A truly happy woman of God, dedicated to service and tourism
Maurice Mills
Judie O’Sullivan is a happy woman. Her bubbly, energising personality and her joy seems to spread to people in her presence. She is in the job she desires, loving and serving God and her fellowmen and still believes she can give more of her commitment towards serving humanity in whatever field the Lord places her. O’Sullivan, who sits among the movers and shakers in the tourism industry, has a personality that draws people to her. She is poised, articulate, gregarious, pulchritudinous and a people person; all the traits needed to meet the demands of the service industry, and especially the tourism industry. O’Sullivan, a Kingstonian, grew up in the upscale community of Cherry Gardens and was introduced to the service industry from a young age. Her parents, who owned restaurants and other businesses ensured that she was taught the value of work itself and of customer service. O’Sullivan said: “We were taught to serve and be helpful to customers…we were taught that we had to work for what you want and we worked very hard in the business.” Despite growing up in upper St Andrew, O’Sullivan conveyed that: “Even though we had helpers and gardeners we had to learn how to do things properly…A big problem with the children growing up, even in the poorer communities is that the children are not taught to do things…they are not taught how to survive.” The former Immaculate Conception High School student was very active during her tenure at the institution and served as a prefect and also a member of the swim team. A lover of history, O’Sullivan was heading towards a career in Law, but found business and marketing as a viable alternative and thus went on to pursue studies in those areas. “I wanted to do law but I became a Christian and I saw that Law was filled with lies and deception. So as a Christian I could not pursue that… I switched to business and I realize that I was good with sales,” she said. After leaving sixth form, her career in marketing and sales began. Starting out at Toyota Jamaica (formerlyUnimotors) as a summer employee, she has worked her way up the ladder of success and is sitting as secretary of the Jamaica Co-operative Automobile and Limousine (JCAL) Tours, St Ann chapter and also marketing consultant at Jamaica National Building Society and also does sales and Marketing for the newly renovated Pineapple Court Hotel, Ocho Rios. She attended Jamaica Institute of Management (JIM) and IMP (now part of University College of the Caribbean) where she studied marketing and Language studies. After spending two years at Toyota Jamaica, O’Sullivan spent a year at National Business Machine in the sales department then moved to Eureka Medicals as a front desk supervisor.
REAL TEST
Her real test in the marketing arena, however, was at Checker Chemicals where she began working in 1990. She told The Times that her inheritance there was a non performing section that had the lowest sales output but through proper planning she was able to exceed expectations. “You had to organize yourself as we worked on straight commission…I just planned and I was a determined person, I go after things no matter how long it takes me to get it. I press and press and press,” O’ Sullivan said. When she left the company in 1996, she was among the top achievers and her section was now vibrant and booming. She was awarded for her expertise and was named sales rep of the year, rookie of the year and was also given the president’s club ring. “Once you have a plan you will work it because it is like an atlas or compass as it guides you… I plan things; I set goals and work towards them… I usually set them higher so I am sure to achieve it. ”
OCHO RIOS
It was marriage that took her to Ocho Rios in 1996 where her husband was chief engineer and it is there she plunged into the tourism industry, combining her skills in sales and marketing with her high energy and keen sense of service. Pam Reese, owner of Jetaway Travel asked for Mrs O’Sullivan’s assistance her with business in the area. This then took her into SuperClubs Boscobel Beach, where they partnered and sold vacations to schools in Kingston. Then it was a move on to Ocean Sands Ocho Rios as the sales and marketing manager. Next stop for Judie O’Sullivan was Crazy Jim ice cream, as an account executive working in tourist resort towns on the coast to improve product delivery. Serving as marketing chairman for the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA) from 2003-2005, she was instrumental in helping the craft vendors getting access to the port of Ocho Rios. She says she was touched by the complaints by vendors, at JHTA monthly meetings, that they were getting no business. As Area Marketing chairman she arranged, with the port management, trade shows showcasing Ocho Rios which included the craft traders. “I am pleased that my initiative has not only been built upon but has grown and added value to the craft industry,” she said.
SOCIAL WORK
Through the JHTA, she has also worked closely with social institution in St Ann such as the Windsor Girls, St Ann Infirmary and through the JN Foundation; O’Sullivan has worked with a number of schools in St Ann, helping with their infrastructural needs. She believes poverty can be combated through the education of the people. “It is out of ignorance why people remain in poverty…if they are taught how they can develop themselves then we would have a better Jamaica. I would like to see everybody given that opportunity to develop themselves.” O’Sullivan has been on the board of JCAL as secretary for two years and is in love with her work, part of her continuing service in tourism that has allowed her to travel to various places and experience different cultures. She has definitely pulled her weight at the tour company, and since she has been there, she has helped JCAL to sell tours from a cruise ship, a first in the tour company’s experience. Mrs O’Sullivan is also a marketing consultant for Jetaway Travels.
FUTURE
O’Sullivan said that she is looking down the line of politics to further advance her thrust to helping people. Ten years down the road, she envisions herself as a mayor or having some senior responsibility in politics. Utterly annoyed by the present system of representation, she said: “People who are striving to go into politics need a regeneration of spirit… the governments that we have had have not been working in the interest of Jamaican people. It is a pain to my heart to see how my country is governed. There is nothing to make the Jamaican people dream.” Furthermore, Mrs O’Sullivan is a head of a ministry at the Bethel Tabernacle dubbed the EXPOSURE ministry, geared at getting meaningful exposure for young people especially. “I believe if we expose the people to cultures, ideas and events they can develop themselves, from the small to the old.” O’Sullivan is completing an online degree in theology and also starting a charity that is focusing on abandoned youths. She said that her life has been changed through surrender to Jesus as now she can live a free life with no hidden agenda or private lifestyle. “This makes me happy and I love being happy,” she said. Indicating that she has not won any great awards in her lifetime, the dedicated woman of God is looking to the Lord for her rewards. She encourages other leaders to be honest. “Too many of us are dishonest in what we do. We sit in high seats and we on this board and that committee and we are dishonest… anywhere honesty is missing the Lord will not bless it,” the justice of the peace (JP) said. The former Miss Jamaica Independence is married to Colin for 18 years and has a son. She has also provided support for a number of other children. Mrs O’Sullivan strives to be the ideal human being. Guided by the Golden Rule of the sacred scriptures, she said: “if I know that I don’t like this for me I am not going to do it to another person…I want the man who sweeps the street to have the same comment about me as any heads of organization on earth would say… I want to be consistent in all I do.”
