Where did you grow up?
Lake City, AR.
Where did you go to school?
Lake City. Home of the Catfish. Yeah, that’s right. A catfish was our mascot.
Brag about your family.
My wife, Vicki, and I have been married for 31 years. That says a lot about her strength and patience. I have two great kids, Aaron and Renee. They just graduated high school and have joined the workforce. We have two dogs, Tripp and Ziggy, and a bearded dragon named Herman.
What do you do for fun?
I love seeing places I’ve never seen before, so we do a lot of traveling. I also play a lot of music as a singer/songwriter. I also play bass for the Marybeth Byrd band. She was one of the top contestants on NBC’s The Voice.
What was your first job?
My first job was chopping cotton. I was terrible at it though, so it didn’t last long. LOL. Then I got another job building sunbeds for a place called Suntanna.
What is your dream job?
Being a studio musician for various artists. That would be great.
What is something very few people know about you?
I love doing charcoal and pencil drawings.
What quote/motto do you live by?
I would rather live in the light of the awful truth, than the dark delusion of wishful thinking.
What is your official job title?
Distribution Clerk
What SHOULD your job title be?
The Box Master
Describe your day-to-day job.
I take phones and other items that have been refurbished and tested and process and package them for orders.
What is one thing that Optus does better than any other employer you have had in the past?
Optus goes above and beyond to take care of our customers. There are times when we are presented with a challenging project and it seems impossible, but with everyone working together we always seem to pull it off.
Tell us about one learning or growth opportunity you have had while working at Optus.
A couple of years ago, I was given the task of order processing, in addition to packing and preparing the orders. It seemed rather daunting at the time, but with everyone’s help, I’ve adapted to the new position quite well.
What do you like most about working at Optus?
Making friends here is one of my favorite aspects. It makes the work atmosphere so much better. Also, I feel as though my ideas are heard and sometimes implemented.
Have you received recognition from Optus on a job well done? If so, what was the recognition?
I received employee of the month and an MVP award for my work.
We like to say, Optus is like a family. Who at Optus is like family to you and why?
TJ, Nicole, and Tameka. They are like the children I never had. Wait…make that, like the younger brother and sisters I never had. They always have my back and take care of me. Believe me, that’s a challenging job.