Our First Jobs

by Lynnette

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)