Oxford resident Teresa Hubbard was recently named “Business Woman of the Year” by Mississippi Business Journal.

Hubbard is president and CEO of CITE Armored, a Holly Springs-based company that manufactures and maintains armored vehicles for the cash-in-transit industry. She says there is one other company in the area that works in the same industry, but hers is the only one owned by a woman.

While it may seem like a challenge, Hubbard says being a woman in an extremely male-dominated industry has earned respect from her male employees and potential clients.

“I’ve been asked often what challenges I have faced as a woman in this industry. I really can’t think of any that I have personally been affected by,” she said. “I do believe that we as a company have turned this potential challenge into an opportunity. Being a woman owned business is a marketing tool for us. People tend to find it interesting and respect my ability more because of my success in this field of work.”

The CPA and Delta State alumna began working in the armored vehicle industry when she was hired as a controller for Griffin Inc., formerly in Byhalia, in 1993. In 2001, the company was sold and subsequently relocated to another state, but Hubbard says she and her business partner Ken Russell, who was plant manager at the time, didn’t want to leave the Oxford area.

Russell says starting their own business was a challenge, but it was one they were willing to take on.

“Because we both had family ties to this area, we decided to start up a business rather than relocate,” Russell said. “Our former company was the largest in the country. Now CITE armored is in that position. Teresa’s leadership over the last 15 plus years in an overwhelmingly male-oriented business has lead to steady growth to the top of our industry.”  

CITE Armored is known for its full-service approach to armored vehicles, with manufacturing, refurbishing, repair and part replacement all handled in-house. They manufacture everything from armored cars to SWAT vehicles, and supply vehicles to organizations across the globe, including the U.S. embassy in Haiti, Iraq Ministry of Trade and Washington, D.C. Transit Authority.

Hubbard isn’t the first Oxonian to receive this distinction. Mayor Robyn Tannehill also received MBJ’s Business Woman of the Year award, and Hubbard says it is humbling to be included in a group with Tannehill and the other 50 candidates for this year.

“I met the other amazing women who were nominated for this acknowledgement and they truly are super women, so I, of course, am so honored to have been selected from this talented group,” she said. “I spoke with Mayor Tannehill when I was selected and learned that she too was selected as MBJ’s Leading Business Woman in a prior year. I am so honored and thrilled to be included in a group of women who are as courageous, passionate and accomplished as she is.”

Russell says he has received feedback about Hubbard’s award from several of CITE Armored’s clients, something he says speaks well for the company as well as the state of Mississippi.  

“The recognition as Mississippi Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year is a honor not given lightly and well-respected nationally,” he said. “I am in total agreement with our customers. It is a well-deserved honor for Teresa and validates what many have seen over the years.”

To view the complete list of nominees for Business Woman of the Year, visit http://msbusiness.com/2018/02/breaking-teresa-hubbard-named-mbjs-business-woman-year/.