Pat Godwin left his steady job with Pepsi Cola to go into the welding and repair business in 1966. Now, nearly 60 years later, the company has grown from an operation in a garage in Dunn, NC to the largest family-owned truck body and equipment manufacturer in the country.

Over the years Godwin acquired other businesses in various states and evolved from Godwin Manufacturing to the Godwin Group which accounts for the various companies started and acquired by the Godwin family. For the entire Godwin Group there are about 400 employees, but at the heart of it, the family is still doing a large part to keep things running. Pat’s daughter Phyllis Godwin is Corporate Vice President of the company and her brother is President. However, Phyllis shared that her dad does still come to work every day. 

Phyllis plays an important leadership role at this signature manufacturing company in Harnett County. She shared that since she was about 12 years old she would help out during breaks from school, and she officially joined the payroll when she was 18. 

Phyllis shared that growing up, she always wanted to be involved in her family’s business. 

“I kind of grew up knowing that I wanted to carry on the legacy, so to speak. I’ve always taken great pride in what my parents did. And knowing that I can be here to help and to build the company and make it even better. I think I’ve always aspired to that…I did not go to college. Once I got out of high school, basically I came to work. I’ve always wanted to be here. I’ve never wanted to be a doctor or a teacher or anything like that. I guess it was kind of in my blood,” shared Phyllis. 

Being a woman, Phyllis experienced certain challenges that her brothers and father didn’t necessarily face while working with the family business. 

“There are challenges…when I was 15 years old, or 16 years old, and I’m running errands to go pick up parts and so forth, they will look at me as, ‘Oh, there’s this cute little girl that’s coming in here and she doesn’t know what she's doing,’ and then when I start talking to them, and I know what I’m talking about, it’s like ‘Oh,’...there are the challenges, but my parents always taught us, because I do have two siblings, earn the respect,” remarked Phyllis.

“The other thing that I have found…you have to speak in a way that they know that you know what you’re talking about without being condescending, and not like you’re bragging. You just have to talk to them like I know what I’m doing, I know what’s expected, I know what it takes to get there, you’re gonna help me,” added Phyllis.

When asked if she believed this need to walk a fine line between competent and condescending was more of an issue for women than for men, Phyllis said absolutely. 

“I think it’s just the nature of the business, especially in the industry that I’m in. I am in a very male dominated industry, very male dominated. I’m not saying that they are not open to females coming into the industry, but you're gonna have to have the knowledge, the experience and the know-how, not just a pretty smile,” shared Phyllis. 

This need to prove herself to people was also amplified by the fact that sometimes individuals would jump to conclusions about her credibility due to her being the daughter of the owner.

“...when I started going around, traveling to see customers and so forth, they’d even still give me a look or maybe [they] had the disposition of ‘Oh well, she’s Pat Godwin’s daughter. She draws a paycheck, she doesn’t know anything about what she’s doing.’ Being a family member in the business can have its hurdles, but you go in and you expect that when you talk to people, and you just have to prove yourself. You know, just because you may wear cute shoes and a dress you can still be really smart at what you do,” said Phyllis. 

Though the Godwin family has a great reputation among Harnett County community members, Phyllis takes care to ensure that she is connecting with people on a personal level and not just as a member of this larger unit. 

“When I’m here at the plant, body just considers me Phyllis, I’m a co-worker, that’s another thing I think is very important. They do not work for us, they work with us. So I think it's important that when I’m in the community, I’m part of the community. I don't like to look at it as ‘Oh, I’m gonna throw the name around,’ I want to put the sweat into it too,” remarked Phyllis. 

Phyllis is on the Harnett County Economic Development Partnership Board of Directors and is part of some civic organizations as well.

Phyllis’s passion for her community is also upheld by the entire Godwin Group. “We want to help the community grow and we want to see other businesses thrive,” shared Phyllis.

When asked if she had any message to share with young girls and women pursuing their professional and personal goals this is what she had to say: “Don’t settle. Don’t settle for what you think you’re supposed to have. Go for your goal, personal and business.”