Tim Lambert
Senior Accountant | McCarthy Tire Service Co. Inc. | Age: 27
What was your first job in the industry?
When I was 15 or 16 years old, I helped in the warehouse, loading and unloading trailers and stacking tires. As family members, we were taught that you should never ask someone to do a job that you have never done.
What attracted you to the industry?
Ever since I was young, I have always wanted to be in the family business. I am also attracted to the industry because being part of the younger generation, we tend to see things from a different perspective and can affect change in ways that maybe have not been thought of yet. Another reason I love this industry is that each day is different. You can walk into work one day with an agenda and come out with a totally different agenda. The tire industry is ever-changing and that is what attracts me to it.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career?
I would say my biggest challenge is understanding sales and operations, while maintaining a finance mindset. I try to understand and review how the day-to-day operations of the business coincide with sales. With understanding this relationship between the two of them and combining that with a finance background, I can give my insights and expertise on what will make our business grow.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
I would say my mother, Kathleen McCarthy-Lambert. I strive to walk in her steps every day. The way she interacts with employees, customers, vendors, and from the finance side, banks, she has been my biggest influence in my everyday life.
What is your biggest accomplishment in the industry?
My biggest accomplishment would be the cost-cutting initiative I have with McCarthy Tire. I, along with other colleagues, have been tasked to find cost-cutting measures. We look for ways to make jobs more efficient and effective. At times it has been difficult, since most people do not like change, but change is for the good. If we affect enough change into an area of the business, positive results will be the outcome and that is one of the goals we are trying to accomplish.
Tell us about your current job and responsibilities. How do you spend your workday?
My current job is a senior accountant with McCarthy Tire. I am responsible for financial reporting, daily and monthly sales quotas for each profit center, fixed assets and depreciation, accounts payable questions, and accounts receivable questions. Also, this year I have focused my efforts on cost-cutting measures. Since finance does not sell, we can improve our bottom line by cutting costs.
What did you do before you entered the tire industry?
I was born into the tire industry. But after I graduated college, I worked for a public accounting firm, Baker Tilly, out of Philadelphia, before I started with the family business.
If a friend expressed an interest in joining the industry, what advice would you give them?
I would say the tire industry is ever-changing. You have to be willing to work hard and provide top- quality customer service.
What do you expect to be doing 20 years from now?
I expect to be at McCarthy Tire and continuing to grow our business.
Aside from the basics like health insurance, what’s the most important perk/benefit an employer should offer?
I believe that a solid work/life balance is key to a person’s positive attitude. At certain times work can overtake us, but the most important thing in life is family and having that balance will retain employees and keep them happy.
What’s the biggest issue facing the tire industry?
I believe that finding employees is very tough in our industry. It is extremely tough work and not many people are intrigued by the work in our industry.
Tell us about your family.
My family is very close, especially since I work with them every day. My mother, father, brother and sister are in the business together. They are the ones I turn to whenever I am having a tough day. My family is the most important thing to me. I cherish every moment I have with them.
What’s the worst cliché or generalization made about your generation?
The worst generalization would be that my generation does not like to work, which is false. Yes, we like to travel and take time off, but at the same time, we get our jobs done. We put the hours in to be successful. With technology, we can work from anywhere. Older generations take a few bad eggs and claim we do not like to work. But from my point of view, we are always trying to make things more efficient and more effective.
Name a talent you wish you had.
I wish I could play a musical instrument. You can play music at any time and any moment and it always brings joy to people. I always find it fascinating whenever I go to a musical performance and see the talent some individuals have.
What’s your favorite childhood memory?
When I was in grade school, my family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandfather and grandmother) would stay out at our lake house for the entire summer. We would swim, play games, go for ice cream, etc. It brought us all closer together and that is why I believe we work so well together. Our close bonds began when we were very young, and it still continue today.
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I would have dinner with my great-grandfather, Joseph McCarthy, the founder of McCarthy Tire.
Do you live by a mantra or motto? If so, what is it?
A motto I truly observe is by Jim Valvano, which is, “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.”
Tell us something about yourself others might not know.
People know I am very passionate about sports. However, what one may not know is that I love all sports. I love to read up on unique sporting events that may not be on national television.
What’s your go-to song for a road trip playlist?
My go-to song would be “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins.
If tomorrow you could move into any other position in your company, what would you choose, and why?
If I had to switch, I would choose sales because I would like the feeling of waking up each day and not knowing what is going to happen. Yes, I would have my regular customer calls, but cold calling different businesses would create a challenge that I would like.
What’s your favorite weekend activity?
I love to golf, so if I have the time, I will go play. It is a great way to relax and meet people.
If we gave you $1,000 and one hour, how would you spend the money?
As a finance- minded person, I would see how the stock market is doing at that point in time, put the $1,000 into a very progressive stock and take it out after the hour. Hopefully, I would make a small gain.
What advice would you give your high school self?
I would tell myself to always keep pushing yourself. There is no ceiling. Learn from adversity and hone in on what you can do better. The only person who can stop you from your goals is yourself. Never let anyone turn you away from that.
