Today we’d like to introduce you to Thavi Louanlavong.
Hi Thavi, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am an entrepreneur and CEO/Owner of Siter Neubauer and Associates (SNA), an executive search and contract staffing firm based in Arlington, Texas. I am a person who loves mentoring and helping others realize their dreams.
I was born in Laos and moved to the U.S. with my parents as a young girl. My parents were in their 20s and driven to make a better life for our family.
I learned work ethic and perseverance by watching my parents pursue opportunities that came along, which eventually led them to open and operate their own grocery store. I think that’s where my entrepreneurial light was ignited.
SNA is one of 300+ independently owned and operated companies within the MRI Network, which has offices worldwide. I have worked at SNA for the last 20 years and assumed ownership in 2020.
We commit to finding the right candidates for our clients whether it be public or private enterprises in health care, medical device, construction, financial services, and engineering companies, as well as numerous local, state, and federal government.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most Americans, my road has been very bumpy.
My first job in Human Resources was in health care and after being laid off, I found myself unemployed. I did whatever I could to make a living. I sold the latest technology in water filtrations for overall good health, e-commerce websites, and even high-end jewelry to my direct network.
Meeting and working for Les Siter and Don Neubauer, the original founders and owners of SNA, put me on a track to manage my path as a recruiter as if I was operating my own business.
I didn’t set out to own a staffing company, but after 20 years of learning every aspect of the business, and the tragic death of the owner and mentor, Don Neubauer, I found myself faced with trying to keep the business operating or closing it.
It was during a time of alarming uncertainty as the pandemic was just beginning and the country was shutting down. Fortunately, our decades of recruiting in health care for public services and hospitals, uniquely positioned us to staff medical providers with hundreds of critical positions. What seemed dire, turned out to be an opportunity for us to keep the business on track and thriving once again.
In 2020, I was honored and humbled to be named MRI’s “Person of the Year”, and our office continues to win awards for revenue, growth, and service.
We work very hard, every day, for our clients, and absolutely will not rest until they have the right candidates to lead them out of the problems they face. I believe that if you have the people, you have the solution.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Siter Neubauer & Associates?
I am so proud of my team. We are a minority, woman-owned business in the U.S., which is not a common thing, and I believe that our diversity is one of our superpowers. We work in a wide range of businesses and with people from incredibly varied backgrounds. Our understanding of what businesses need and relentlessly pursuing the best-qualified candidates is what we do best.
I lead by example first and foremost, but also, I believe in equipping employees with all they need to provide superior service. I am a very curious person by nature, and I ask a lot of questions. Often, people do not know what they really need until the right question is asked. I coach our staff to be fiercely curious.
I also believe that we are masters at collaboration. Our team works with other MRI offices across the globe to find the perfect candidates for our clients. Several months ago, a client needed Pilot Instructors who could speak several languages to work on an Asian time schedule. It took asking questions of offices worldwide to find the right candidates, but when we did, everyone was a winner.
It seems to me that leadership and teamwork are like a dance, where all parties need to respect each other and by working together success is inevitable.
What do you think about luck?
It seems the harder I work the more opportunities I am presented with. Perhaps some may look at that as luck. I focus on fundamentals that have served me well in creating opportunities and making decisions.
First, be curious. The answers are all there. You just need to ask the right questions to get the information you need.
Second, believe in yourself. Have the courage to believe that you can do whatever you set your mind to. If you don’t believe it, odds are you’ll give up and that’s the surest way to failure.
Third, never give up. I am where I am because I did not give up. After Don’s death and facing a pandemic, I could have left the business and tried something else, but I stuck with it and now we are one of the top MRI offices in the world.
Fourth, make quick and active decisions. Passively choosing not to decide is still a choice, but only active decisions provide a chance for us to steer our own course and create the opportunities that will help us grow into the roles that are meant for us.
Fifth, take ownership of your life. Don’t give away your power. We are all victims of circumstances, but you can decide that you will lead yourself to success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sncompanies.com
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/ExecutivePlacementFirm
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SiterNeubauer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJHVGJerOeUK4b6tWxu1ZuQ
