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The Parks Way!
The Parks Way with guest Lynne Hinds Van Buren Office, Trade Administrator
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Wyatt
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Episode 8
Listen to Lynne share her story of Parks in the early 2000's vs. 2020. Lynne is our first female guest on the podcast and a great leader at Parks Heating and Cooling.
Well, good morning, everybody. It's a beautiful morning this morning. I'm here with Lynn Hines. This is Wyatt Tucker, host of the parks way podcast. Good morning, Lynn.
Good morning, Wyatt. How are you today? I'm doing wonderful.
Well, I'm excited about this this morning but thinking about it for quite some time now. You are the first woman. Oh my goodness. It has been on her podcast.
Wonderful.
Good, good. Well, you know, listen, I think you got a pretty unique story. You've been in parks. Now Now that you know mom and dad aren't in the picture anymore. The longest female at parks how You know, when did you start?
I believe it was 2001 2001
A long time ago, a long time ago. Um, you know, and so this morning, just kind of wanted to talk a little bit about, you know, your your journey and and you know, how you've evolved over the years and and everybody, you're well respected around here and obviously have some tenure. And you know, and just kind of talk a little bit about your leadership and how you kind of evolved as one of the, you know, leaders around here parks is
that alright, that sounds great.
So, Lynn, tell me where where were you born? Where were you? Where'd you grow up?
I actually was born in statesville, North Carolina, and I lived there till I was 36 got married, moved to mount Holly. And
down parks.
Okay, so growing up brothers sisters
had a brother he passed away in 20 accident. So for a long time I was the only child. But
how were you if you don't mind me asking how old were you when that when that happened?
I was 21. Okay, he was 18. Okay, so he
was younger, he was younger and he and your mom and dad were distraught. Okay.
But I kind of held the pieces together and
yeah, so but it was really grown up. It was the four of you guys.
It was the four of us. Okay. Okay.
And so being an older sister growing up, what was that? What was that like? Um,
well, I actually was kind of like a babysitter. I really loved my brother a lot. And from the time he was born, I just like, basically kind of worshipped him. He came into a part of the family and I wasn't expecting it. Of course it to you know, that babysitter that was keeping me I thought she left her child behind. But it was actually my brother. And I loved him dearly.
Good. Good. So, you know, growing up, where's your high school?
witness states for high school? Okay.
We had several high schools and we were the inner city High School. The rest for in the county. Okay. And it was a big class I think we graduated with a high school class of like 300 Wow. So it was a big class.
And so you know, growing up what kind of what what you want to be what was what was lens?
Your goal was to be a commercial artist, or architecture.
Oh, so like a drawing artists now like to make a trip? Yeah,
like a drawing or Wow. So that's kind of how I became familiar with floor plans. Because in my senior year, I was in a gifted and talented architecture.
Class makes perfect sense. You're in the gifted and talented, true story. They're in fact checked on that one. So High School, you grew up, you grew up wanting to be an artist to architecture. Go we'll talk about the floor plans here because you look at a good bit of them. And then so after high school what was what was kind of lens plan or what?
Well, I actually just planned on going to college, but that didn't kind of pan out. So I went to work. What would
Why do you think? As far as college Yeah.
It kinda has something to do with my brother passing away. I didn't really want to leave my parents at that time. So I went to the community college though,
okay, I went away to college.
So 18 years, early teens, you graduated high school. And so you decided that, hey, I wanted to, you know, go to go to community college, right? And not a four year kind of going away and doing that and that was really based on you know where you accepted to go to one
or less I was accepted as Carolina
Really? pirate.
Yes, I was going to be a pirate.
Yeah. And so, obviously the devastating news again, I appreciate you sharing that about your brother. You know, you decided to stay home with your parents. That's a big deal when that you kind of give up your dream and passion due to a very sad, you know, accident. What made you do that? What made you give up? You know, hey, I'm not I'm not gonna go to East Carolina. Stay home and be here for my mom and dad.
I am just a very caring and sensitive person and I saw how devastated they were and I just couldn't do it.
Wow. Well, that's very powerful right there laying that. That speaks volumes about you now. No One No one knew and no You know, we've been you see me grow up and stuff that you would that you'd make that sacrifice. And I think we own leadership. And you know, sometimes you got to make those tough sacrifices and make those tough decisions. But well, you know, good. I mean, that's a big deal. Some some people run, right. I think the easiest thing for you probably would have been to, you know, go to East Carolina. I know you probably cared about your parents, but it's kind of, you know, out of sight out of mind and you could kind of you could be whoever you wanted to be. at East Carolina. You sticking in and you stay in there that that's big.
That's just me. Yeah. I muddle through something, just
this. So you're you stay home. You sat make that sacrifice. You say you roll in community college, were you working? I was what were you john
then I worked at belts for eight years
and which one
On the one hand states will Oh, okay. Okay, so
like the actual department store, like corporate or office or any of that, right?
