Employee Spotlight: Shannon Lincoln, Senior Buyer at Tanis Brush

How long have you worked at Tanis Brush and what has motivated you to stay?

This November will mark 15 years at Tanis!?I started here as the receptionist right out of college (fun fact: my bachelor’s degree is in Religious Studies and Theology) and have held a handful of different roles here.

I’ve been in Customer Service, Estimating, Inside Sales, and now Purchasing!?Staying at Tanis has been a no brainer over the years. I’ve been given opportunities to explore different roles and learn new skills all in one place. As a result of that I’m confident in the role that I play here and the value I know I can add. It’s easy to stay at a workplace that is dynamic and continuously pushes you to be a successful member of the team.

What makes Tanis a great place to work?

At the risk of sounding corny – Tanis is one giant family. Creating friendships both inside and outside of work comes naturally here at Tanis and I truly enjoy the people I work with. At Tanis you’re surrounded by passionate people that want to help grow the company and take pride in contributing to the success. It’s easy to find yourself motivated by your fellow employees. Tanis also sets itself apart by offering a multitude of different brush constructions, catalog offerings, and custom brush design. In this regard we’re able to offer our customers a one-stop shop for all their brush needs. It’s all for the love of the brush!

As Senior Buyer at Tanis, what do you enjoy most about your role?

Having filled different roles here at Tanis, I’ve always been more familiar with the end product and its value to the customer. When I started in Purchasing, I realized this was the role that I most enjoyed. It felt like I was able to truly be an asset to each department. Being in Purchasing you can become more focused on the raw materials and all the different nuances that come with it. Being able to pivot, offer solutions on products, and being able to communicate to the different teams all the necessary information is exciting. I can honestly say that I enjoy every aspect and it definitely feels like no two days are the same at the brush company!?

How would you describe your leadership style?

I would describe my leadership style as collaborative. I think it’s important to work together and share ideas and suggestions within the team. Throughout my time here at Tanis, I’ve always felt my supervisors gave me the space to work in a successful manner, enable me to have a voice, and valued my opinion. They’ve also shared their insight and knowledge to help me grow as well. Taking those examples from other leaders and combining it with the different roles I’ve held here gives me a unique opportunity to impart the things I’ve learned over the years and be helpful and valuable to the overall team.

What are a few of the ways your team adds value to Tanis?

There are a variety of ways the purchasing team adds value to Tanis. Focusing on reducing cost without negatively impacting the quality of product we bring in adds a ton of value. It’s also important to maintain open communication with our different vendors so we’re able to cultivate partnerships that will benefit both parties. Additionally, the buying team coordinates with all departments in order to navigate bringing in the right raw materials, at the right time, to produce the finished products, which is essential to our success.

What are the top challenges you’re facing in 2022?

Without a doubt the top challenge in 2022 is the supply chain and the ripple effect it has had on practically everything we purchase and ultimately the impact it's having on our customers. Extended lead times have us already looking forward to 2023. While it has been stressful to navigate through the unknowns of 2022, it’s given me confidence to approach certain areas with a much more proactive stance. By doing so we are able to communicate with our customers that we are actively thinking about the future and how we can get ahead to accommodate their needs.

What is your approach to working through challenges?

First and foremost, I think that being aware of the scope of a challenge is important. Knowing there are some problems you won’t be able to change and identifying the ones you can is beneficial in the long run as you will be able to focus on the fixable issues. Being part of a team and recognizing that other team members bring different strengths can help in delegating tasks and also asking for help when it’s needed. Challenges present unique opportunities to think outside of the box and help you grow as you strive to overcome them!

What is a professional goal you hope to achieve in the next 1 to 3 years?

In the next 1 to 3 years, I hope that I can help Tanis Brush reach the consistent growth it’s striving for. Helping to hone in our lead times and navigate the supply chain issues in order to better serve our customers would definitely help reach that goal. It’s a challenge I’m committed to. I am always striving to be an asset to the company and provide passion and knowledge in order to ensure the future success of Tanis Brush!

What interests do you have outside of work?

My kid! I’m obsessed with him. He’ll turn 4 years old this July and he’s the best and funniest guy I know. I love watching him grow into a little person! I must also admit to a deep love of reality television (I’ve never met a Real Housewives show I didn’t love). My husband and I also just recently purchased an RV. We’re excited to camp all over the state of Wisconsin (to start with) this summer!??