I was born into VitaMix. My mother is a Barnard, and she and her five siblings grew up in the house on the company property.

A little over five years ago, I was visiting VitaMix and was invited to stay for a company presentation on the values of the VitaMix company. I remember the passionate speech taht my uncle, John Barnard gave that day as he presented these values: family integrity, teamwork, quality, and customers.

I remember driving away, thinking that there are not a lot of companies that espouse values like that and how great it would be to work at a company where those values are present and lived by the owners and employees every day.

Not long after that, I got a call from John Barnard, asking me if I would like to join the family business, as there was an opening in the accounting department. From that day, I haven’t looked back. It’s been wonderful as every day is a joy at VitaMix. I am inspired by the people who make this incredible company what it is.

I’m also inspired by the lives that are changed through our work. When I was traveling through Asia for VitaMix, I had the honor to be in the home of a Taiwanese family. The mother was giving a VitaMix demonstration in her home for about twenty of her friends. I had no idea what she was saying, but she was very passionate. I later found out through an interpreter that her son had a disease in which he could not digest food, and he was withering away. Since she found the VitaMix machine, her son has thrived. That is the power of this machine, which is inspiring others and making a difference in people’s lives globally.

I remember thinking that my grandfather would shout for joy if he could be here and see how this blender was not only helping people here in Ohio, but all the way around the world. That is the vision of this company – enhancing vitality in people’s lives and making a difference – and it seems  it is working.

 Loree Connors, Vitamix CFO and Treasurer, Ohio