Workers — past, present and future — have a day in their name today, Labor Day.
The Daily Record asked more than two dozen Jacksonville community and business leaders to reflect on their jobs and share their lessons.
All started working early, and many shared a common first job as newspaper carriers or yard workers.
Today, they run businesses, courts, law firms, unions, sports franchises and theater groups, among other enterprises.
Wayne Weaver
First job: Neighborhood paper route.
First career job: Shoe salesman - $40 per week draw against 6 percent commission.
Current job: Chairman, CEO, Jacksonville Jaguars
Most important lesson: Learn how to evaluate risk/reward decisions. Good decision-makers understand there is always risk, but those who can evaluate the upside reward that outweighs any downside risk, and make decisions timely, will make better decisions.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Never let emotion cloud your judgment on making important decisions.
Rebecca Barry
First job: Folding jeans at The Gap.
First career job: Weekend meteorologist at WJXT Channel 4.
Current job: Weekend meteorologist at WJXT Channel 4.
Most important lesson: After pulling split shifts for five years, caffeine and eye cream are the secrets to life.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Preparation. Most mistakes I make are from a lack of foresight or lack of preparation.
Paul Anderson
Very first job: Bagging groceries in San Clemente, Calif., at the Alpha Beta store.
First career job: Special assistant, U.S. Sen. Paula Hawkins (Florida Republican, 1981-87).
Current job: CEO, Jacksonville Port Authority.
Most important lesson: Be respectful of your co-workers, be humble and don’t forget where you started.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By being willing to swallow your pride sometimes.
Deno Hicks
First job: There are several, like selling Christmas trees at the corner of St. Augustine Road and University Boulevard, and re-identifying tractor trailers for Silver Eagle Transport with my high school friends. But my first job was mowing and maintaining lawns in my parents’ neighborhood. I’d hate to calculate my hourly rate for the amount of hours I used to spend per yard.
First career job: After graduating from the University of Florida, I started my career as an environmental consultant for the former Law Engineering and Environmental Services.
Current job: I am currently the managing partner for Southern Strategy Group of Jacksonville, providing lobbying and business development services throughout Northeast Florida.
Most important lesson: A common thread is to treat people with respect, and that it’s often more valuable to do the listening than the talking. You can learn a lot. A great friend once shared with me that “people won’t remember what you said, people won’t remember what you did, but they will never forget the way you made them feel.”
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? We are all human and we make mistakes, but it’s important to stop for a moment and process what happened and what you could have done differently. Sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone and hit challenges head-on. You owe it not just to yourself but to all those affected by the issue. Each time I am faced with a challenge, I am no longer hesitant to address it. Leadership isn’t always about being popular.
Aaron Bowman
First job: Mini-Mart employee. Sold gas, prepared food, ran cash register.
First career job: Aircraft carrier pilot, U.S. Navy.
Current job: BAE Systems, Southeast Shipyards, director of business operations.
Most important lesson: When you are in a leadership position, one of the most important things you can do is to make sure you always have your “game face” on when you are at work. If you allow yourself to bring issues in the door or show anything other than good spirit, it can impact the entire workforce.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Typically in the Navy, we do not interview for jobs. I was asked to interview for an important deputy position for a political appointee and one week later I was at the interview in the Pentagon. Had I spent just a few minutes talking to people who had experience with interviews, I might have made a good impression and landed the position. Instead it was about the most uncomfortable 30 minutes of my life. My lesson learned was to always seek assistance from someone who has knowledge that you do not possess and to always share knowledge with others when you can help them.
Bob Rhodes
First job: Delivering Sunday newspapers.
First career job: Counsel for the Washington, D.C., office of the Council of State Governments, National Governors Association and National Conference of State Legislatures.
Current job: Attorney with Foley & Lardner.
Most important lesson: Assume nothing regarding job expectations. Ask, clarify if needed, and do not accept ambiguity.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By applying the most important lesson.
Debbie Buckland
First job: Basset’s Dairy Bar in Johnson City, Tenn. I made $1.35 an hour and my mom had to drive me there.
First career job: Roving teller, First Federal Savings and Loan Association in Roanoke, Va., summer of 1979.
Current job: Executive Vice President and Commercial Line of Business Manager for SunTrust Bank, North Florida.
Most important lesson: It’s all about the relationships.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Let it sit overnight.
Janet Owens
First job: My summer job after high school was as a veterinary assistant for an animal hospital. I greeted pet owners and their pets, did recordkeeping, handled appointment scheduling, as well as walking dogs, sterilizing instruments, holding pets for vaccines and any other duties needed.