No, it was, it was in the visual department actually, art related. You know, I like to do craft type. That's just a passion of mine. Okay, so
what was that, like, was a real first real job. That was my first real job and you're doing a full time.
Part time and then when I got out of college, I did full time. Wow. And so
in still living at home. I'm just asking, man, so you're kind of having to deal with that, you know, the grieving process and all of your parents, you know, every day, yes. Wow. And
then I wound up losing both my parents two years apart, Really? But yeah, that was in 96. Right after I got married. I got married in 98. I lost my mom. 96 and I lost my dad in 98. So I dealt with getting married.
And my father passing away at the same time
and work not speak your age but
1980 Okay.
Okay. Wow. All right. So you know you, you you this is this is awesome thank you for sharing so so you say you you had that tragic event you stay home. You give up East Carolina. You're working at Bell you're going to community college. He meet Steve who's he's the man named Steve
Mann
and
still live in a state school still live in a state school at that time. Okay. And
it was your is your Obama desk kind of that whole family was all it was that around states Fuller?
It was his
favorite save your whole world is right it right there and stays
in space. Okay, and Steve was from statesville Steve was from Matt Holly. Oh, yeah. Hi, Jamie.
Oh, a strange story. I was actually dating his brother's wife, brother. And I met Steve along the way. And then when things didn't work out with his sister in law's brother, then we started dating and we've been together ever since. Wow. That was a 94 I want to say 94 we're gonna talk
about that because that's quite an accomplishment in itself as you guys have been together that long. Oh, yeah. Um,
it's a job just like a job.
So you, what were you going to, in May versus tech school for or the community
wanting to go into graphic art, okay. That's what I was wanting to go into or architecture. Either one, whichever one I decided to stay with, but I was going into the art field.
Okay. All right. And so you get married you you lost your parents both of them sadly and then two years that's a lot of dynamic that's a that's a bay hi of getting you know getting married every every girl, you know, grows up on that dream and wanting that and doing that to this another would say setback but another you're on your own now. I
know. And you know what? Thank God for parents like I had that taught me to be on my own and self sufficient self sufficient because had they not I would have been lost totally cuz I have no family other than an aunt. Wow on my side of the family. Wow. And so you you go through that event and then when did you guys move to mount Holly? Move to mount Holly we got married 98 it would have been The Fall of 97 Okay, so y'all,
but where are you parents live in at this time or no? No. So you kind of just went to be where Steve was?
Yes. And then I had to handle all of the state issues with my family at that time. Yeah, it was really rough, but I'm a trooper.
Yes, you are. Yes you are. And so even Steve moving to mount Holly and you kind of you there with his family and and you know that that whole dynamic was that a good thing bad thing where you were you kind of ready to leave stateful or through all that or
I was after my
father passed away. I was really great. I wasn't too sure beforehand, but I definitely was after my
dad passed away,
okay. Okay. And so you're living in Mount Holly and Indian Trail and in Harrisburg and in the old Cove Creek, which we're going to talk about, you know, isn't isn't a real close to mount Holly. And there's a lot of heating and air companies and we're not in graphic design. So kind of, you know, kicking, kicking off and again, I appreciate, you know, this this whole podcast, I'm kind of hearing you say that you you've overcome obstacles and you've, you've seen setbacks in your life or, you know, some serious significant events and you've, you've risen up from that and that that's unique and that's, that that shares a lot about your character who you are. So, you know, then you go to tell her how you fell upon parks, you know, he says, oh, one So,
um, after I worked about eight years, I went to a insurance company and ran an insurance company for eight years. With five of it. I ran it for five years. And then I had Why'd
you do that? Why did you switch from because insurance?
Well, actually I thought it was kind of closer to home.
So the so the commute to traveling and doing all that was the reason
Yes. And then
after I left the insurance company, I went to work for a medical supply company called McKesson and real great company to work for but they relocated to Atlanta, and I wasn't willing to move but I did do two weeks of training to train my replacement in Atlanta, so I did that for
I guess.
Why did you don't want to move to Atlanta?
Ah, that was too far away in the traffic was horrible. Although Charlotte traffic's not great, but Atlanta traffic was horrible.
And so you Steven, you guys didn't just didn't want to. We don't want to be like
Hey, cuz he'd been with this company for I guess. Ever, at that time, like 15 years so we've been with this company for a while.
Yeah, I mean, you got it sounds like you're obviously you pretty loyal. And you guys kind of stick things out and rob the storm and yeah, what's your marriage? Obviously that's a long time.
Yeah. And it's a job to just like a work job. Yeah, marriage is a job.
So you didn't want to relocate. And then how did you find how did you stumble upon parks? I know you. I know. You were driving up there off crow Creek.
Oh, nice.
Um, well, when I left McKesson, there was a gentleman that worked there whose wife was, shall we say a headhunter work for a staffing company and parks went through this staffing company. And so they chose me for the interview and
went in and got a job. So your his interview with your dyad
first time you met my dad Yes. Okay, interesting. Do you remember anything about that interview?
