Sue Peterson is all about long-term commitments and building relationships. She has been married for 43 years, with the company for 35 years, and has worked beside many of the same colleagues and clients for the last 20 plus years. Here’s a chance to get to know Sue Peterson from our recent interview.
What did you do when you first started with the company?
It was 35 years ago my three daughters were all under all under five years old. My friend told me about an opportunity to verify land records and do it remotely. Opportunities to work remotely back then were slim and I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed it and grew from there. In 1997, I became a Supervisor and have grown with the company.
What have you learned and what has changed over this time?
I’ve been able to learn every aspect of digitizing and indexing by doing every job. It’s been great! Technology has changed and improved how we digitize and the quality of images that we can produce.
What is your favorite part about your job?
Definitely the relationships – and that’s with both colleagues and clients. Much of our Avenu team has been together for 20 plus years which is incredible. Our team is extremely dedicated and works very hard to serve our clients. We’re fortunate that many of our clients have also been with us for a very long time. In a span of more than 20 years with people you grow close and watch them grow professionally and personally. Together, we have forged strong partnerships and I am so thankful to have built these bonds.
Do clients reach out to you directly?
I am generally our clients first point of contact if they need something and advocate for them. I understand their goals and how their offices operate.
Is there an over-arching goal that clients currently want?
Yes – to get everything online. Before the pandemic, many jurisdictions were already moving in that direction but not everyone had a sense of urgency. No one ever expected a situation where offices could be shut down for a prolonged period of time but now there is a strong push across the country to digitize records and provide online access to citizens. It also helps local governments because staff then also have the ability to work remote.
What are some changes you see that are making a difference in the industry?
There are a few different things that I’m looking forward to in the industry. Luckily, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) continues to provide the funding that many jurisdictions needed to digitize their records and provide online access to citizens. This means our clients can achieve their goals more quickly and not break the bank. I’m also really happy with Avenu’s leadership. The company keeps investing in our equipment which is state-of-the-art. This makes it easy to keep providing high quality results.
How do you recharge and spend your free time?
My husband and I live in upstate New York where we typically get 60 – 130 inches of snow every year. We love to take advantage of all the great activities available to us and one of our favorites is snowshoe which is great exercise. Within a couple of hours of our house we have beautiful areas like the Adirondacks and Thousand Islands. We’ll grab our poles and snowshoes and cover four to five miles which is great exercise. We also enjoy ice skating, sledding, and camping. Our four grandkids always love to visit us because we keep them active and having fun.