Ep. 92 Jennifer Birner Hegji (VP Tower Video Ops & VP Tower Training & Education)

“I remember standing on the sidewalk, talking to Rick [Briare] and telling him I was interested in going [to the new San Diego store] and he basically said ‘Well we don’t hire girls’. “

Thus began Jennifer Birner’s journey, leaving the Watt Avenue Bookstore to help open a new Tower Records location in San Diego where, for a time, she would be the only female employee. Helping open the store, laying tile, and screwing together racks, Jennifer got pneumonia and ended up in the hospital for 5 days. She was released on the day the store opened. Jennifer marched down to the store and then worked a shift until midnight. 

Jennifer spent 5 years in San Diego, surviving a Steve Miller Band instore fiasco (wait until you hear that one) and then running stores in Anaheim and West Covina before taking the position of Regional Manager. 

Wanting to get back to Sacramento, Jennifer took the position of GM of Tower Broadway. From there she moved to the Corporate Office first as Vice President of Video Operations and ultimately to Vice President of Training and Education. 

Join us for an episode that encompasses 30 years of a career to be celebrated with Jennifer Birner Hegji.