I do. He was an hour late. But I was cool. And everybody was so nice to me when I went into the office. And it had been icy that day and they gave me some coffee and it was it was great. It turned out to be a good fit. So
yes, yes, it has. So that was an hour late. Not surprised. This is right after, you know, he hadn't been an owner very long of parks at that time, maybe a year, year and a half maybe thanks. So was this pre or post 911?
It was post post nine.
Okay. So it reason is that is obviously that that's a monumental event that happened. And you know, I'm trying to recollect like what was going on at parks at that time? I said it makes sense. So what do they hire you for?
customer service customer service. Yeah.
So you go from graphic design and working in the vision department at Bell to insurance company run with you basically running it. I did run an office. Yes. Okay, so you ran an office. You work for those again. McLoone,
Newcastle caisson
train your replacement didn't move to Atlanta. And you come to parks to be a customer service CSR. Oh, yeah. Why? And obviously, it's, you know, at that point you were on the Northeast east side of Charlotte. That's, that's not close to my Holly. What was the thing did Gigi interview anywhere else did you know No, just kind of
kind of needed a job and
they were prepared to hire me. So to get on while
it was a new challenge.
I was getting ready to say that that is a new challenge. Looking in knowing that old office over there in that environment and everything that went on and we'll talk about that, again, talks about your leadership talks about how your character and how your death because, you know, I'm sure at that time, things were booming you know, Charlotte was growing everything else you're you're by that time you're pretty qualified, you know person if I if I was looking at an application now your application back then you this person is pretty qualified. You could have gotten job at probably anywhere you walked into and you chose parks driving over in No offense to hood from Mount Holly. you overcome the challenge of the commute because that that was a community that times I remember one, one story I'm driving up that way I don't, I don't know. And I saw Lynn's car over in the ditch I think slid off the road. right there I forgot
it's like the 2949 connector.
Oh yeah. And I'm like this lien Vernon's coming out there to police everything are out there you know that experience in itself could have been you know, man I'm out of here like this is nine to one driving this commute no more. traffic was starting to get back Charlotte's growing. You know and you stuck it through and you stuck it through. Yeah, good. So you're at parks dead hires you. I remember. I remember you when they you know they kind of read modeled the whole Lance cracker side of the with all those bays and everything you're in front of there with Tanya and Vernon and dad had his little office. And wow, you know, that was a talk a little bit about that toggle. You know, that was a that was a challenging time for you too. I mean, that was a that was a rough. That was a rough go with the service too. Hartman
at that. We had we worked in the DOS system one line orders. Oh yeah, it was crazy. The first summer I started working there. We were working 12 at night, working on Saturday, Sunday. We had piles of orders. It was unbelievable. But hey, it was a challenge. We got through it. And bam,
here we are. So you were working till 12 o'clock. You do what? Like when you Tom, I was at you film phone calls or you were?
We did were orders. We took the phone calls up till we got ready to leave at four. And then we dispatch calls from home or from our next tale at that time.
Yes, that Nextel. I remember when there's old Bell blackberries.
Oh, yeah, they were great. You could throw them across the room when you were angry. And they didn't break. But yeah, it was a challenge. There. The beginning it really was, but things are so much better now.
Good. Well, thank you saying well, and we'll talk about that. I mean, you know, that that those those kind of summers that, you know, dead I've heard, obviously, you know, being famous, I've heard all the old war stories like they would be like two three weeks out from you're getting your house and people call in raising hacking. You know, guys, we're doing startups in their underwear. And, you know, you know, the the the dynamic of the service department was just, it was not a
good thing. It was chaotic, very chaotic. Why do you think that was?
Um, well, the only thing I could come to the conclusion of why it was chaotic is he had so many customers, so many customers, and we still have so many customers, but things have gotten so much smoother and the new systems we have, we're excited. Much better. And just a whole better quality of care than back then.
Yeah. Huh? Where's your stay? So, you know, you in the budget you live through the recession here parks, you made it and I didn't even make it through that whole experience.
That was really rough.
So you go from all these customers parks did I think almost close to 15 million in new construction, I think in oh seven. You guys were running the service department. There was only a handful of texts. Like, you know, Jim can't throw some old names out there and joe klein and William Davis, William Davis and and some old some old timers there to you know, paint, you know, recession hit and went from 100 and something employees down to like 3020 myself gone. We were skeleton crew and you made that and you made it through And, but when did you transition because you kind of you did move out of the customer service role.
idea. There was a lady that was leaving in the new construction department. And I wasn't sure I could do it. I told him I try it just to see if I could. Because I needed someone. So I did it. And I actually liked it. And
you're
there. I transferred from service department up to new construction.
