Speaker: Rebecca Mullins, CCE, CFO Commercial Energy Services and Supply

Topic: “How to Manage a Scaling Business While Trying Not to Lose My Mind”

For the April ICEL and CFDD meeting, we were pleased to hear from Rebecca Mullins, CCE from Commercial Energy Services and Supply. Mullins’ presentation blended business insights with her own personal journey. She shared how she began in customer service and collections roles before moving into accounts receivable in 2007, which opened the door to opportunities that ultimately led her to become a CFO. She earned her bachelor’s degree at age 36 and her MBA at 41—while navigating the responsibilities and challenges of raising a family and managing difficult periods in her life. As someone based in Las Vegas, her story highlighted resilience, adaptability, and the importance of continuing education and personal growth even later in her career.

From a business standpoint, Mullins described what scaling looks like in practice. She spoke about how her company grew rapidly from a small team of about six employees to over 30, driven largely by a surge in sales rather than a clearly defined scaling strategy at the beginning. This growth required major operational changes, including hiring staff, implementing new systems like NetSuite, updating payroll and banking processes, and rebranding the company. She stressed that scaling can strain company culture and leadership alignment, making communication and collaboration essential. Overall, her message focused on balancing the chaos of growth with strong time management, adaptability, and a willingness to take on new responsibilities to successfully lead during expansion.