40 AT 40: Lee Anne Donaldson
Job Title: Global Business Manager

The people are what sets Bandit Lites apart from the rest of the industry. Once a week, for 40 weeks, Bandit will showcase an employee that has made a substantial contribution to the company, whether it be in an office, on the road or somewhere in between. Bandit would not be celebrating its 40th Anniversary without the hard work and dedication of every one these employees.*

*Employee Spotlights are released in no particular order.

Lee Anne Donaldson was the only female employee when she started working at Bandit twenty years ago. Today Donaldson oversees everything from the accounting and human resources departments to taxes, licenses and insurance. It is easy to see why she jokingly interprets the job as, “All things to all people, all the time.” Here are a few questions we asked to get to know her a little better.

Q. How did you get involved with Bandit?
A. I guess it would have to be my failed stint as a hairdresser. Had I not attended beauty school 25 years ago, I would not have met Denise Shoemaker who introduced me to Doug McCombs who introduced me to Frances Shafferman who told me she thought I’d be a good fit for Bandit Lites. Frances, who worked next door at Thomas Engineering at the time, was also the one who called and tipped me off 5 minutes after my predecessor turned in her resignation.

Q. How has your job changed or evolved over the years?
A. I used to do it all, now I get to oversee it all. I’ve been involved with many of the same business aspects over the years. The difference is that now there’s a heck of a lot more of it, and subsequently, it takes a lot more people to get things done. Managing a growing staff has been a learning experience. May I add that my staff ROCKS! I continue to enjoy learning how to grow a company from a business point of view. It seems there is a completely new set of rules for “big business.” I love the challenge.

Q. Bandit has a global presence with offices in the U.S., Asia and Europe. How often do you travel for work? Has that opportunity influenced your decision to stay with the company for so long?
A. Have passport; will travel! Having spent many childhood years overseas, traveling is in my blood. I’m lucky enough to hold a position that allows me to travel on business a few times a year, but it’s not a make or break requirement. I consider it a perk! I’ll always travel for fun regardless.

Q. When you first started working for Bandit, how many women were on Bandit’s staff? How many are there now?
A. Let’s see now; that would be one. Let’s just say we’ve increased our female office and touring staff more than twenty times over and it’s quite nice not to be so outnumbered!

Q. Do you have any advice for women who would like to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry?
A. Have a sense of humor, an open mind, and don’t be afraid to say, “hey, hey, hey, that’s enough guys,” when necessary. It helps that my parents did not exactly raise a wallflower.

Q. What is a favorite memory that you have from working at Bandit Lites?
A. I have many great memories but some of my favorites are from seeing Bandit in action. It’s not often that I get to see the end result and when I do, I’m always so proud of our company and our employees! I consider myself lucky to be involved in a business whose main goal is to entertain and make people happy.