Robbins Brothers Celebrates International Women’s Day

March 1, 2021
by Jazmin Buffington

International Women’s Day is held on March 8th every year to celebrate the advancement of women’s rights and the elimination of women’s discrimination. We’re blessed to live in a country where women are given equal opportunities. In honor of this day, we’d like to take the time to highlight some of the wonderful women of Robbins Brothers. These women have overcome hardships and have given back to humanity, all while excelling in their careers and home life. These women inspire us, and we’re honored to work alongside them.

Sue Hopeman – Vice President, Merchandising

Sue Hopeman, VP of Merchandising

Please share your community involvement: For 20+ years, I have actively been involved in organizations that work to ensure the basic human rights of all LGBTQ individuals where they can be open, honest and safe at home and in the community. Additionally, I partner with organizations that work to secure the political, educational, social and economic rights through the health and well-being of all persons.

My other passion in life is children. From a very young age, I have worked with kids in a teaching capacity whether it was helping kindergartners to learn their ABC’s or 4th graders who struggled with reading. For a number of years, I served on the Board of Directors for March of Dimes. I continue to volunteer with kids because I truly believe our kids are the future.

What motivates you to do your very best? Two key things – success and my family. Knowing that my hard work and perseverance will help me achieve greater professional success is what keeps me going. I have always loved a challenge and to this day, I cannot resist taking on a challenge, stretching outside my comfort zone, and testing my limits. The glory of success when all goes well is one of the best feelings in the world. Couple this with the example I am setting for my four daughters just makes it all the more worthwhile.

What women in your life inspire you? My mom was the greatest woman I have ever known. When she was 12, she told her parents that she wanted to become a minister. As was often said during the 40’s and 50’s, they told her she couldn’t do that, that only men can become ministers. My mom took them at their word, went to college, dropped out after two years to get married, and had five children by the age of 30. While my father traveled most weeks, she raised us to become loving, successful, professional individuals. When my father decided to divorce my mom in the early 80’s, my mom decided now was her time. She went to seminary, became a minister, and ran a number of churches with a special focus on community outreach and serving the poor. After a successful career of 25 years, she retired to take care of her husband who suffered from Alzheimer’s. Everything she did was from a point of love and caring, while being highly successful in her own right.

How do you define your purpose in life? My purpose in life is simply to be honest and true to myself, setting the best example I can for my family, ensuring they know every single day that they are loved and that I will always be there for them.

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome, and how did you grow from it? As a child, I was what you would call risk adverse. I didn’t like change. I felt the best when my life was stable and predictable. And then I chose a career in retail in the 1980’s. The decade of change, consolidation, mergers, and acquisitions. Change in my career became the mantra, the given and things were suddenly out of my control. At first, I really struggled with it. With each change, I felt my anxiety rise and my desire for control and stability grow. But with each change came new learnings and challenges and ultimately, the adventure. I started to look at change as an opportunity to do new things, live someplace that I never would have considered before, and made some of the best friends of my life. I got to do things that I had never considered before, like be on the Today Show with Katie Couric and a Make A Wish child. Or launch a new product line with Sophia Vergara and partner with David Bromstad from HGTV.

Yolanda Spence with her family - International Women's Day — Yolanda Spence – General Manager for Robbins Brothers Houston/Clearlake

Yolanda Spence, General Manager – Houston/Clearlake store

Tell us a little about yourself: I’m a kind, energetic, hard-working go-getter. I’m a mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend. I’m Jamerican. (Jamaican/American). I love my Jamaican culture/food/music.

Please share your community involvement: I’m best known for the support I provide to my community. From providing a meal to a sick neighbor, giving someone a ride, talking friends through a tough time; I’ll do anything I can do to support my community. Currently I’m involved with The American Heart Association, Dad’s Day 5K- Texas Us Too, The Giving Gown and Women Helping Women to Network.

What motivates you to do your very best? I’m motivated by family. I want to be able to provide the very best I can to those that love me most.

What women in your life inspire you? First and foremost my great-grandmother, grandmother and my mother! The matriarchs of our family are legendary. They built for us a history; a legacy of guiding our family through this thing called life. Through good times and better times, these very strong women inspire me to continue to build and create a positive legacy for myself and for future generations.

