FOCUS - AUGUST 2018 33 Parking Management Traffic Studies Rail Enforcement Communities Municipalities Highways NATUREVERSUS NURTURE It’s a debate as old as time: are per- sonalities shaped by inherited traits or life experiences? What makes this proposition so tantalizing is that there’s no scientific, definitive answer. And the truth al- most certainly lies in the discussion’s ample middle ground; we do inherit genetic traits and we do learn from life experiences. But it’s safe to say that some char- acteristics – beyond simply the phy- sical – do run in families. Kayleigh Sheehan can clearly trace her natural curiosity and entrepreneurial spirit to her grandparents. “My grandfather, Bernie Timothy, started North Line in the early 90s,” she says of the family-owned company’s beginnings. “He had a professional background in traffic de- tection, some contacts, and the drive to continually improve his company.” Kayleigh’s mother, Shelley, North Line’s current Director of Operations, adds greater detail about the family’s creative spark. “I had a very practical upbring- ing,” Shelley explains. “My parents [Bernie and Claire] were endlessly curious about how things worked, and weren’t afraid to take anything apart to figure out. And if there was anything needing to be done or fixed, they stressed that we could do it ourselves. “I grew up getting my hands dirty and becoming an inquisitive person. That willingness to tackle anything was a shared mindset.” Bernie Timothy thrived on find- ing solutions to life’s challenges. His company would reflect that outlook. “North Line’s core business was trafficdetection,providingsolutions– and there’s the key word – to muni- cipalities and other agencies to track traffic patterns. This required the sam same kind of creative thinking he brought to household challenges. “I’m sure you’ve driven over those ‘hoses’ across roadways as you’ve driven along. Those were one of the products we marketed at first.” Bernie’s ability to tinker proved a valuable asset as the fledgling busi- ness moved forward. “Dad was the electronics expert, always working to better his products and improve their user-friendliness. And Mom handled all of the com- pany’s administrative work – as well as keeping Dad organized! Their complimentary skills made them a great team and allowed the company to prosper.” Municipalities may be one of the most visible users of North Line’s tools: traffic counts, speed studies, turning movements at intersections, and the kinds of vehicles using a par- ticular roadway. But those certainly aren’t the only applications for their products, Kayleigh stresses. “Asset management is important to many organizations,” she explains. “Hospitals use our technologies to know when maintenance is required on their equipment. As well, equip- ment cleaning is critical in hospitals, Claire and Bernie Timothy with daughter Shelly Sheehan at the North Line headquarters open house. A FAMILY AFFAIR NORTH LINE It’s in the Genes! ...................... Please turn to page 34