Pam Gaffen, president and chief operating officer of Gafcon Inc., a construction firm in San Diego, has been in business for 20 years. Gafcon provides construction, project management services and claims support in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange counties.
RESUME
Name: Pam Gaffen.
Company: Gafcon Inc.
Titles: President and COO.
Education: Dental Nurse, R.D.A.
Birthplace: South Africa.
Age: 51.
Current residences: San Diego and Los Angeles.
Family: Married with a 25-year-old son who graduated from UC Berkeley and a 22-year-old daughter who graduated from UCLA.
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY
Essential business philosophy: Build a strong team while keeping them happy.
Best way to keep a competitive edge: Diversity and quality.
Guiding principle: Strive for perfection.
Yardsticks of success: Happy employees, growth and profitability.
Goals yet to be achieved: Taking my experience at Gafcon and applying it to my new venture, SharePoint360 LLC, and making it as successful.
JUDGMENT CALLS
Best business decision: Starting Gafcon.
Worst business decision: Being less engaged in company affairs a few years ago.
Toughest business decision: Growth management.
Biggest missed opportunity: Not responding to rapidly changing operational and technological issues sooner.
Mentor: My dad.
Word that describes you: Energetic.
TRUE CONFESSIONS
What you like best about your job: Taking on challenges.
What you like least about your job: Those who do not take responsibility for their actions.
Pet peeves: Missed deadlines and poor quality of work.
Most important lesson learned: Think things through thoroughly before communicating.
Person most interested in meeting: Nelson Mandela, and I have.
Three greatest passions: Interior decorating, cooking and dancing.
First choice for a new career: Opening a restaurant.
PREDILECTIONS
Favorite quote: “Work hard, play hard.”
Most influential book: None, I don’t have time to read.
Favorite status symbol: My African art collection.
Favorite restaurant: Cut in Beverly Hills.
Favorite place for business meetings: My private conference room in my office.
Favorite vacation spots: Italy for shopping, Africa for beauty.
Favorite way to spend time: At my home in the desert with family and friends.
, Andrew Schweizer
