Organization: Alder Foods, Inc.
Senior Vice President of Finance & Operations: Ed Serpe
Website: www.alderfoods.com
How did your business get started?
Paul Keating Sr. started supplying groceries to the dozen or so Military Commissaries in New England back in 1963. Over the years we’ve grown into a $50M business with several operating divisions (Military, Food Bank, Rainbow Frozen Seafood).
Tell us about yourself.
I am married to my wonderful wife these last 20 years, and I’m the super proud dad of 5 kids… I own a 4-year-old Rottweiler named Mildred, I like to hike, and love to drop the top on my 2014 Mini Cooper. On the business side, I have worked in Corporate Finance for over 40 years! My current responsibilities include Human Resources, and IT/IS. Finance is my bread and butter, and IT/IS is by far the most fun part of my job.
Where do you find inspiration?
To get inspired, I first need to drop all the static and interference to deeper thought and inspiration. I try to get to a zero-based meditation place first… which can be on a hike, or just taking a long way home through the woods with a good playlist on in the car. Those are the moments when inspiration finds me. Sometimes it is a “problem-solving” inspiration, sometimes a growth inspiration, and it can be personal or business, depending on the activities of the day. Inspired thought doesn’t always yield easily actionable results, but getting calm and hopefully inspired is a good daily ritual.
What do you love about your business?
It is in Alder’s DNA to be a family-owned small business. The entire Keating family has played roles in our continued success. That family and people-first mentality pervade everyday activities. Really it’s about having great relationships with my 23 teammates, with all of us pulling in the same direction. How? you might say. See below for advice for other business owners…
What are some ways that you promote your business?
One of the key ways we promote our business is by keeping our web and social media presence fresh, and COLEwebdev is our time-tested partner in those endeavors. Great advice on ways to improve google search results, and in so many other ways. Can’t tell you how many new customers we now have as a result of “contact us” on our web pages that COLEwebdev has designed and kept fresh.
Do you have any advice for other business owners?
One of the reasons I find joy in my daily work is that I am 100% on the same page with the rest of the management team, and really throughout the entire organization. The sense of accomplishment that we achieve by focusing on and attaining agreed-upon results makes going to work fun, not a drag. We get there by using a tool called EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System). You should at least google it, and read about it.
**If you are a COLEwebdev client and you would like to be included in our Business of the Month please contact Desiree @ [email protected]