Mom and me at Suttles Truck Leasing, Inc.

  These days you hear a lot of how kids today do not have “soft skills” needed for the workplace. I started working at the age of 14 working occasionally for Omni Sports then on to the Sports Plex where I flipped a few burgers and cleaned bathrooms. One time someone left their cup (protective kind not the drinking kind) in the bathroom. I was so grossed out that I had to get a broom to sweep it in the trash. Talk about soft skills, lol! Scrubbing a few toilets does a teenager good even if he or she doesn’t realize it at the time. However, the place I really learned “soft skills” that would benefit me later in life was at Suttles Truck Leasing.

I started working there around the age of 15 or 16. I first started in my mom’s office-the billing department. I made copies, answered the phone, faxed documents, and filed. An when I say I filed, I filed, and I filed. I even filed for Mr. Ed who worked above the shop. It was hot and the papers were so thin you’d think they were see through. It felt like an eternity filing work orders for truck parts.  I then worked in the Fuel Tax department entering mileage. I had my own phone and desk. I had made it! Not too bad for a 17 year old working part time.  I worked during Spring Break and in the Summer, 40 hours a week, when most of my friends were enjoying sleeping in and lounging at the pool. I wanted to be at home too but knew if I wanted a car, I had to work so I did. I also worked as the receptionist. I came in 15 minutes early each day to make sure Mr. Suttles’ office was in order. I took the mail and sorted it. I paged Harold in the shop when he had a phone call which seemed like every day of my life.

They always helped me too-celebrating my high school graduation and acceptance to UA. The guys in the shop even pulled my car out of the ditch when I pulled to far in the parking lot.  I’m ashamed to say it happened twice but I did bake them cookies. The ladies in the office were like my mom-they were very supportive and cheered me on. I learned how to swing a golf club because of Becky. We’d go after work across the street to the driving range at the Ravine.

It wasn’t until as an adult I realized what all I had learned. I had learned “soft skills”-showing up for work on time (15 minutes early), working when I didn’t feel like it, working with different types of people, etc.  Maybe the best way to learn “soft skills” are from people who really love you and want what’s best for you.  It’s funny how it’s called “soft skills”- the skills you are learning aren’t really all that “soft” at the beginning. They are hard because you are stretching yourself in ways you didn’t know you had in you.  They are necessary. If I had any advice to give “kids these days” is to get a job-even if it’s part time. Go to work when your friends are having fun. Do things that aren’t fun now because later in life they will benefit you- it just may take until your almost 33 to realize it.  Find a first job where the people want you to succeed.

I cannot say enough about the people that I worked with at Suttles. They all in a sense helped raise me and made me the employee I am today (although be it, I’m not perfect). Mr. Suttles was one of the most generous people I knew and was always buying lunch for his employees.  Suttles was a lot like Cheers- everybody knew your name and they were always glad to see you. I miss those people-some are still in town which I am always glad to see, and others have passed on.  I never had a chance to truly say thank you to the people at Suttles or even Mr. Suttles so in a since this is my way.

Thank you!