How do you define your purpose in life? Ever since I was a young girl, my role has always been the “peace-maker” in the family. I believe this is still my ultimate purpose. We have 2 ears and 1 mouth–on purpose. We should listen twice as much as we speak. Listen to seek understanding before we speak. It sounds idyllic on a grand scale. Just take it one situation — one person at a time.

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome, and how did you grow from it? The biggest obstacle to overcome has been rebuilding my self-esteem after my divorce. It was a tough time and I’m still growing.

International Women's Day — Tanya Waymire – Director of Special Events for Robbins Brothers

Tanya Waymire, Director of Special Events

Tell us a little about yourself: I’m a business professional that has been blessed to be able to balance my professional career with being a mom, grandma, wife, daughter, and friend.

Please share your community involvement: Platinum Ring member and sponsor of Night of Superstars, a DFW children’s charity that celebrates and supports our Superstars (children with adversities or birth defects that have not stopped them from excelling), TEDx speaker (TEDx Flower Mound), President of our Homeowners Association, and I mentor coaches and business professionals throughout North America.

What motivates you to do your very best? God didn’t design us to play small. ‘Not’ doing my very best means I am wasting what He gave me to serve others.

What women in your life inspire you? My mom who showed me what great work ethic and thriving through adversity looks like. Rose Myers, the very person who gave my young life a direction – a path – to excel in professionally. She taught me the significance of balancing empathy and drive – and accept nothing less than everyone’s best (because we bring it each and every day, too).

How do you define your purpose in life? I don’t. When I was turning 40, I realized my own ‘big plans’ were not necessarily what God’s plan was for me – and His plan is far more important than what I set for myself. Since then, I have spoken on a world stage, became a nationally published author, equipped tens of thousands to move through childhood trauma (as adults), gotten married to the love of my life, and switched career roles to be able to serve more people in a greater way.

Molly Tyler, Area Manager – Seattle and Bellevue

Tell us a little about yourself: From a young age I knew that I could overcome any obstacle in front of me through hard work and perseverance. Having gone to over a dozen schools growing up, I learned very quickly that I will never meet a stranger. The gift of gab and having so many vast experiences from a young age also taught me resilience. I apply this to every aspect of my life. I am a proud mother of three teenagers who have grown into wonderful young adults and I know will leave a solid footprint as they go through their path in life. I am also proud of my work family and the accomplishments we have been able to achieve. Being humble was not always something that came easy, but with my mother’s guiding principles I have learned that being humble is by far one of the best lessons in my lifetime. I have been given a gift of success through everyone I have mentored and guided over the years, and grateful to work for a company that lifts its associates up and allows them to achieve success to its fullest.

Please share your community involvement: Over the years I have been involved in many community engagements including: Susan G Komen Foundation, American Heart Association, Autism Awareness, Homes for Troops, Wounded Warrior Project, SPCA Humane Society, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital.

What motivates you to do your very best? I am motivated by results as well as showing my children what they can accomplish through hard work and dedication.

What women in your life inspire you? My mother has always been the driving force of inspiration. Her character, kindness and well rounded approach to anything life threw her way inspire me every day.

How do you define your purpose in life? My purpose in life is to impact as many people that I come in contact with in the most positive way. Whether it’s raising my children, operating in a professional capacity, or just in every day connections. You get out of this life what you give!

What has been your biggest obstacle to overcome, and how did you grow from it? My biggest obstacle personally would have to be juggling work-life balance and still giving my children the mom they deserve. Through better time management I was able to get a handle on balancing a busy professional life and be there as much as possible for all three of my children. The biggest obstacle I have faced in my professional arena would have to be communication. I have always operated on a direct approach and having a filter wasn’t always easy for me. But over the years, I have molded this into transparency and direct yet compassionate communication.

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Jazmin Buffington

In her previous role as a Customer Experience Manager at Robbins Brothers, Jazmin helped thousands of customers find the engagement and wedding rings that were right for them. As the current Community Manager, she brings her expertise to engagement ring buyers everywhere. When Jazmin is not at the office, she can be found in her kitchen creating new recipes, traveling or practicing hot yoga with her husband.

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