Each week the Cape Coral Breeze will feature a leader within the business community — public sector, private sector, or non-profit — asking a dozen questions that focus on the person and the business in which they hold a leadership role.

Bio:

Name: Denise Vidal

Position: Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer

Company or organization: LCEC

Industry: Not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative

Contact information: 239-656-2356 or 800-599-2356

Address: P.O. Box 3455, North Fort Myers, FL 33918

About you:

Career: Coming to LCEC 17 years ago, she rose up the ranks and led in the customer service, marketing and administration departments, eventually becoming the organization’s chief operating officer. In 2019, she earned the top spot as CEO. Along the way she remained focused on serving customers in Cape Coral and throughout Southwest Florida.

Describe yourself in one word: Inclusive

Hero, role model or mentor: I’ve been fortunate to have learned profound lessons from all my bosses throughout my entire career:

Boss #1 — Self-confidence is built through self-expression and making mistakes

Boss #2 — Work can be fun! (Eat more Peeps! Yes, those little marshmallow chicks!)

Boss #3 — Gentle discipline can be more effective than obvious displeasure

Boss #4 — Polish your speaking skills so you can talk to a brick wall with finesse

Boss #5 — Visuals paint a better picture than words or numbers

Boss #6 — Character is strengthened by not taking the easy way out

Boss #7 — Respect team members enough to tell them the bad news personally

Boss #8 — An Interviewer has as much responsibility as the Interviewee to make a great first impression

Boss #9 — “Gotcha” is not an effective method in life

Boss #10 — Bosses are people, too

Boss #11 — Chill: If no one is going to die, we can get through this

Boss #12 — Transparency is a perfect balance — too much is confusing, too little is suspicious, just enough communication instills the perfect amount of trust

Person you’d most like to meet: My son’s fiance in Australia. He recently moved there to be close to her and the country is closed right now for COVID-19.

Book that changed your life: “The Challenge Culture” by Nigel Travis (former CEO for Dunkin’). It emphasized that leaders have an “obligation to dissent” to reach the highest potential of the organization for the benefit of customers and team members.

Best business advice you’ve ever received: So many great words of wisdom over the years to include:

* Join Toastmasters

* Don’t burn any bridges

* Finish school

* Rules are really just guidelines

* Read what you sign

* Let it be their idea

* Make new mistakes

Biggest risk you ever taken: Every new job position has been a risk. Throughout my career I took on new roles not knowing where the road might lead but willing to see what was around the next corner. Fortunately, I was always surrounded by people who helped me navigate and often break new ground. If I didn’t take chances to learn and grow I would probably have been content in my first role out of college. Without risk, there is no reward.

New job, me: “Wait — accounting isn’t just math?”

Next job, me: “I’ll convert the payroll system. Let me just figure out these taxes on my paycheck first.”

Marketing position, me: “Sure, I can sell access services. What are they?”

Customer care supervisor, me: “I’ll supervise the call center. How does it work?”

CFO, me: “I think we should change out every technology system in the business to an integrated model at one time.”

Personal passion: The great outdoors — sailing, skiing, dirt bikes, mountain bikes, hiking, kayaking — you name it!

Guilty pleasure: I really want to go with Peeps and mangoes here, but not necessarily at the same time.