Mary Fleming

Stavis Seafoods Inc.
Chief Financial Officer

Years with company:  28 years

Education degrees and professional/volunteer organizations:
B.A. in Psychology from Brown University; M.B.A. from Harvard University.  Member, CFO Roundtable, National Fisheries Institute.

Mentors and how have they assisted you in your career:
Both my father and my uncle taught me how to run a successful business, how to treat customers, vendors and employees with respect, and not to compromise, especially with respect to integrity and values.

What are you most proud of in your career achievements? Do you have a defining moment of your career to date? Stavis Seafoods is a third-generation family business.  I am most proud of the role I played in successfully transitioning the business from the second generation to the third generation and managing the growth that has come along with that.

Most challenging part of your job:
The most challenging part of my job is balancing the many hats that I wear and focusing the proper effort on each component of my work.  Managing growth is an ongoing challenge as well.  Both of these challenges also represent opportunities and excitement and result in a stimulating work environment for me.

Advice for upcoming younger executives:
There is no substitute for hard work.  Keep your nose to the grindstone and you will be noticed and rewarded.  Listen, keep an open mind and learn what you can from others.  Work as a team.  Be passionate about what you do.  Have integrity in everything that you do.

Hobbies:
Watching my children play multiple sports, fitness, food, travel, spending time with family and friends.