Heather Huffaker

Hobbies: Her husband, children, and new grandchild. She also loves riding horses

Bio: Heather Huffaker loves numbers. She always has. That love started in school and followed her throughout her career, which spanned multiple tax firms before finally leading her to Hose and Rubber Supply.

Huffaker has worked in accounting for the past 20 years. She’s worked for two of the “Big Four” accounting firms, serving in their tax departments. The world of numbers was not a new one to her, but Hose and Rubber Supply was.

“I’ve always loved accounting,” Huffaker stated. “I took it in high school and it’s just always been my favorite thing. I think high school is what really sparked it. It’s just the way my brain works, I think. I’ve always loved numbers.”

That love for numbers eventually led to Huffaker applying for a job with Hose and Rubber Supply. Originally, she wasn’t sure if she would get the job. The job listing stated that the position required a degree, which she did not have at the time. What she did have, however, was a wealth of experience. And that was enough.

“They called me for an interview and I came in and spoke with them and took a couple of tests,” Huffaker said. “Paul [Acree] said that he really wanted somebody with a degree but, because of my experience, he was willing to say ‘Well, let’s take a chance and see how good she is; let’s see if she can do what she says she can do.’”

She could and she did and she has. Huffaker started with Hose and Rubber Supply in November of 2021 and, in the almost two years that she’s been with the company, she has made herself indispensable as the company’s Accounts Payable Specialist, based in Randolph, Utah.

“It means a lot that they took a chance on me, because I know what I can do,” Huffaker shared. “And sometimes, you just need somebody to have faith in you and give you that chance. Luckily, I was able to prove myself and show them that I could live up to what I said I could do.”

In her role, Huffaker has a variety of responsibilities. She handles all of the accounts payable expense accounts, like utilities and one-off-type purchases, repairs, etc. She also handles all of the accounts payable trade, which includes the company’s PO’s and inventory-type purchases. She processes the invoices for payments ahead of schedule, which oftentimes results in discounts from various vendors.

“I have a goal every month to get 95% of our discounts, and I usually meet that,” Huffaker laughed.

Huffaker said that her favorite part of the job is processing the invoices and “trying to get as many discounts as [she] can.” Her success rate is pretty good, which speaks both to her people skills and, yes, her math skills.

The numbers aren’t her only favorite part of the job, however. She also loves the company culture of Hose and Rubber Supply.

“It’s like everybody else says,” Huffaker began. “It’s very family-oriented. Everybody is looking out for each other. I look forward to coming to work every day. They take care of us. They look out for everyone. And it’s flexible if you have family things going on. They’re very easy to work with. As long as you get the work done, they’re always willing to work with you.”

It’s not just upper management that takes care of the employees; they take care of each other as well. And that is something that means the world to Huffaker.

“I think it’s important that we have a good relationship and can trust each other,” she stated. “Oftentimes, one person will help someone else get their job done. Trust is a big part of this job and we all trust each other and have a really good back-and-forth relationship.”

Of course, Hose and Rubber Supply offers that same sense of trust and communication to its customers, but Huffaker said it also extends to the various vendors that the company partners with.

“I deal mostly with vendors and I just try to make sure that we’re always on time with our payments,” she stated. “They do a lot for us and we do a lot for them, and it’s important that we keep that good relationship.”

While Huffaker didn’t have a degree when she first began working for Hose and Rubber Supply in 2021, she said that she is now pursuing her Accounting degree.

“After working in accounting for over 20 years, I thought ‘Maybe I should get my degree,’” she said. “I’m learning new things and getting a refresher on a lot of stuff as well. Sometimes I kind of wonder why I decided to do this, but I push through it and it all works out. I have about a year or so left before I get my degree.”

An education is important, to be sure. But experience is just as, if not more, important. Now, Huffaker has both and that makes her even more of a vital part of the Hose and Rubber Supply family. She is proud to be a fixture of the company and she wants the world to know just how great Hose and Rubber Supply is - for the employees, for the vendors and, most importantly, for the customers.

“This is an awesome place to work,” she said. “And it’s an awesome place to purchase supplies from. Everybody that works here, from the top to the bottom, cares about each other and cares about our customers. It’s a great place to work and a great place to make friends. It’s something I look forward to every day!”