DHI Canada Honours Our “Women In Construction” - Shelley Thomas, BBA, AHC

Shelley Thomas, BBA, AHC 

Owner/President

East Coast Opening Inc

Responsibilities:

Currently I own a sales agency where I work with architects/end users/developers/contractors to ensure their security needs are met in regard to door hardware in new and existing buildings in Atlantic Canada.     

What led you to the door and hardware industry?

I was in my mid twenties and had just graduated from University of New Brunswick with my Business Degree and was working for a locksmithing company doing their bookkeeping. Like most young adults I was in the mindset that I needed more money, so I marched myself into the owner and sat down and spoke very confidently that I need to have an increase in my salary as I was taking on more responsibilities.    He indicated to me that he could not raise my salary for doing his books but if I wanted to go into the contract division, they had I could possibly earn more in that division.  I remember looking at him and stated “You are going to give me more money to sell doorknobs… I am in….”  If I had only known…….

How many years have you been in the industry?

Around 28 years

What was your first job?

Not in the door and hardware Industry I was 12 and babysat 3 young children Monday to Friday 7am/5pm.   In the door and Hardware Industry with Capital Safe and Lock in Fredericton, NB doing their bookkeeping and then moved into there Contract Division.

What is your proudest professional moment?

Receiving my AHC within 4 years of starting in the industry.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Keeping up with the constant changing of the codes to accommodate the growth and constant development of the electronics in regard to door hardware.

Who do you consider a mentor or hero?

I have had several mentors that I have worked with in my career which I am forever grateful:  Greg Gallagher AHC, Ernie Goguen, AHC, Don Fawcett, AHC, Ed Price, AHC.  These individuals together represented over 100 years in the industry.

What is the best advice you ever received?

I often asked my mentors a question in regard to door hardware and they all responded that the answer would be found in one of my catalogue’s.  (Back then we had to open our catalogues to find answers).  Made me take the time to find it and when I did find the answer, I never forgot it.  Although sometimes I could hear them chuckling in the back as I was grumbling going thru all the catalogues trying to find my answer.

What is the best advice you never received?

Advice I never received --- Advice I have learned in this Industry is that no one is perfect in when something goes wrong with a project, take responsibility, solve the problem as quickly and as efficient as you can and most importantly LEARN from this mistake…..  

What changes have you seen in the industry over recent years?

I have seen so many changes over the past two decades:  

• when I first started in the industry most of the Estimators were doing the take off and hardware schedules on Microsoft/excel, which took a lot more time and was more apt to make a mistake.  
• the growth of electronic hardware and excited where this is going to go.

What changes do you see facing our industry in the future?

Experienced Door Hardware Consultants. As the Baby Boomers are retiring there is not as many new individuals getting into this Profession.  I believe this is a national issue not just a segmented province.

Fun fact you wish to share

Trying to explain my profession to someone.  Unless someone is in the construction industry most of the time you get the same response after you try to explain what a door hardware consultant does---- YOU MEAN TO TELL ME YOU ARE A DOORKNOB SALESPERSON--- I NEED A DOOR KNOB FOR MY HOUSE---- then trying to explain to them you don’t do residential…