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Sitting down with... Bill Young Q&A

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Bill Young, 50, corporate treasurer of Merit Moving Systems, is keenly aware that 53 people move to the Coachella Valley every day. It's his business to have a hand in it.

A Palm Desert resident, Young serves the Thousand Palms office of Merit Moving Systems as its vice president and general manager. He joined the firm 11 years ago, and has grown with it.

Today, Merit Moving Systems, with its headquarters in Buena Park and a second office location in Temecula, covers the Southern California market.

An agent for United Van Lines, Merit Moving Systems employs 50 people and contracts with 50 independent drivers for all sorts of moves: Home, corporate, commercial and trade show transportation; even international relocations. It operates climate-controlled warehouses for its customers, offering 21,000 square feet of warehouse space in the Thousand Palms locale alone. A new warehouse opens in Temecula in October. Here's a look at one executive in a company on the move.

Question: What has been the businesses' biggest challenge?

Answer: Finding qualified individuals to work - people who have a good work ethic, show up on time and have a desire to learn. A close second would be the cost of fuel.

Q: What's your favorite saying?

A: "Make it happen."

Q: What books are on your nightstand?

A: "Sun Tzu's Art of War." It has great applications for business.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: I love to golf. I belong to Desert Falls Country Club, and play there every chance I get. I also run and bike ride.

Q: What do you look for when you hire someone?

A: Good attitude. You can teach people a lot, but you can't teach them attitude. Either you have it or you don't.

Q: What did you want to be when you were 10?

A: A fighter pilot.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve?

A: People who don't think something through before they do things. There are consequences for every action.

Q: What keeps you awake at night?

A: A complicated move, such as one involving multiple pickups. I go over it to make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's crossed, and take into account what can happen.

Q: What's your secret for success?

A: Showing up, followed by hard work. Hard work pays off.

Q: Where do you hope the business will be in 10 years ?

A: We hope to have a larger facility out here. With the growth of the Coachella Valley, our business has grown tremendously.

Q: What's your secret to doing well?

A: Treat people right.

Q: What's the best advice you've ever received?

A: Don't follow the pack.

Q: Who do you ask for advice?

A: The owner, Larry Stanley. He is a very wise individual. He's been in the business a long time - from the ground up, like I have. He's got a lot of common sense, a knack for sifting through to get to the crux of the issues.

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