2008 Woodie Awards
UA Alumni win distinguish award for success
Sue Burnett
Pamela Acosta
Issue date: 10/29/07 Section: News
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Sue Burnett has a sparkle in her brown eyes and it's that sparkle that's part of her dynamic personality, said Patsy Watkins, chairwoman of the journalism department.
Burnett is one of the three Distinguished Alumni honored during a ceremony Friday afternoon.
The Alumni Association selects the cream of the crop, Watkins said.
"You've achieved so much, we're just blown away at with what you have done," Watkins said. "But you all started in a classroom, just like this one."
Burnett was the editor of the Arkansas Razorback and a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
After graduating in 1968 with a degree in journalism, Burnett moved to Little Rock and worked in KATV Channel 7 as a typist for $2 an hour, the minimum wage at the time, she said.
She later became associate promotion manager with a wage raise of 25 cents.
After moving to Houston, Burnett went into the personnel consultant business as a straight-commission consultant. In six months, she became manager when she was 24-years-old.
"In my 20s, I was just happy to find something that I loved. And that I could do successfully," Burnett said.
Through her husband's encouragement and support, Burnett launched her own personnel consultant company, Burnett Staffing Specialists, at 27.
"I think you should take your risks in your life in your 20s. Don't wait," she said.
"If you don't gamble, you don't win and a lot of people are afraid to gamble."
With her life already in place, Burnett said she didn't see any other big risks.
"I'm in a great stage in my life," she said.
But her success was not something she planned, she said.
"I've never could've dreamed that I would be sitting here, as a distinguished alumni."
"My life has exceeded my dreams," she said.
Burnett Staffing has been named the U.S.'s 47th and Texas' fifth Top Woman-Owned Business by DiversityBusiness.com.
Her journalism degree has helped her improve the quality of her company, Burnett said.
Burnett is one of the three Distinguished Alumni honored during a ceremony Friday afternoon.
The Alumni Association selects the cream of the crop, Watkins said.
"You've achieved so much, we're just blown away at with what you have done," Watkins said. "But you all started in a classroom, just like this one."
Burnett was the editor of the Arkansas Razorback and a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
After graduating in 1968 with a degree in journalism, Burnett moved to Little Rock and worked in KATV Channel 7 as a typist for $2 an hour, the minimum wage at the time, she said.
She later became associate promotion manager with a wage raise of 25 cents.
After moving to Houston, Burnett went into the personnel consultant business as a straight-commission consultant. In six months, she became manager when she was 24-years-old.
"In my 20s, I was just happy to find something that I loved. And that I could do successfully," Burnett said.
Through her husband's encouragement and support, Burnett launched her own personnel consultant company, Burnett Staffing Specialists, at 27.
"I think you should take your risks in your life in your 20s. Don't wait," she said.
"If you don't gamble, you don't win and a lot of people are afraid to gamble."
With her life already in place, Burnett said she didn't see any other big risks.
"I'm in a great stage in my life," she said.
But her success was not something she planned, she said.
"I've never could've dreamed that I would be sitting here, as a distinguished alumni."
"My life has exceeded my dreams," she said.
Burnett Staffing has been named the U.S.'s 47th and Texas' fifth Top Woman-Owned Business by DiversityBusiness.com.
Her journalism degree has helped her improve the quality of her company, Burnett said.
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