The conference calls that the company had every week were something I looked forward to with great anticipation. It allowed technicians to connect with him and share his vision albeit through a virtual phone connection. At the time, I found it unusually special to find a company whose owner was willing to connect and converse with the guys that were working out in the field. One thing…OK…maybe two things always stood out to me and kept me on the edge of my seat while the conference call was taking place. I always looked forward to hearing him say “That dog don’t hunt gentlemen!” or “If you aren’t the lead dog, the view never changes”. The main thing that I remember is that he always concluded a conference call with a special message for the technician’s. He would say “Gentlemen, I appreciate each and every one of you”. That hit home with me every time and inspired me to perform at an elite level. That statement, as simple as it may have been or sounded, was a virtual pat on the back for all of our guys, including myself. I felt a genuine sense of warm acceptance and positive encouragement.

This company has transformed the lives of many people and my story is one of many. I have witnessed testimonies from a large number of technicians and their families throughout my years here at SUI. Some of these testimonies are grandiose in nature and could be interpreted as embellishment or vain in nature. What is often misunderstood though; is that these larger than life testimonies are often intertwined with one’s dreams conveying a proud sense of self accomplishment. These are things like having a house built, a dependable vehicle, great family vacations or a technician’s children having a college education. These are not fabled, too good to be true, nursery rhyme type stories read aloud at bedsides all over the world, but rather, these are stories of real life perseverance, work ethic, heart, desire and an iron will. These core value qualities are the centerpiece of these wonderful stories but are also indicative of an owner who combined these same qualities with the internal fire of an entrepreneurial spirit. A lot of people use these core values as a punch line, slogan or cliché. They have capitalized on these core values because they have used them as a life spent defending and building something. These core values ring true today and are as vital to the infrastructure of SUI as the buildings we occupy.

Although I had a true desire, I had never ventured an interest in anything other than an hourly paid job. My preconceived notions of my family’s future and vested interest were of low expectations before I called SUI my home. SUI allowed me to finally dream again and further develop myself in reaching my full potential. I have provided my wife of 15 years as well as my two children with a life of convenience and comfort that seemed improbable and unlikely at certain times in my life. At one time, there were things that seemed too lavish and luxurious to even be considered a possibility. I’m referring to things like owning a house complete with a large backyard for my kids to play in and a dependable vehicle for my wife to drive to work in. These sound like simple things but they are commodities that bring me a sense of security and personal feelings of sheer happiness. My family encompasses the true spirit of SUI in every way. They know that none of this is possible without my career here and the opportunities afforded me. I use a cliché at our house quite often when we go out to eat or reach personal milestones within our inner family circle. My wife or kids will thank me for dinner or thank me for a gift and I will say “Don’t thank me, thank Mr. Roddy”. My seven year old son is a heavy advocate for SUI. He wears his SUI T-shirt acquired from the family picnic to the daycare facility and he tries to recruit some of the other kids’ dads to work for us. He will tell the other kids that we are hiring. My family is one of many that SUI has affected in a positive way and created a culture of not just winning but winning big.

I am honored to be a part of such a wonderful organization. Their family exemplifies professionalism and family values. I have watched SUI grow and prosper throughout my time here and I realize that the leadership is in place on multiple levels to foster and nurture a fulfilling future. I look forward to contributing to our momentum in the satellite industry and continuing to grow personally and professionally. There are so many role models and inspirational individuals here at SUI, but this was all possible because of his vision. Again, my story is one of many as SUI has graced so many people with second opportunities and a chance to dream outside the status quo box that so many families fall victim to. Sometimes all it takes to break this caged containment is a simple conversation or a friendly “Hello”. In my case and the case of many others…it started with a simple “Gentlemen, I appreciate each and every one of you”.

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