I have done a variety of interesting jobs over these years from private investigator to a sportswriter. I can tell you that I would never have dreamed where I would be at today in my career. In fact, the job I have today didn't exist when I entered the workforce.
My first job was part of my high school business education class when my teacher connected me with a job working as a telephone solicitor for the Savannah Police Association. In that job, I was given a page from the telephone book each night and would go down the list calling the phone numbers attempting to sell tickets to a concert at a Savannah Braves game to support the local police.
In the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, I entered the delayed enlistment program to join the military. Shortly after graduation, I entered active duty into the United States Air Force. I served for eight years and was stationed in Texas, Greenland and Georgia along with many temporary duty assignments to various locations.
When I approached the completion of my second term, I had a big decision to make. If I had re-enlisted at that time I would have probably stayed in to finish my 20 years, but I decided to leave the military. For the first time in my life, I had to search for a real job. I eventually ended up being hired by Norred & Associates which was a private investigations firm in Atlanta. I will dispel the myth and tell you that working as a private investigator is not as glamorous as they make it on television. I was very happy the day I was hired by the United States Attorneys’ Office nine months later.
There was also a few years when I had an amazing opportunity to work part time in the sports department of the local newspaper. This was probably my favorite job I have had. I loved the time I was given to be a sportswriter.
My career with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office lasted for 30 years and was probably the most amazing career I have had as I started as a legal assistant and eventually progressed to a litigation technology specialist. I worked in three different locations during that time and had an amazing journey in my career. I worked hundreds of trials and saw the technology evolve from scanning paper to processing electronic data. Two years ago, I decided it was time to retire from federal service and was employed by a private eDiscovery company called TCDI.
Someone asked me why I was still working with retirement from the federal government. Well, the painful truth is that a non-politician can’t live on what they pay after taxes and other things that is deducted from it. I am thankful that at least it is enough to pay the mortgage.
I worked for TCDI up until this past June when I was unexpectedly eliminated from their employment. I can tell you that it was quite a blow for me. Never in my professional life have I ever experienced this situation. I have always had pride in my work and my professional reputation, so I was stunned by the elimination. I’m still not sure how it came to be but it has now led me here today.
Today I start a new chapter in my professional life. I am excited about this opportunity and it is the first time that I feel like my employer is excited to hire me and appreciates my experience. They are off to a good start and I’m hoping it will be a sign of things to come for me in this new endeavor.
A friend asked me how long I planned to work. I told him that I plan to work as long as I can. I have worked for a long time. It has been a huge part of my life and will probably continue to be a part of my life. It has been a long, amazing journey for me. I have experienced a lot of things I never imagined when I walked across the stage at the Savannah Civic Center to accept my high school diploma. I can't take all the credit because God has been good to me and has ordered my steps. There is no way I could have done all this on my own.
Today I begin a new chapter.
