 April, 13th, 2007
Tubman Honoured as Businesswoman of the Year
Julie Tubman has expanded her family funeral home business, launched innovative services and worked tirelessly as a volunteer on charitable campaigns. To that already impressive resume, Tubman can now add Ottawa Women;s Businss Network 2006 Business Women of the Year in the entrepreneurship category after receiving the award at a gala last Wednesday (April 4).
"It was really nice, gratifying, rewarding and very special. It truly is an honour," says Tubman, a west-end resident. "I know a number of people who have won in the past and it's pretty special to be included in that group."
Tubman is president of Tubman Funeral Homes and Cremation, a business with locations in Nepean, Ottawa, Carp, Kars, Almonte and Carleton Place, as well as Gatineau and Buckingham, Que.
She was licensed as a funeral director in 1979 and beginning in 1982 bought the family company from her father, Joe Tubman. When she first got started in the business women were rare in the funeral industry and she was told that she wouldn't be able to handle the emotional stress of the job.
"I thought women are nurses, they handle this all the time," she says."It was fine. I got through it. My dad was supportive and I just worked hard and loved my work and now we have lots of women in the business today."
Her advice to youg people is the same for men and women "find your passion and go with it."
"I'm passionate about what I do and how I can help people. Find your passion and then it's going to work," Tubman says.
She credits her company's success to character, honesty, integrity and compassion.
"If you don't have character, i don't think you will be successful," tubman says.
The business has grown significantly under her control and with the addition of a crematory, the two funeral homes in Quebec and a significant expansion to the Nepean chapel.
"Every facility we have, I've changed. Thirty years is a long time to make your mark," Tubman says.
Tubman has also pioneered services in Ottawa such as post service care to help families deal with the administrative details of the estate, bereavement seminars and holiday help for grieving families. Tubman is pleased to see other funeral homes copy those services.
"it's nice that families are getting better services, at reasonable cost and more choice. The Tubmans have challenged other funeral homes, " she says.
A BIG YEAR
Tubman was named the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year for 2006.
In October 2006, Tubman Funeral Homes became the largest private funeral service provider in Eastern Ontario with the purchase of two additional funeral homes in Almonte and Carleton Place.
Last year was also a significant year for Tubman's charitable work with the opening of Roger's House, a palliative care facility for children and their families on the grounds of CHEO. Tubman is the founding chair of Roger's House and the first vice-chair of CHEO.
"Everything has come to fruition and matured and is blossoming," Tubman says.
With such a big year behind her, she says immediate plans are consolidating the existing business.
"In the longer term, there are all sorts of opportunities for us," Tubman says.
She describes staff as having great ideas and herself as adventurous enough to take a chance on those new suggestions.
Tubman emphasizes that although she individually received the award, there's a whole team of people, staff, friends and family, who deserved to be standing there with her.
"It's because of their support and dedication that I'm able to do what I do," she says.
© Nepean This Week, 2007 |