Yeah. And you've been here ever since. And so, you know, Glenn, thank you for sharing this this morning dealing with this. So that's uh, you know, we post recession you're in you're working in new construction. Things start to come back. Right. And, and you and Steve are still living in Mount Holly. Holly. You know what, what made you persevere or what made you you know, you heard a lot Also that you're not really a quitter, you don't, you don't really give up easy. Or
my mother taught me one time, and always told me, there was nothing that I couldn't do if I put my mind to it. And that's how I basically live my life that if whether it's a challenge or not, if I decide I want to do it, I want to do it.
You do have that determination. You do what? You know, and the unique thing that we won't talk about a lot of these podcasts, and a reason why how it kind of aligns with our vision of helping out the less fortunate and the homeless kids and everything else is how much people how much the people that we had on podcast, their parents kind of were their backbone and help them with their eating taught them from an early age to leadership. And like what you just said about your mom, and you know, I'm sure even today, you kind of hear that in your head and
I do
And do those things. And that, that that's power that, you know, that's how that's why you know, he kind of fit in here and your leader here is because you kind of get that right it kind of it kind of resonates with you It hits home kinda. Wow. Well thank you for sharing that. So, you know, we were in Harrisburg, right and one day we pick up and say, You know what, we're just gonna move on down any trail and your commute is now close to an hour correct.
55 minutes. Wow.
And you know, you've been you've seen people come and go, right? Good, bad or ugly. some surprises some kind of okay, we knew it was coming. You know what, what? I think I know personally that you know, you kind of you're not a quitter, right. And you kind of once you're in something, you're going to be in it. And then you touched on the comment about you so much, you think it's better now? You know, what is that kind of helps you to reason why you stayed is that you know, yeah, maybe you've not understood the situation or the decision. But what kind of, you know, you know, you know why cuz I mean it at times it hasn't been all gravy, right? It hasn't been there's been some miscommunication. I know I've had meetings with you about that and, you know, hasn't the, there's not a real clear picture and doing all that and you've, you know, you've overcome all those obstacles. What is it, you know?
Only thing I can chalk it up to is like the people I work with. I like the environment. Things happen every day. You just have to pick it up, move on. I mean, there's obviously a reason why things happen and you just have To know that you're still part of that key, and you have to go on.
And you've, um, you know, that also kind of when we've had or we've needed employees to be in somewhere outside of work, right? Or to help out with something, or to do something, you you nine times out of 10 unless you Steve got some, you know, you're doing something that you just can't give up. You've been there, and you've done that. And, you know, that that speaks volumes, speaks volumes and and in doing that, and also, you know, being a woman too, right. I mean, it this is a male dominant still, I think to the extent you know, industry, especially construction.
Oh, yeah.
And, you know, you're you're tough, you're tough with those guys, and that's a good thing.
I try to hang in there with them.
And you've done a fantastic job of persa you know, persevering and overcoming those obstacles and those things this, maybe like on the surface setback, you know, in the unknown like, I mean, I remember the big day of switching from Jonas to service Titan. Oh, yeah. And you, you, you kind of were out there on the ledge of trusting, right? And in like what's this gonna be like? And you but you held in and you you saw the light at the end of the tunnel. And you know, I still think is probably one of the best decisions business wise operationally that we ever made.
Oh, I definitely think it works well.
Right. And so that, you know, again, and I know we're keep saying this over and over again is that you know, you're not a quitter, and you, you stick through it and you trust people and you, you know, you help out you go above and beyond even when no one's watching, like coming to those events and doing those things. That's really really powerful in that Thank you. That's really powerful. And you know, so it concludes As we wrap this up, and we talk about this, you know, people outside the industry, maybe listen to podcasts or you know, there's a young lady or even even a male that wanted to kind of get in this thing and you could give them some type of advice like go and think back for a second of, you know, all the dynamics that you've gone through in your life and you're in into your career too. And to that, you know, what, what kind of would you share with them? Or what would what would you say for them to do if they were in you know, an unfamiliar situation and they don't kind of like where they are or things don't really align with them. What what would what kind of advice would you give them?
Just stick it out, because things always get better. If If you're not sure, there's always someone that can help you. There may be another one of me that'll help you to you know, just just persevere. I mean, There's always worse don't ever think the grass is greener on the other side because it's not. And, you know, if you were chosen for that position, you should try to do your best at that position. Because, you know, that's all you've got is your I guess what I want to say is what you can give to them shows more about you than you could tell them.
Just try your best. Yeah,
yeah. And you know that that's powerful. And thank you for sharing that because that that is you, you know, and that, you know, we builders that we talk to, you know, they always speak highly of land and said maybe maybe Joe bought us contracts. Either actually goes podcast we'll talk about here but you know, that you, you kind of line with everything we talked about, you know, you you you have relationships and you want to do that Good thing and you you do overcome a persevere and stick things out, even though they might not be good. So that's great advice, man. That's great. Well, I've I've thoroughly appreciated you open it up this morning. And so welcome doing doing a fantastic job and I hope Steve listens to this. And you know, Steve, just want to tell your domain. Hey, you are the man Steve. Always got a smile on his face. He's always pleasant to be around. I really enjoy every time I've been with that guy.