First career job: Aide to the city manager, City of Greenville, S.C.; served as liaison with the Community Development and Public Safety (police) functions.
Current job: Executive Director, LISC (Local Initiatives Support Corporation) Jacksonville.
Most important lesson: If all parties value and agree on the goal, you can always find solutions to overcome the obstacles.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Thorough fact-checking. Always double-check your facts before making a financial decision. Oct. 19, 1987, was a huge eye-opener. It’s 24 years later and I still remember Black Monday.
Carla Chin
First job: Cashier and concession employee at the Plaza Movie Theater in the Phillips Highway Mall.
First career job: Merchandising manager for The J.C. Penney Co.
Current job: Sixth-grade math and science teacher at San Jose Catholic School.
Most important lesson: Customer service is the most important aspect of the job. If you wake up with a smile, then you can bring that joy to others, and it doesn’t cost anything.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Relying on my better judgment about what I wanted to do in life and not listening to others about my career choice. I wanted to be a teacher and major in education at the University of Florida, but everyone I knew and trusted told me all the negatives and assured me that the College of Business would better serve me. All things come full circle.
Chief Bankruptcy Judge Paul Glenn
First job: My first job was a summer job during the summers when I was in high school. I worked for a construction company. I did the complex, technical things like wheel bricks and cement and supplies in a wheelbarrow from the hauling trucks to the work areas. One of the more interesting projects was adding seating capacity to the FSU football stadium. It was a little harder to wheel the supplies up the long ramps, but it is certainly interesting to go back now and see some of the expansion areas that are still there. It was a hot, sweaty job, as you can imagine. The most enjoyable thing about it was that after work a couple days a week my buddies and I would pick up some friends (girls) and go out water skiing.
First career job: My first career job was practicing law here in Jacksonville. I graduated from law school in 1970, and started practicing with the law firm of Mahoney, Hadlow, Chambers and Adams. There were outstanding lawyers in the firm, and I learned a great deal from them.
Current job: As Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Florida, I am pretty busy now. The Middle District of Florida stretches from Jacksonville through Orlando, Tampa, and all the way to Fort Myers, and with 10 million people in the district we are one of the busiest courts in the United States. The term “bankruptcy” does not have much appeal to most people, but I think it is one of the best of the judging positions. Individuals have the opportunity for a “fresh start,” and businesses have the opportunity to reorganize so they can save their business and their employees can keep their jobs.
Most important lesson: When I was practicing law, I would occasionally go back to my office with a client after a hearing and the client would complain that the judge did not seem to listen, or the client would ask why the judge decided the way he decided. So I try to listen to everything a litigant believes is relevant, and I try to explain just why I reach the conclusions that I reach. Even when litigants do not prevail, they appear to be much more satisfied if they know that I have listened to them and understood their positions, and that I have explained to them the reasons I reached my conclusions. In addition, of course, I try to do several other things, such as be thorough and fair.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? My biggest mistake, of course, is making a decision that is reversed on appeal. Thankfully, that hasn’t happened much. But I must be careful and thorough, and determine the facts that relate to an issue, consider the law as it applies to that issue, and apply the law to the facts as fairly and correctly as possible.
Scott Schalk
First job: I mowed lawns in my neighborhood at the age of 12 to earn spending money.
First career job: After graduating from Florida Atlantic University, I moved to California and found an internship on “The Price is Right.” That kicked off my career in television production, which lasted six years.
Current job: I’m part of the communications team at Firehouse Subs, where we support a network of more than 440 restaurants and counting. As technical writer, I manage all internal communications materials, newsletters and the like.
Most important lesson: There’s no ”I” in team.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Al Franken said it best: “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.”
Dwaine Stevens
First job: Publix, custodial services as a teenager right out of high school.
First career job: Publix, Accounting Department as an analyst.
Current job: Publix media and community relations manager, Jacksonville Division.
Most important lesson: True and honest relationships are the keys to personal success.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Having the courage to stand alone even when it’s not the most popular position to take.
Michael Loftin
First job: Summer maintenance worker for a Jacksonville apartment complex.
First career job: Financial analyst with Hatfield Philips (now TriMont Real Estate Advisors) in Atlanta.
Current job: Managing director of leasing with Parkway Realty Services.
Most important lesson: It is essential to earn and maintain co-workers’ and clients’ trust.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By learning from others’ mistakes.
