Richards juggles family and work schedule

Frank Denzler

Rushville resident Kay (Miller) Richards greets each day with a smile as she leaves home for work. Along the way she manages to juggle her bookkeeping duties and those of managing Spencer Workwear, along with being a recent bride and wife.

The 1978 graduate of Rushville Consolidated High School has called Rushville her home for most of her life. The third of four children of John and Sherry Miller, Kay has forged her way in the business world by her desire to work, work hard, and be diligent at her job.

This year Richards is entering the sixth winter of running Spencer Workware, 934 West Third Street, Rushville and enjoys the day to day challenges of the job.

Prior to her current job she was a bookkeeper for Spencer Workware owner Chad Bowles and, as she puts it, she more or less fell into the position of store manager.

“I kept books for Chad for several years before he opened this store. Shortly after Spencer’s opened, he needed someone in here all the time. Six years later, here I am,” Richards said with a laugh.

The day to day duties and responsibilities have grown over the years as the store has grown in size. Future growth is expected, with Richards currently doing all of the ordering, stocking and keeping books for the operation.

Work is nothing new to the ambitious woman; she learned many of those traits while growing up.

As a teenager she held multiple jobs, working at Pioneer and also for a bookkeeper after school.

“I never really thought about going to college because I was already working while in high school and I just knew I would make a living once on my own,” Richards said.

During her time in the retail industry, Richards has noticed a number of subtle changes in the industry. One thing has not changed is the value and customer service that people expect and, as she puts it, “should receive.”

Future plans for the business are to expand not only floor space but also the selections they will offer.

Richards said that people are always looking for added value and additional bang for their buck. With that in mind, she explained that Spencer’s will add another line of outdoor clothing and additional items, including rubber boots and the Berne line of clothing.

“Currently, we do not have the space to stock it all, but we hope to expand in the future. In the meantime our expansion will be limited to key items,” Richards said.

The second part of her duties was actually her first, the accounting side of the business. Accounting is one aspect of business that she has enjoyed for years, since first being hired as a controller at a printing business in Indianapolis.

“I have a lot of hands on experience. I had some very good positions as job experience. I think I got into this profession because of my work experience. As I graduated from high school I was working part-time for a local bookkeeper here (in Rushville). I have been fascinated with accounting. It is sort of like a puzzle, it is sort of a challenge, but I would always recommend going to school though,” Richards said.

Even though she has been out of school for a number of years she still harbors the thought of someday returning to college.

When asked what she might have done differently she said that she always wanted to get a degree, and if she had it all to do over again she would go to college and perhaps become a veterinarian.

She also noted her career path has come full circle to a certain extent.

“I worked all through high school, even at Kent’s Shoe store, and sold Redwings. Now, all these years later, it is kind of like a turn around because now I am selling Redwings again,” she said with a laugh.



Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.

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