River City Six – Jayte Burns
Meet Jayte Burns, sales director at Cox Business.
Tell us a little about your business.
Cox Business is a division of Cox Communications and a part of the family-owned Cox Enterprises. Our goal is to deliver essential connectivity to businesses of all sizes, across all industries. As we continue to expand our solution offerings, we become an increasingly important part of our customers’ technology strategy. At Cox, we believe that strong business relationships are made in the everyday moments. I’m proud to say we are firm believers in delivering value to our communities beyond award-winning telecommunications. Our role as an innovation leader extends further than providing broadband connectivity and into creating meaningful connections. This is why you will see us out-and-about, very engaged in our communities.
How did you get started in the business?
I enjoyed coming up with B2B technology solutions for nearly 20 years. Eleven years ago, Cox Business caught my eye as a family-owned, growing technology company. During the interview process, the great energy and strong leadership at Cox quickly drew me in.
What has been your most important achievement professionally?
It’s not a specific event or accomplishment, rather a culmination of how I’ve grown into an effective leader by helping others be successful. I’m passionate about development and supporting my staff’s professional goals. I always want to help them be the best version of themselves. Seeing my team members over the years leverage my coaching to rise-up and reach new heights of their own is something I will always enjoy and take pride in.
Tell us a little about your family.
Jennifer and I live with our two big-hearted teenage daughters, Mallory and Joslyn, and my father “Papa” Steve. Jennifer’s crazy-smart son Connor stays with us when he is on break from Hastings College, and my oldest daughter Taylor is getting married to a wonderful guy named Tanner this January.
Who inspires you?
My father raised me on his own during a time when that was not common. He worked as many as three jobs at a time to make ends meet and provide for us. As I watched him grow his career and eventually own his own small business, I was able to witness what hard work can do. To this day, his influence is what helps drive me.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be?
Motivating.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why?
I’ve been engaged with the Nebraska Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) for four years now. CFF had been an underfunded organization for a long time, and it captured my attention when I got to know the stories of the children and families effected by CF. In the last five years, the success towards finding a cure has been tremendous and efforts will continue until CF stands for “Cure Found.”
What is your favorite local restaurant?
Jennifer and I love supporting locally-owned restaurants, and we try to visit a new spot nearly every week. Our latest favorite is Boiler Room in the Old Market.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?
Phone: (402) 934-0384; Email: Jayte.burns@cox.com; Website: www.coxbusiness.com.