He keeps me in line. Good,
good. Well, you know, everybody, we're gonna wrap up this podcast this morning again. Thank you, Lynn, thank you for sharing your story this morning. This is Wyatt Tucker from that's the parsley podcast, signing out.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Good morning, Wyatt. How are you today? I'm doing wonderful.
Well, I'm excited about this this morning but thinking about it for quite some time now. You are the first woman. Oh my goodness. It has been on her podcast.
Wonderful.
Good, good. Well, you know, listen, I think you got a pretty unique story. You've been in parks. Now Now that you know mom and dad aren't in the picture anymore. The longest female at parks how You know, when did you start?
I believe it was 2001 2001
A long time ago, a long time ago. Um, you know, and so this morning, just kind of wanted to talk a little bit about, you know, your your journey and and you know, how you've evolved over the years and and everybody, you're well respected around here and obviously have some tenure. And you know, and just kind of talk a little bit about your leadership and how you kind of evolved as one of the, you know, leaders around here parks is
that alright, that sounds great.
So, Lynn, tell me where where were you born? Where were you? Where'd you grow up?
I actually was born in statesville, North Carolina, and I lived there till I was 36 got married, moved to mount Holly. And
down parks.
Okay, so growing up brothers sisters
had a brother he passed away in 20 accident. So for a long time I was the only child. But
how were you if you don't mind me asking how old were you when that when that happened?
I was 21. Okay, he was 18. Okay, so he
was younger, he was younger and he and your mom and dad were distraught. Okay.
But I kind of held the pieces together and
yeah, so but it was really grown up. It was the four of you guys.
It was the four of us. Okay. Okay.
And so being an older sister growing up, what was that? What was that like? Um,
well, I actually was kind of like a babysitter. I really loved my brother a lot. And from the time he was born, I just like, basically kind of worshipped him. He came into a part of the family and I wasn't expecting it. Of course it to you know, that babysitter that was keeping me I thought she left her child behind. But it was actually my brother. And I loved him dearly.
Good. Good. So, you know, growing up, where's your high school?
witness states for high school? Okay.
We had several high schools and we were the inner city High School. The rest for in the county. Okay. And it was a big class I think we graduated with a high school class of like 300 Wow. So it was a big class.
And so you know, growing up what kind of what what you want to be what was what was lens?
Your goal was to be a commercial artist, or architecture.
Oh, so like a drawing artists now like to make a trip? Yeah,
like a drawing or Wow. So that's kind of how I became familiar with floor plans. Because in my senior year, I was in a gifted and talented architecture.
Class makes perfect sense. You're in the gifted and talented, true story. They're in fact checked on that one. So High School, you grew up, you grew up wanting to be an artist to architecture. Go we'll talk about the floor plans here because you look at a good bit of them. And then so after high school what was what was kind of lens plan or what?
Well, I actually just planned on going to college, but that didn't kind of pan out. So I went to work. What would
Why do you think? As far as college Yeah.
It kinda has something to do with my brother passing away. I didn't really want to leave my parents at that time. So I went to the community college though,
okay, I went away to college.
So 18 years, early teens, you graduated high school. And so you decided that, hey, I wanted to, you know, go to go to community college, right? And not a four year kind of going away and doing that and that was really based on you know where you accepted to go to one
or less I was accepted as Carolina
Really? pirate.
Yes, I was going to be a pirate.
Yeah. And so, obviously the devastating news again, I appreciate you sharing that about your brother. You know, you decided to stay home with your parents. That's a big deal when that you kind of give up your dream and passion due to a very sad, you know, accident. What made you do that? What made you give up? You know, hey, I'm not I'm not gonna go to East Carolina. Stay home and be here for my mom and dad.
I am just a very caring and sensitive person and I saw how devastated they were and I just couldn't do it.
Wow. Well, that's very powerful right there laying that. That speaks volumes about you now. No One No one knew and no You know, we've been you see me grow up and stuff that you would that you'd make that sacrifice. And I think we own leadership. And you know, sometimes you got to make those tough sacrifices and make those tough decisions. But well, you know, good. I mean, that's a big deal. Some some people run, right. I think the easiest thing for you probably would have been to, you know, go to East Carolina. I know you probably cared about your parents, but it's kind of, you know, out of sight out of mind and you could kind of you could be whoever you wanted to be. at East Carolina. You sticking in and you stay in there that that's big.
That's just me. Yeah. I muddle through something, just
this. So you're you stay home. You sat make that sacrifice. You say you roll in community college, were you working? I was what were you john
then I worked at belts for eight years
and which one
On the one hand states will Oh, okay. Okay, so
like the actual department store, like corporate or office or any of that, right?
No, it was, it was in the visual department actually, art related. You know, I like to do craft type. That's just a passion of mine. Okay, so
what was that, like, was a real first real job. That was my first real job and you're doing a full time.
