Phyllis Levine has an insatiable drive to constantly learn new things and remain open to new experiences. She is the Director of Administration at Manufacturing and Technology Enterprise Center (MTEC), and while she has been with the company for decades, she has had a unique journey that brought her to where she is today. Born and raised in the Bronx, Phyllis grew up watching her mother work as a seamstress making bridesmaids and wedding dresses for a large clientele that grew mostly through word of mouth. Her adoration for her mother’s hard work inspired her to go on to study Fashion Buying and Merchandising at FIT. Once she received her Associate’s, she went on to work in the fashion industry for about a decade.
Eventually, Phyllis moved out of New York City and up to Dutchess County, New York. She worked in administration for years until one day she saw an ad in the paper for MTEC (who at the time went by The Hudson Valley Technology Development Center*) and was thrilled at the prospect of starting something new. When she first arrived at MTEC, she began by simply ordering supplies and answering phones, however, Phyllis always wanted to acquire more knowledge about the business and better understand all the ins and outs. She gradually was given more opportunities over the years due to her curiosity and willingness to learn. Her strong work ethic has always propelled her forward and brought along new challenges she was always ready and willing to face. Her tenacious spirit made it so that she eventually became the corporation secretary.
Phyllis attributes a lot of her success to the Executive Director, Tom Phillips’ leadership style at MTEC and the support he has shown her. She was given projects that perhaps she didn’t have previous experience in, but she was given space to give it a try and learn along the way. By not keeping employees in strict boxes, Phyllis believes the structure of MTEC allows employees to grow in new and unexpected ways.
A few years ago, a new challenge arose and Phyllis was asked to help with sales. While at first she broke out in a cold sweat and didn’t think she was right for the job, she reflected on the connections she had made over the years and realized she had the ability, but would have to do the job in her own style. Phyllis prides herself on the relationships she’s cultivated with her clients and credits her success to her continued project involvement and relationship management. She says that it’s important to avoid a one-and-done attitude and to remain connected with your clients. By staying proactive with clients, she likes to think they keep her on “speed dial” to help when issues arise or they need an extra point of view.
Even though Phyllis doesn’t come from a scientific or engineering background, she doesn’t need to have all of that knowledge to build meaningful connections. Her honesty and transparency make her a skilled collaborator. It isn’t about what you do- but how you do it. A sense of understanding and good listening skills will take you a long way with people. While she may not be an eager public speaker or someone who craves the center of attention, when it comes to one-on-one interactions she shines. Phyllis likens working closely with clients to being a good psychologist; always following up with questions to help get to the root of the problem. Because while someone might realize they need support, they might not know exactly what areas they truly need help in.
Although Phyllis knows that in the coming years she would eventually like to retire, for now she has no plans to stop her lifelong journey of learning. For most of her career she was the office manager (and then some), and while she went on to receive the title of Director of Administrator, for her, this job isn’t about titles. When she does eventually retire, she would like to be remembered as someone who was dependable, reliable, and got the job done. No matter the occasion, Phyllis works tirelessly to find the solution to her client’s problems, and if she can’t, she provides them with the required resources.
Phyllis’ advice for anyone looking for a successful career in business administration is to get a strong grasp on time management, prioritizing, and organizational capacity. If you can hone in on those three skills, you can work anywhere. While software programs can be learned, those “soft skills” are universally transferable. Clear, actionable communication will help keep your goals moving forward. She says the same for younger generations entering the workforce. Her biggest piece of advice is to prioritize learning strong communication skills and to make good first impressions. Regardless of the field you end up in, those abilities will take you far in life.
*While MTEC officially and legally is still named the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center, we have rebranded as the Manufacturing and Technology Enterprise Center to better demonstrate our services and capabilities.