This weeks “Meet the Team” features our company’s Controller, Christine Di Tomas. Christine continues to be a driving force in the growth and success of Richard Aitken Builders. She is a key contributor to who we are today and we feel fortunate to have her as a leader on our team.
How long have you been in the construction industry? 19 years.
What do you like most about working at Richard Aitken Builders LLC? The diversity in this company allows us to continue to grow and change as our customers’ needs change and grow. This means the employees are continually learning and being challenged. There is never a dull moment.
How long have you been with Richard Aitken Builders? 16 years.
What do you like most about working on Long Beach Island? Building on a barrier island has a whole new set of requirements and challenges. Things you would never learn working for a builder on the mainland.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I like to keep active when I’m not in the office – biking, swimming, exercising, skiing and walks on the beach.
Describe how the company has changed since you first started. This company has changed a lot since I started in 2000. We had only 20-30 employees and now we are over 70. When I first started I was the only person in the Accounting Department. As I hired staff I also had to create policies and procedures so everything would still be done consistently. We have also had to keep up with the changing technology. We have changed Accounting systems three times to keep up with our growing customer base. We have kept up with our customers’ demands for technology as well. Email and cell phones were not widely used in 2000, so everything was not as fast paced as it is now.
How would you describe your management style and approach? I lead by example. Since I have done all of the jobs of the office staff, it makes it much easier to supervise what they are doing. I also think it is important to create a positive environment for your employees so they want to come to work every day and do the best job they can on a daily basis.
What do you believe is the key to running a successful business? A good team is important to the success of any business. When you have dedicated employees like we have at A. Richard Aitken, anything is possible.