Part time and then when I got out of college, I did full time. Wow. And so
in still living at home. I'm just asking, man, so you're kind of having to deal with that, you know, the grieving process and all of your parents, you know, every day, yes. Wow. And
then I wound up losing both my parents two years apart, Really? But yeah, that was in 96. Right after I got married. I got married in 98. I lost my mom. 96 and I lost my dad in 98. So I dealt with getting married.
And my father passing away at the same time
and work not speak your age but
1980 Okay.
Okay. Wow. All right. So you know you, you you this is this is awesome thank you for sharing so so you say you you had that tragic event you stay home. You give up East Carolina. You're working at Bell you're going to community college. He meet Steve who's he's the man named Steve
Mann
and
still live in a state school still live in a state school at that time. Okay. And
it was your is your Obama desk kind of that whole family was all it was that around states Fuller?
It was his
favorite save your whole world is right it right there and stays
in space. Okay, and Steve was from statesville Steve was from Matt Holly. Oh, yeah. Hi, Jamie.
Oh, a strange story. I was actually dating his brother's wife, brother. And I met Steve along the way. And then when things didn't work out with his sister in law's brother, then we started dating and we've been together ever since. Wow. That was a 94 I want to say 94 we're gonna talk
about that because that's quite an accomplishment in itself as you guys have been together that long. Oh, yeah. Um,
it's a job just like a job.
So you, what were you going to, in May versus tech school for or the community
wanting to go into graphic art, okay. That's what I was wanting to go into or architecture. Either one, whichever one I decided to stay with, but I was going into the art field.
Okay. All right. And so you get married you you lost your parents both of them sadly and then two years that's a lot of dynamic that's a that's a bay hi of getting you know getting married every every girl, you know, grows up on that dream and wanting that and doing that to this another would say setback but another you're on your own now. I
know. And you know what? Thank God for parents like I had that taught me to be on my own and self sufficient self sufficient because had they not I would have been lost totally cuz I have no family other than an aunt. Wow on my side of the family. Wow. And so you you go through that event and then when did you guys move to mount Holly? Move to mount Holly we got married 98 it would have been The Fall of 97 Okay, so y'all,
but where are you parents live in at this time or no? No. So you kind of just went to be where Steve was?
Yes. And then I had to handle all of the state issues with my family at that time. Yeah, it was really rough, but I'm a trooper.
Yes, you are. Yes you are. And so even Steve moving to mount Holly and you kind of you there with his family and and you know that that whole dynamic was that a good thing bad thing where you were you kind of ready to leave stateful or through all that or
I was after my
father passed away. I was really great. I wasn't too sure beforehand, but I definitely was after my
dad passed away,
okay. Okay. And so you're living in Mount Holly and Indian Trail and in Harrisburg and in the old Cove Creek, which we're going to talk about, you know, isn't isn't a real close to mount Holly. And there's a lot of heating and air companies and we're not in graphic design. So kind of, you know, kicking, kicking off and again, I appreciate, you know, this this whole podcast, I'm kind of hearing you say that you you've overcome obstacles and you've, you've seen setbacks in your life or, you know, some serious significant events and you've, you've risen up from that and that that's unique and that's, that that shares a lot about your character who you are. So, you know, then you go to tell her how you fell upon parks, you know, he says, oh, one So,
um, after I worked about eight years, I went to a insurance company and ran an insurance company for eight years. With five of it. I ran it for five years. And then I had Why'd
you do that? Why did you switch from because insurance?
Well, actually I thought it was kind of closer to home.
So the so the commute to traveling and doing all that was the reason
Yes. And then
after I left the insurance company, I went to work for a medical supply company called McKesson and real great company to work for but they relocated to Atlanta, and I wasn't willing to move but I did do two weeks of training to train my replacement in Atlanta, so I did that for
I guess.
Why did you don't want to move to Atlanta?
Ah, that was too far away in the traffic was horrible. Although Charlotte traffic's not great, but Atlanta traffic was horrible.
And so you Steven, you guys didn't just didn't want to. We don't want to be like
Hey, cuz he'd been with this company for I guess. Ever, at that time, like 15 years so we've been with this company for a while.
Yeah, I mean, you got it sounds like you're obviously you pretty loyal. And you guys kind of stick things out and rob the storm and yeah, what's your marriage? Obviously that's a long time.
Yeah. And it's a job to just like a work job. Yeah, marriage is a job.
So you didn't want to relocate. And then how did you find how did you stumble upon parks? I know you. I know. You were driving up there off crow Creek.
Oh, nice.
Um, well, when I left McKesson, there was a gentleman that worked there whose wife was, shall we say a headhunter work for a staffing company and parks went through this staffing company. And so they chose me for the interview and
went in and got a job. So your his interview with your dyad
first time you met my dad Yes. Okay, interesting. Do you remember anything about that interview?
I do. He was an hour late. But I was cool. And everybody was so nice to me when I went into the office. And it had been icy that day and they gave me some coffee and it was it was great. It turned out to be a good fit. So
yes, yes, it has. So that was an hour late. Not surprised. This is right after, you know, he hadn't been an owner very long of parks at that time, maybe a year, year and a half maybe thanks. So was this pre or post 911?
