Regina Garr: Birds-I-View owner a longtime presence for those who share her passion

Regina Garr sits inside Birds-I-View, the store she owns with her husband, Steve Garr. For 14 years the store was strictly a catalog and web-based retailer, but they opened its Jefferson City retail location in 2005.

A friendly smile greets anyone who enters her store. Regina Garr loves people as much as the birds and wildlife that make up her business.

STAFF PHOTO FLIP PUTTHOFF Turkey vulture Igor spreads wings for wildlife rehabilitator Lynn Sciumbato and the crowd at Hobbs State Park-Wildlife Management Area. When vultures soar, they’re smelling for food, Sciumbato told the crowd at the park visitor center during her program. “That makes sense because their food stinks,” she said.

For the last 24 years, she and her husband, Steve, have worked together at Birds-I-View. From 1991-2005, Birds-I-View was strictly a catalog and web-based retailer out of Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Since 2005, they have operated their retail location at 512 Ellis Blvd.

She started her career in the companion animal industry, crossing many levels in a decade, including manufacturer, distributor, retailer, consumer, sales, seminars, education, marketing, market surveys and analysis, media presentations and national product training.

Garr graduated in 1982 from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tennessee, with a bachelor of science degree in agriculture. And she has received many awards from conservation and birding organizations over the last couple of decades.

In recent years, the Garrs have helped Missouri recognize its state bird by organizing the Missouri Bluebird Society. In addition to raising awareness, the society helps provide organizations and individuals with nesting boxes.

Most people are attracted to conservation through their own backyards, Garr said.

She enjoys hearing customers and friends talk about what's going on at their feeders and boxes.

Garr also looks forward to opportunities to help people enjoy the outdoors even more.

With her husband, she enjoys learning, too.

And although they may be experts in Missouri-specific cavity nesters, occasional "outsiders" come into the area. Garr said there's a thrill to see an unusual bird here, like the brown pelican at Binder Lake or the scissor-tailed flycatchers that nested at Walgreens a few years ago.

Through their business, the Garrs keep a log of the unique sightings, as well as the regular visitors. Then they turn around and share that with the customers.

Q. Who has invested in you and your career?

"Certainly my parents who taught me hard work, encouraged me and paid for the majority of my education.

"If "young' means right out of school and in my early 20s ... some very special mentors along the way early in my career invested time and concern, sharing wisdom and knowledge of the industry. No one more than my husband. Before we were married and I was still in the early years of my career, Steve invested time and money to take care of many things for me, while I was on the road 20-25 days a month - all while he was building a business of his own."

Q. What choices have you made to invest in yourself and your own success?

"Elective training programs and classes - particularly those provided by vendors/entities who had invested time and energy in a particular subject. Informative programs I felt would help me learn more so I could contribute more. Choosing to take longer to complete a project in order to do a better job. Being an entrepreneur always involves choices and some degree of sacrifice. Leaving behind some of the advantages of working for large companies to become my husband's helpmate may seem like a sacrifice to some; however, I do not remotely consider it so. I can't think of anything I would rather do with my training and experience. I am blessed that we love the same things, and I love being his partner."

Q. What do you think are the biggest issues still facing women in the workplace?

"Even though my first job after school was in a male-dominated industry, I am not sure I thought of the challenges I faced as anything other than simply challenges. As far as the issues in today's workplace - it seems health insurance is an issue for everyone. I do not have children; however, most moms I know say they struggle with finding good, affordable child care while working.

Q. What drives you most in life and in your career?

"A. In my life, my driving force is to live out my Christian faith, including in my career which is just a part of my life. B. In my career: Both Steve and I enjoy nature and backyard wildlife, so it is not hard to be motivated to share that with others and help others enjoy those things more. I particularly value the opportunity to work in a supportive way with my husband, contributing my abilities in a field we both enjoy. I love working with Steve - he remains my favorite boss and co-worker of all time! C. The opportunity for our small business to train young people how to work should "work" and what it truly means to be a good employee. (This is one of the goals of our business and very important to me.) D. I love being a part of the birding/conservation community."

Q. What advice would you give to a woman entering the workforce?

"Probably the same as I would give anyone - for the most part, the job really is not about you. Working the task at hand to be a benefit to others will build a fulfilling career for you.

"Over the years, I have met many people in business who believe in the saying, "If you work hard and do the right thing, you will get ahead.' I think a better way to phrase that is: "If you work hard and do the right thing, you are ahead.'

"It is true - we do reap what we sow. It is a biblical principle and it works because God invented it."

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