Business executives can be an enigma to many people. They seem to have done the impossible: make a business successful. While we all see the end results, the CEO's we know see the struggles, trials, and downright dirty work of getting a business off the ground. If you ever wanted to learn more about our CEO first hand, here's an Interview with Secure Data's CEO: Dana Steffey.
What certifications do you have that you think are the hardest, most impactful, or most interesting?
Hmmm…. I’ve taken literally hundreds of cert tests over the last 25 years. The hardest one I’m going to have to give hands down to my Electrical Engineering degree, which was five years of crazy math, physics, and of course Electrical Engineering. The one that has clearly had the most impact financially would be Cisco’s CCIE which I have maintained for 20 years. My 1st certification funny enough was Unix, followed Novell, then Microsoft MCSE/MCT.
What did you do before starting Secure Data?
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I was military for 12 years, then I thought bigger was better so worked in the enterprise commercial space for companies like Lockheed Martin, Seagate, GE, etc. before I changed over to the VAR side. I learned quite a lot from the national VAR’s but wanted to provide better service and follow-through than what they did. Thus, Secure Data and our motto of Execution is Everything began with a driving force to be the best. Big enough to matter, small enough to care!
What is your proudest achievement?
I have many achievements I am proud on the personal side, but the proudest professional achievement would have to be building Secure Data. Our Culture, work environment, work family, dedication, is best of breed.
What are the 3 things you love most about our company?
The People, Culture, and that we truly make a difference. When you find your passion, you will never call it work ever again.
What do you want to achieve with Secure Data before retiring?
If I ever retire, age at some point will make it happen but I could never imagine ever wanting to do something else. It’s not a revenue number, or an employee count. It’s having a brand that is synonymous with quality, integrity, and being the best at what we do.
What is your favorite memory associated with Secure Data (customer event, culture event, etc.)?
There are so many it’s hard to pick but the one that sticks out today is when I took the entire company to Puerto Vallarta to one of the 24 all-inclusive resorts that are in our company vacation club. It was about celebrating great people and the accomplishments that got us there.
What is the hardest thing about running a business?
Work/Life balance is definitely up there as it is very hard not to put every waking hour into it because it is one of your greatest passions. Managing People also ranks up there. There are a lot of moving parts in a company the size of ours and having the right people in the right places moving the same direction is a skill unto its own.
If you could give one piece of advice to yourself when you started the company, what would it be?
Patience!! Success is a byproduct of doing the right things, activity, and follow-through. I would tell myself that all good things take time, just continue to do the right things and it will happen.