It was post post nine.
Okay. So it reason is that is obviously that that's a monumental event that happened. And you know, I'm trying to recollect like what was going on at parks at that time? I said it makes sense. So what do they hire you for?
customer service customer service. Yeah.
So you go from graphic design and working in the vision department at Bell to insurance company run with you basically running it. I did run an office. Yes. Okay, so you ran an office. You work for those again. McLoone,
Newcastle caisson
train your replacement didn't move to Atlanta. And you come to parks to be a customer service CSR. Oh, yeah. Why? And obviously, it's, you know, at that point you were on the Northeast east side of Charlotte. That's, that's not close to my Holly. What was the thing did Gigi interview anywhere else did you know No, just kind of
kind of needed a job and
they were prepared to hire me. So to get on while
it was a new challenge.
I was getting ready to say that that is a new challenge. Looking in knowing that old office over there in that environment and everything that went on and we'll talk about that, again, talks about your leadership talks about how your character and how your death because, you know, I'm sure at that time, things were booming you know, Charlotte was growing everything else you're you're by that time you're pretty qualified, you know person if I if I was looking at an application now your application back then you this person is pretty qualified. You could have gotten job at probably anywhere you walked into and you chose parks driving over in No offense to hood from Mount Holly. you overcome the challenge of the commute because that that was a community that times I remember one, one story I'm driving up that way I don't, I don't know. And I saw Lynn's car over in the ditch I think slid off the road. right there I forgot
it's like the 2949 connector.
Oh yeah. And I'm like this lien Vernon's coming out there to police everything are out there you know that experience in itself could have been you know, man I'm out of here like this is nine to one driving this commute no more. traffic was starting to get back Charlotte's growing. You know and you stuck it through and you stuck it through. Yeah, good. So you're at parks dead hires you. I remember. I remember you when they you know they kind of read modeled the whole Lance cracker side of the with all those bays and everything you're in front of there with Tanya and Vernon and dad had his little office. And wow, you know, that was a talk a little bit about that toggle. You know, that was a that was a challenging time for you too. I mean, that was a that was a rough. That was a rough go with the service too. Hartman
at that. We had we worked in the DOS system one line orders. Oh yeah, it was crazy. The first summer I started working there. We were working 12 at night, working on Saturday, Sunday. We had piles of orders. It was unbelievable. But hey, it was a challenge. We got through it. And bam,
here we are. So you were working till 12 o'clock. You do what? Like when you Tom, I was at you film phone calls or you were?
We did were orders. We took the phone calls up till we got ready to leave at four. And then we dispatch calls from home or from our next tale at that time.
Yes, that Nextel. I remember when there's old Bell blackberries.
Oh, yeah, they were great. You could throw them across the room when you were angry. And they didn't break. But yeah, it was a challenge. There. The beginning it really was, but things are so much better now.
Good. Well, thank you saying well, and we'll talk about that. I mean, you know, that that those those kind of summers that, you know, dead I've heard, obviously, you know, being famous, I've heard all the old war stories like they would be like two three weeks out from you're getting your house and people call in raising hacking. You know, guys, we're doing startups in their underwear. And, you know, you know, the the the dynamic of the service department was just, it was not a
good thing. It was chaotic, very chaotic. Why do you think that was?
Um, well, the only thing I could come to the conclusion of why it was chaotic is he had so many customers, so many customers, and we still have so many customers, but things have gotten so much smoother and the new systems we have, we're excited. Much better. And just a whole better quality of care than back then.
Yeah. Huh? Where's your stay? So, you know, you in the budget you live through the recession here parks, you made it and I didn't even make it through that whole experience.
That was really rough.
So you go from all these customers parks did I think almost close to 15 million in new construction, I think in oh seven. You guys were running the service department. There was only a handful of texts. Like, you know, Jim can't throw some old names out there and joe klein and William Davis, William Davis and and some old some old timers there to you know, paint, you know, recession hit and went from 100 and something employees down to like 3020 myself gone. We were skeleton crew and you made that and you made it through And, but when did you transition because you kind of you did move out of the customer service role.
idea. There was a lady that was leaving in the new construction department. And I wasn't sure I could do it. I told him I try it just to see if I could. Because I needed someone. So I did it. And I actually liked it. And
you're
there. I transferred from service department up to new construction.
Yeah. And you've been here ever since. And so, you know, Glenn, thank you for sharing this this morning dealing with this. So that's uh, you know, we post recession you're in you're working in new construction. Things start to come back. Right. And, and you and Steve are still living in Mount Holly. Holly. You know what, what made you persevere or what made you you know, you heard a lot Also that you're not really a quitter, you don't, you don't really give up easy. Or
my mother taught me one time, and always told me, there was nothing that I couldn't do if I put my mind to it. And that's how I basically live my life that if whether it's a challenge or not, if I decide I want to do it, I want to do it.
