Nickie Bonenfant

I grew up in Sterling Heights, Michigan. My dad was a barber in Clawson for 53 years — a fixture in the community and the one who supported our family while my mom stayed home to raise us. He taught me the value of determination and instilled in me a strong work ethic. It broke his heart to sell his barbershop, but it's still there and still going strong. He had longevity, pride in his work, and was truly an icon in his community. I’m incredibly proud of him.

The turning point in my life came on 9/11. At the time, I was working as an International Reservation Supervisor for United Airlines in Michigan. We were just finishing the midnight shift when the first reports came in. We started fielding a flood of calls from people desperate for information. Two of my close friends — colleagues who were off duty — were among those who died in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

That day changed me. It pushed me out of my shell and gave me a deeper understanding of how hard life — and business — can get. Ever since, I’ve made it a point to meet people with compassion and to go out of my way to help them, however I can.

I’ve been with ImportGenius for nearly 14 years, and I know this business inside and out. I understand what our customers need, what they want, and how to meet them where they are.

I’m driven by a desire to make a real difference — not just in our company, but for the people we serve every day.

Looking ahead, the vision is to place even greater focus on our customers. That means helping them see everything our platform is capable of — and just as importantly, listening to them so we can evolve our products and services to meet their changing needs.

It’s a great challenge, and exactly the kind of work I’m excited to take on.