RESPEC Appoints Robyn Beaird as New Controller

RESPEC proudly announces the promotion of Robyn Beaird to company Controller. With more than 35 years of accounting experience, Robyn succeeds Elizabeth Fredrickson and will work under Phil Welling, RESPEC’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. As Controller, Robyn will oversee the company’s accounting operations.

Robyn’s journey began with a pivot from a short-lived dream of owning a travel agency to a long and fulfilling career in numbers and accounting. After a 25-year tenure at a South Dakota gold company, a job ad for an accounting position in a Rapid City engineering company caught her eye. Robyn joined RESPEC in 2012, where her initial role involved handling payroll and timesheets. Her adaptability and curiosity led her to embrace the nuances of service-based revenue, a departure from her manufacturing company background.

“I’ve had the privilege of working in every aspect of accounting, from the very bottom to where I am now,” says Robyn. “But my passion for learning has never stopped. I’ve always been eager to expand my knowledge and skills, and that’s why I’ve had my hands in a little bit of everything. I truly enjoy every aspect of accounting, and I’m always ready for new challenges.”

At RESPEC, Robyn has spent more time in accounting functions than any other person, from billings to project accounting to audits and so much more. After a short external search for candidates for the Controller position, the choice became clear: Robyn’s expertise, background, and deep understanding of RESPEC’s financial operations made her the best candidate.

As Controller, Robyn will focus on advancing the Accounting department to provide optimal support to RESPEC’s engineers. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering a strong team capable of tackling challenges and driving success.

“I am honored to take on this new role and help my team grow,” says Robyn. “My goal is to build a team of strong individuals who can do their jobs wholeheartedly. Then, I’ll step back and let them do what they do best.”

From her early days in payroll to the helm of the Accounting department, Robyn exemplifies our commitment to passion, adaptability, and hire-to-retire philosophy. As she steps into her new role, Robyn’s leadership promises to continue shaping RESPEC’s financial future, building on the strong foundation she has helped establish over the years.