Generation of family ownership: I'm third generation. However, my sons, our fourth generation, are working in and have ownership in the company.
Size of company: Miller Foods Inc. is the parent company for Oma's Pride, natural pet food, and Miller Farms, which offers farm fresh poultry and runs a non-profit, Miller Farms Cares. We source, manufacture and distribute all our products, and our pet food is in all 50 states. We had some distributors in Hong Kong until logistical issues forced us to stop.
Number of employees: 42.
First jobs at this company: At 5, I would pick up the turkey chicks and hand them to my grandfather to snip their beaks so they wouldn't injure each other. When I was 10, my maternal grandfather had me running family meetings. People would argue and start yelling so when it was time to vote I'd cut them off and not let them. At 16, I was filing paperwork after school full-time. My grandfather said he got the sense I was the only one who could run the company someday, so he was teaching me about it. Thus, our leadership skipped a generation. After college, I started in sales.
Most memorable thing I learned from my grandfather and parents: My grandfather said it's important to have a vision to know where you're going. We have a full line food distribution company. Once we got into canned goods, he was thinking about how we get into produce and then into dairy. He also had a vision about how we could use our land. My father taught me my work ethic. He would start work at 11 p.m., work all night, go home, eat, rest and go back. He never complained. He's still working at 80. My mother taught me about being an innovator. She created the pet food for her dog and rolled it into the company.
Our greatest success: Giving people opportunities. We do a lot with those who have a hard time getting hired as a result of incarceration or substance abuse, people needing a second chance or reemployment. We hope they find a better opportunity elsewhere because we're not big enough to keep promoting them. Also, two of my sons have played a major role in our achievements. My oldest son expanded the ecommerce part of the company, which is now a major part of our revenue. He also rebranded us. My second son played a major role in creating our national retail distribution center for pet stores.
A quote from our mission statement: For Oma's Pride, “Helping pets live their fullest lives through a simple carnivore-focused diet of raw food — As nature intended.”
On my desk: A plaque from my father with the words “Choose a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life.”
My greatest accomplishments: Creating a distribution center outside our own physical space, which created a whole other level of jobs and more freezer space, for example. Also, instituting a retirement plan for my mother and my aunt. Finally, transitioning two generations. When my grandparents died, I purchased my mother's share of the business, and now I'm transitioning it to two of my four children.
Best thing about working in a family business: The opportunity to lead, and to lead generations. Legacy means a lot to me; you're honoring past generations. I'm more of a steward of the company.
Advice for other family business leaders: Prior to entering the business, have a clear path to ownership and leadership, for the next generation and for yourself.
On a day off, I… spend time with friends and family because I never have enough time to do that. I'm reflective. I read, write and learn.
Books I think every family business leader should read: Everything Is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo, and Trust & Inspire, by Stephen Covey.
Philanthropic causes our family supports: Our biggest cause is Miller Farms Cares, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that focuses on addressing food insecurity through a partnership with Connecticut Foodshare, our local Feeding America food bank. Since 2020, we have helped feed 200,000 people during the Thanksgiving holiday. In 2023, we were on track to feed an additional 100,000 people.
Words I live by: Trust but verify.