After more than 15 years at FAMCO, Kaylene Gallop is officially heading into retirement and while we’re excited for what’s ahead for her, there’s no denying she leaves behind a legacy that’s woven into the very fabric of our team.
If you’ve spent any time at FAMCO, you know Kaylene. And if you don’t, you’ve definitely felt her impact.
Kaylene’s path to FAMCO started like many good stories, unexpectedly. After leaving a previous role and exploring something new through a temp agency, she interviewed with FAMCO owners Marty and Joe. She nearly turned down the offer, but Marty’s warmth and authenticity changed her mind.
She recalls on her beginning at FAMCO and an interaction she shared with Marty where he reminded her “it will be here tomorrow, you don’t have to finish today.” It’s when Kaylene realized that she was working at a company where she was deeply cared for.
Kaylene brought years of experience in accounting, payroll, and office management to her new role, but over time, she grew into something much bigger at FAMCO, eventually becoming a key part of the executive team.
Around here, though, titles don’t always capture the full picture. Kaylene became known as our “Chaos Coordinator”, the person who could juggle priorities, keep things moving, and still make time to check in on everyone along the way.
Kaylene shares that her career is something she’s deeply proud of, not just for where she ended up, but for how much she grew along the way. She credits mentors like Marty and Jeff for continuously encouraging her, alongside others earlier in her career who believed in her potential and pushed her to aim higher.
While Kaylene played an important role in operations, her true legacy lives in the culture she helped build.
She was a driving force behind employee engagement, whether it was organizing events, serving on the entertainment committee, or simply making sure people felt included and appreciated. From cornhole tournaments and BBQs to Easter egg hunts and Cinco De Mayo celebrations, she helped create the moments that made FAMCO feel like more than just a workplace.
One of her favorite activities was wrapping Christmas presents for the annual Christmas Paty. Dozens upon dozens of them, lovingly wrapped so every coworker could experience that little bit of magic.
Over the years, there have been many changes at FAMCO. As someone who was very close to Marty, Kaylene believes he would be proud of his kids and where the company is today. She sees his legacy carried on by his family and the management team every day.
When asked what kept her here all these years, Kaylene shared it was the people.
She describes FAMCO as a family, a place where coworkers are friendly, supportive, and genuinely care about one another. Over the years, she’s watched that culture grow stronger, with more connection between teams and shared pride in the work being done. As she leaves, she takes those memories shared with her.
Kaylene speaks about her time here with a mix of joy and emotion, describing it as enjoyable, exciting, sometimes stressful, but always meaningful. Most of all, she’ll miss the people who made her feel wanted, needed, and cared for.
She encourages her teammates to “be kind, laugh often, and treat your coworkers like family”.
Retirement for Kaylene doesn’t mean slowing down, it just means shifting focus.
She’s looking forward to spending time at her cabin, working on crafts, and enjoying time with her family. She’s “playing it by the seat of my pants”, keeping it flexible but ready for what’s next.
To honor Kaylene and her commitment to FAMCO, we joined together for a surprise retirement party on Friday to celebrate her career achievements and her next adventure.
Kaylene, on behalf of the entire FAMCO team, we are so thankful for everything you’ve done over the last 15 years. FAMCO won’t be the same without you, but your impact will be felt here for years to come.
Wishing you nothing but happiness and relaxation in your retirement.