You do have that determination. You do what? You know, and the unique thing that we won't talk about a lot of these podcasts, and a reason why how it kind of aligns with our vision of helping out the less fortunate and the homeless kids and everything else is how much people how much the people that we had on podcast, their parents kind of were their backbone and help them with their eating taught them from an early age to leadership. And like what you just said about your mom, and you know, I'm sure even today, you kind of hear that in your head and
I do
And do those things. And that, that that's power that, you know, that's how that's why you know, he kind of fit in here and your leader here is because you kind of get that right it kind of it kind of resonates with you It hits home kinda. Wow. Well thank you for sharing that. So, you know, we were in Harrisburg, right and one day we pick up and say, You know what, we're just gonna move on down any trail and your commute is now close to an hour correct.
55 minutes. Wow.
And you know, you've been you've seen people come and go, right? Good, bad or ugly. some surprises some kind of okay, we knew it was coming. You know what, what? I think I know personally that you know, you kind of you're not a quitter, right. And you kind of once you're in something, you're going to be in it. And then you touched on the comment about you so much, you think it's better now? You know, what is that kind of helps you to reason why you stayed is that you know, yeah, maybe you've not understood the situation or the decision. But what kind of, you know, you know, you know why cuz I mean it at times it hasn't been all gravy, right? It hasn't been there's been some miscommunication. I know I've had meetings with you about that and, you know, hasn't the, there's not a real clear picture and doing all that and you've, you know, you've overcome all those obstacles. What is it, you know?
Only thing I can chalk it up to is like the people I work with. I like the environment. Things happen every day. You just have to pick it up, move on. I mean, there's obviously a reason why things happen and you just have To know that you're still part of that key, and you have to go on.
And you've, um, you know, that also kind of when we've had or we've needed employees to be in somewhere outside of work, right? Or to help out with something, or to do something, you you nine times out of 10 unless you Steve got some, you know, you're doing something that you just can't give up. You've been there, and you've done that. And, you know, that that speaks volumes, speaks volumes and and in doing that, and also, you know, being a woman too, right. I mean, it this is a male dominant still, I think to the extent you know, industry, especially construction.
Oh, yeah.
And, you know, you're you're tough, you're tough with those guys, and that's a good thing.
I try to hang in there with them.
And you've done a fantastic job of persa you know, persevering and overcoming those obstacles and those things this, maybe like on the surface setback, you know, in the unknown like, I mean, I remember the big day of switching from Jonas to service Titan. Oh, yeah. And you, you, you kind of were out there on the ledge of trusting, right? And in like what's this gonna be like? And you but you held in and you you saw the light at the end of the tunnel. And you know, I still think is probably one of the best decisions business wise operationally that we ever made.
Oh, I definitely think it works well.
Right. And so that, you know, again, and I know we're keep saying this over and over again is that you know, you're not a quitter, and you, you stick through it and you trust people and you, you know, you help out you go above and beyond even when no one's watching, like coming to those events and doing those things. That's really really powerful in that Thank you. That's really powerful. And you know, so it concludes As we wrap this up, and we talk about this, you know, people outside the industry, maybe listen to podcasts or you know, there's a young lady or even even a male that wanted to kind of get in this thing and you could give them some type of advice like go and think back for a second of, you know, all the dynamics that you've gone through in your life and you're in into your career too. And to that, you know, what, what kind of would you share with them? Or what would what would you say for them to do if they were in you know, an unfamiliar situation and they don't kind of like where they are or things don't really align with them. What what would what kind of advice would you give them?
Just stick it out, because things always get better. If If you're not sure, there's always someone that can help you. There may be another one of me that'll help you to you know, just just persevere. I mean, There's always worse don't ever think the grass is greener on the other side because it's not. And, you know, if you were chosen for that position, you should try to do your best at that position. Because, you know, that's all you've got is your I guess what I want to say is what you can give to them shows more about you than you could tell them.
Just try your best. Yeah,
yeah. And you know that that's powerful. And thank you for sharing that because that that is you, you know, and that, you know, we builders that we talk to, you know, they always speak highly of land and said maybe maybe Joe bought us contracts. Either actually goes podcast we'll talk about here but you know, that you, you kind of line with everything we talked about, you know, you you you have relationships and you want to do that Good thing and you you do overcome a persevere and stick things out, even though they might not be good. So that's great advice, man. That's great. Well, I've I've thoroughly appreciated you open it up this morning. And so welcome doing doing a fantastic job and I hope Steve listens to this. And you know, Steve, just want to tell your domain. Hey, you are the man Steve. Always got a smile on his face. He's always pleasant to be around. I really enjoy every time I've been with that guy.
He keeps me in line. Good,
good. Well, you know, everybody, we're gonna wrap up this podcast this morning again. Thank you, Lynn, thank you for sharing your story this morning. This is Wyatt Tucker from that's the parsley podcast, signing out.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai