Born: Danville, Va., October 22, 1959
Graduated: 1978, George Washington High in Danville Virginia, of which I held an “A” average in Industrial Electronics, as well as my other classes. I hold a National Honor Society certificate for my grades in school. Many of my classes were advanced classes in prep for college.
Due to divorce, I grew up with my grand parents who farmed. I learned to drive tractors when I was twelve years of age. I could do all aspects of agriculture by the time I was sixteen. I learned to drive, and repair all types of farm equipment like, tractors, cultivation equipment, self propelled combines, irrigation pumps, piping and nozzles.
First Public Job: McDonalds (Restaurant): 1976-1978
Age 16, worked for 2 years, until I was 18.
Dan River Mills (Textiles): 1978-1984
Started as a cloth dolpher, promoted up to sheer operator, then up to shift leadman. As leadman, I did duties comparable to shift supervisor. I had to assign jobs, cover absentees, and maintain function of the department.
Machines I learned to operate:
high speed shears
scales for computer data
electric tow truck
Radio Shack (Retail sales): 1980-1984
Worked as a sales representative. I sold electronic equipment and parts. I handled money transactions from customers, and made night deposit reports and actual drops at the bank. The job requirements included passing a lie detector test.
Prestige Pools (Construction): 1979-1984
I did construction work, digging and shaping holes made by back hoes with transit levels. Poured and shaped vermiculite/concrete mixtures for pool bottoms.
Machines I learned to operate:
Air jack
electric impact
Transit
cement mixer
tampers, both hand held and air powered
Electrolux Vacuums (Direct Sales): 1984-1986
Started as a sales representative, promoted up to branch manager and relocated to Galax Virginia. Later moved back to home town, Danville Virginia, of which I still held the position of branch manager there also.
Times Fiber Communications (Manufacturing): 1986-current
Over a period of nearly thirty years of service, I have learned nearly all aspects of making copper conductor cables. In addition to holding a good work record, I hold a letter of recommendation for helping the company change from manual tracking to computer tracking and accounting. In addition to operating, I also did maintenance and repair on eqipment, and was promoted to leadman.
Machines I learned to operate:
fork lift
plastic extruders
various winding machines
Micrometers, venier type, spring type, and laser
High speed ink jet printers
various other manufacturing equipment
Compton’s Automotive Service Center (Automotive Repair): 2000-2004
I started helping family repairing of cars when I was sixteen years old. I was making money repairing cars and trucks whenI was eighteen. I continued to make money working on cars, especially slow times of the different jobs I held as main source of income. I bought all of my tools as needed to to do different jobs over the years and have a very good inventory of tools. In the year 2000, I converted from a mobile mechanic service to a four bay garage and hired employees. I took the required test and did a sample inspection required by state police to be certified by state to do safety inspections, (stickers). I put stickers on for two years. I lost my shop due to tough economic times after the World Trade Centers were attacked.