Mary Ellen Sheets	The Week of October 30th, 2005

Two Men and a Truck

1. What's in your wallet right now?

$121, a passport and LOTS of credit cards.

2. What do you wish your parents taught you about money?

Investing would have been nice. But how would they teach me that? We were the kind of family who had a big garden and I sold eggs and tomatoes door-to-door from my wagon to earn extra money.

3. What is your worst habit around finances?

I'm not a saver. I'm still not a very good investor.

4. What makes you happy?

Being with my children. Watching my dogs. Traveling. Reading. Going to my cottage. It's only 800 square feet - 100 years old and nothing fancy.

5. Personal philosophy around money?

Money alone will not make you happy. It can alleviate some stress. If you are blessed enough to have a lot, it's better to give it to others who are going through a hard time.

6. Where does money come from?

Hard work. Ingenuity. Having passion about something. Perseverance. A lot of luck.

7. What would you do with a million dollars?

Nothing too exciting — I’d pay my bills and donate a fair share.

8. What is your most prized possession?

My three little Yorkies, Pee, Wee, and Mini — and probably my cottage.

9. Who is your role model?

My father. He had the best disposition - always kind and cheerful - and by a miracle, I inherited it. It is much better than inheriting money. I got an inner peace and good sense of humor.

10. What is your greatest achievement?

My three wonderful children - and oh yes, those eight little grandchildren, too!

11. How did you come up with the idea for Two Men and a Truck®?

I didn't come up with it. My two sons, Brig and Jon, started moving people while they were in high school for spending money. We used "Two Men and a Truck" for the first line in their advertisement in the local newspaper. Later, I franchised the company and it worked.

12. What contributions to society do you want to make?

I don't know. I'm still mulling it over but I better hurry, as I'm 66.

I am really happy that one of the core values for our company is giving back to the community. I always loved volunteer work and helping others. I have done a variety of things including working in our local emergency room passing out magazines and trying to reassure people, working at a crisis intervention phone service, and helping to gather items for a local abused woman's shelter.

It makes me so proud to see all of the Two Men and a Truck® franchisees following this track and helping people in their communities. We donate 10¢ from every move, system-wide, to the American Cancer Society. I know this doesn't sound like much, but in the past few years this small amount has exceeded $100,000.

13. If you could buy one thing right now what would it be?

For me personally? Nothing. Youth. Can I be 21 again??? Oh, never mind!!

14. Favorite activity that doesn't cost a dime?

Oh, reading, I LOVE to read. (It does cost a little bit for books.) I love laying in my hammock and staring at the clouds.

15. How do you indulge yourself?

Same as above. It doesn't happen very often, but lying in my hammock and staring at clouds! A hot fudge sundae would be nice! Ahhhhh ...

Mary Ellen Sheets is Chief Executive Officer of Two Men and a Truck®, the country's fifth largest moving company. The original "Two Men" were Sheets' two sons, Brig and Jon Sorber, who started the company in high school. When they left for college, Sheets purchased an old moving truck for $350 — the only money she ever invested in the company — and hired two movers.

Sheets’ entrepreneurial spirit eventually led her to quit her state government job and forego her retirement to put 100 percent into her thriving business. In less than 20 years, Sheets has transformed the business into an international corporation with more than 1,000 trucks and 157 locations in the United States and Canada. Last year, Two Men and a Truck/International, Inc.’s annual revenue was nearly $150 million. But it's still a family affair. Sheets' daughter Melanie Bergeron is president and Chief Operating Officer.

---

« Previous Interview

Next Interview »

Send to a Friend:

From:

To: