without being available every minute of the day. You have to set boundaries and then stick to them when it’s family time it’s time for them and focus on that not work. When at work focus on that and make sure you are giving 100 percent of your efforts during that time.
7. One of your favorite hobbies?
I read a lot, hiking also when the weather is good
Interviewed Lurree Pavis
by Mary Schuler
