After 25 years of dedicated service, Rural Computer Consultants bids a fond farewell to our beloved CEO, Susie Sheehan-Peterson. Before Susie’s retirement at the end of June, she reflected on her remarkable journey and the impact she’s made, not only on our company but on the fuel software industry.
Truly, her impact on RCC goes far beyond the bottom line. She has cultivated a company culture that values its employees, cherishes its customers, and has never lost sight of the human element in business.
From retail to software
After 20 years of running her own retail stores, Susie’s journey to RCC began after a particularly challenging winter in the late 1990s. “That winter, I just said, I can’t do this anymore,” she recalls, thinking about shoveling snow into piles higher than her head.
As fate would have it, an opportunity presented itself when someone expressed interest in buying her building. This moment of serendipity prompted Susie to reach out to her brothers, Brian and Kevin Sheehan, who had founded RCC in 1979.
“My first phone call was to my brothers,” Susie shares, “because they had said, you know, if you ever want to come on board…” Susie had previously done bookkeeping for RCC in its early days and used the software to track inventory in her retail stores, so she was already familiar with the workings of the system. When she inquired if the offer to join was still open, her brothers enthusiastically welcomed her aboard.
The “Part-time” Plan that Wasn’t
Coming from the demanding hours of retail, Susie had a specific vision for her new role at RCC. “When I first came on board, I said, well, I just wanted to work part-time,” Susie laughs, recalling her initial plan. “I had worked really long hours in my own business and thought, you know, I needed a break.”
Little did Susie know, her brothers found this idea highly entertaining. “I remember a couple years later, they laughed and they said, ‘Oh, my gosh, Susie, remember when you told us you were going to work part-time?'” The brothers confessed that after hanging up the phone with Susie, they looked at each other and said, “Oh, that’ll last maybe about six months, then she’ll be working full time!”
True to their prediction, Susie’s “part-time” status didn’t last long. “Okay, yeah, I made it through the summer. And then, I think I kind of ended up being a little more full-time after that. Didn’t take long,” Susie admits. “It just seemed like there was a lot to do.”
Building a customer-centric culture
What started with a role as one of two team members in the support department quickly evolved.
Susie’s dedication and natural leadership took her to becoming CEO and co-owner alongside her brothers. Under the sibling’s leadership, RCC has grown from a small team of about a dozen to over 60 employees, not only in Bird Island, MN but around the U.S. Throughout this growth, RCC has maintained a focus on customer service and the unique needs of the fuel industry.
We grew up in the propane business, so we understand their needs.
Achievements and Industry IMpact
Susie reflected on one of her proudest moments at RCC, when they were named Minnesota Small Business Persons of the Year in 2011 by the U.S. Small Business Administration, earning them a trip to Washington, D.C. “We knew it wasn’t just the ownership team, ” Susie humbly states, crediting the entire RCC team for this achievement.
During her tenure, RCC has seen significant technological advancements. From the early days of manual data entry to the development of mobile solutions and cloud-based systems, Susie, and her brothers, oversaw RCC’s evolution in step with industry needs. RCC’s solutions have leveled the playing field for smaller fuel businesses.
Fostering a fun, family atmosphere
Susie’s approach to leadership was deeply influenced by her family background. She helped create a work environment where
fun and games were part of the daily routine, and where staff supported each other through life’s ups and downs.
“We’ve kind of taken the philosophy that this is going to happen to all of us at some point,” Susie explains, referring to personal challenges employees might face. This empathetic approach has created a strong, supportive culture at RCC that extends to how they treat their customers.
It’s really fun to see Freddie and Nancy carry the culture of fun through at Customer Seminar..
And although the RCC staff partake in their fair share of games and jokes, there’s also a genuine celebration of life events and milestones within the RCC family. Susie talks about how they’ve watched employees’ children grow up, from joining their parents at company picnics as kindergarteners to eventually graduating high school. This culture has created a work environment where people genuinely enjoy coming to work and being part of the RCC family.
leaving a legacy, Looking to the future
As Susie prepares for her next chapter, which includes a wedding in August and time with her 16 grandchildren, she leaves RCC in capable hands. The second generation of leadership continues to uphold the values and culture she helped establish.
Back: Abby Thurston, Holly Peterson, Kyle Sheehan, Jessica Sheehan-Balderston
Susie’s parting wisdom for the RCC team? “Take it seriously… but remember that it’s not a life or death situation. There’s things in life that are more important.” This balance of dedication and perspective has been a hallmark of her leadership style.
Congratulations on Your Retirement, Susie!
From the entire RCC family, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Susie for her years of dedicated service, visionary leadership, kindness, and wisdom. You will be deeply missed, but your legacy will continue to guide RCC for years to come!