Our First Jobs

If nothing else, but for the humor in it all…

Those who know us well might get a few laughs from these early jobs we once held. You might say we’ve had “interesting” career paths!

 

Lynnette:

• Peru Trust Company Bank (verified that signatures on personal checks matched the signature cards, then filed all the checks numerically; first “real” job – 9th grade)

 

• Arby’s (drive-thru cashier – it was a fun way to interact with the customers)

 

• Noble Roman’s Pizza (yes, I’ve tossed a few pies in the air in my day!)

 

• ClassNotes (sold my notes from college classes at IU to a company that sold them to people who were too lazy actually attend the classes)

 

• Women’s Wheels (dispatcher/driver for a free ride service for women at night on the IU campus)

 

• Psychology Department at IU (paid guinnea pig for the research department’s “experiment of the moment”)

 

• Cedar Point (sold gold-by-the-inch necklaces & bracelets and was top salesperson for the summer!)

 

• Texas Tech University (academic advisor for undergraduate students)

 

• Pit Stop convenience store (part time gig during grad school)

 

• Paul Smith’s College (Director of Alumni Relations – planned reunions & travelled with the President to meet with alumni across the U.S.)

 

• University of Central Florida (Director of Member Services – devised marketing plans highlighting the benefits of joining the alumni association)

 

• The ZOO at Gulf Breeze (Assistant to the President, plus website content, some marketing, and all HR duties)

 

• Tristan Realty (beachfront property rental job that quickly turned into “supervisor of housekeeping” when all their maids quit… as did I!)

 

• University of West Florida (System Administrator for Development & Alumni Relations – basically the computer guru for the office and keeper of the database for UWF alumni and donors)

 

• About.com (paid to write content and design a website about Pensacola Florida – site now defunct, but they still reference us here)

 

• Cool Springs Animal Hospital (front desk veterinary assistant where I learned more than I could’ve imagined about emergency medicine, animal health care & trauma)

 

• PitPass Souvenir Programs (responsible for writing all copy for a 56-page bimonthly magazine, researching all data pertaining to drag racing and motorsports in general, and editing the magazine’s layout and design)

 

• State of TN Senate (proofreader/editor for all bills, resolutions & amendments)

 

• One-hour photo lab (learned a lot about photo developing; seemed more like a hobby than a job)

 

• About.com (researched links & wrote articles for Jim’s 4wheeldrive site)

 

• State of TN Senate (Electronic Journal Clerk – basically a glorified court reporter who gets a lot of “face time” on TV)

 

Jim:

• Sold Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel newspaper subscriptions door-to-door (a man in a van would come by daily to pick all us kids up & drop us off in different neighborhoods; my first “real” job – 7th grade)

 

• Bonanza (taught me everything I know about cooking and cleaning)

 

• Chicken Unlimited (a cook — we got to take home the best leftovers)

 

• Taco Bell (where I discovered I like Pepsi better than Coke… back when Tacos were $.29 each!)

 

• Professional Litho (this is where I first got ink in my veins & learned the trade of printing – all aspects)

 

• National Energy Products Telemarketing (a part-time gig as an appointment setter for house products – where I learned how to deal with rejection)

 

• Miller Press (the top printer the the Southeast & oldest printer in Florida at the time)

 

• Dolphin Press (at the young age of 25 decided to try my hand at entrepreneurship by owning my own printing business)

 

• Walker-Ross Printing Company (based in Rocky Mount, NC which is exactly 1/2 way between New York City and Miami, Florida)

 

• Printing Concepts (as Production Manager, as long as everyone was mad at me, I knew I was doing a good job!)

 

• Hawk & Company (selling men’s clothing is a very hard sale…)

 

• Maddox Marketing Group (the hardest and funnest job I ever had; where I learned that I have a knack for creative marketing and advertising)

 

• Gannett Offset Nashville (my introduction to Music City, USA when I moved to Spring Hill, Tennessee to be my brother’s roommate)

 

• Paramount Miller Graphics (they are the guys downtown!)

 

• Gannett Offset Pensacola (most beautiful city I ever worked in… AND the fishin’ was good!)

 

• Ambrose Printing Company (wore a lot of hats working for Nashville’s oldest printer)

 

• PitPass Souvenir Programs (publisher, creator, editor, and designer of a 56-page bimonthly magazine, including the solicitation of all advertising and on-site sales)

 

• About.com (full-time Guide who wrote all articles for the 4wheeldrive site)

 

• Trader Publishing Company (responsible for AutoTrader mags shipped all across the country)

 

• Hoosier Thunder Motorsports (marketing & promotions for IHRA Funny Car driver, Terry McMillen)

 

• Squeaky Wheel Marketing (website design, content management, and public relations for lots of race car teams, companies, and individuals)