Fred Franklin
First job: My first job was as a stock clerk in a warehouse (without air-conditioning) while I was in high school.
First career job: My first position as a lawyer was as an assistant state attorney, working for Ed Austin, here in Jacksonville.
Current job: I am currently the managing director of the Rogers Towers law firm.
Most important lesson: It’s important that you sincerely care about your work. Otherwise, you do a disservice to yourself and the people affected by your work.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? I consider myself extremely blessed since my work-related mistakes, to date, are not worthy of mention.
Pixie Larizza
First job: Working at a local dry cleaner. In addition to working up front waiting on customers, the owner (a family friend) felt it was important for me to understand “all” the aspects of the business. I learned to work several of the presses both on the dry cleaning and the laundry side along with tagging and bagging clothes. Very hot and humbling work.
First career job: Bookkeeper and office manager for a family owned business.
Current job: Artist, holistic counselor and teacher.
Most important lesson: For as long as I can remember I wanted to own my own business. The most important lesson was to know all aspects of how a business is run. In addition to the financial end, I learned about marketing, how to be a good manager and that running a business also means knowing your business.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Had I been more proactive and confident when I first started my business, I don’t believe it would have taken me as long to reach my client goals. Simply by asking clients when they would like to book another session instead of telling them to call me when they were ready for another session would have increased my workload pretty much immediately. I didn’t want to come off as “pushy” or “assumptive.” So when I did finally ask the question of rebooking, I met my goals of repeat clients within half the time I had set for myself.
Judith Rodriguez
First job: Unpaid, a candy striper at a children’s unit in a hospital. Paid, a cashier at a 5&10 cent store in Manhattan, N.Y.
First career job: A clinical dietitian at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, N.Y.
Current job: Chairperson and professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida.
Most important lesson: Be reliable, trustworthy and collegial
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By listening more carefully to oral and visual cues when working with others. It’s a lifelong struggle – to avoid thinking of a response before carefully listening to what is being said. It doesn’t allow for me to see the whole picture before making a decision and also devalues others’ voices and opinions and has often gotten me into trouble.
Nelson Cuba
First job: Cutting grass when I was about 12 years old.
First career job: U.S. Navy, 1984 to 1988.
Current job: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office/Fraternal Order of Police President.
Most important lesson: Always be on time, be honest with people and it will all work out in the end.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By not marrying my ex-wife.
Cleve Warren
First job: While I was not in her regular employ, my first job was as a handyman for my grandmother. On my 10th birthday she invites me to her house to get what I thought would be a birthday present. Instead, she tells me I am getting a little too old to be walking around with empty pockets. She tells me I should never be without something of my own that I have earned on my own. So she gives me my first job painting the bricks in her fireplace. She pays me $3 when I am done and admonishes me to save a little, put a little in church, and to spend the rest wisely. One of my granny’s favorite maxims: “Anything worth having is worth working for.”
First career job: My first career job was with the Barnett Bank of Jacksonville. I owe the bank and the people there (Hugh Jones, Bill Flannery, Roland Kennedy, Bob Harris, Wayne Forrest and Billy Barnett) so much for acclimating me to the world off the reservation. I am grateful that the lessons were not just about banking, but about family, community and self.
Current job: In my current capacity as President and CEO of Essential Capital I get to use all of the foundational skills I learned from family, a host of mentors, and as a young banker with the Barnett Bank of Jacksonville. I get to continue the practice of banking as a lender to Jacksonville’s small business community, but I also get to spend time intimately involved in the life of my community. There is so much to do, and I feel obligated to do my share. “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Most important lesson: As in life, I am part of a collective. I am accountable to the whole for my contribution to its success, and I dare not take responsibility for my involvement in its failures.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Studied a little longer, prayed a little harder, raised my hand when I needed to.
Jack Sears
First job: Delivering a daily newspaper door to door, The Charleston Daily Mail, in West Virginia.
First career job: District Scout Executive for Boy Scouts of America, Central Florida Council, in Orlando.
Current job: Scout Executive/CEO, Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council.
Most important lesson: Have a vision for your assignment and work hard to set the tone/example. Establish the culture and the resources for the people and the organization to achieve that vision.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Don’t rush. Be deliberate and patient. Think before you act.
Odette Struys
First job: Yarra Films Australia.
First career job: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.
Current job: The Blood Alliance
Most important lesson: There is no substitute for hard work.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? On a personal note, if I didn’t experience my biggest mistake (my ex-husband) I would not be in Jacksonville. I would have missed out on the past 18 years here in which I would consider to have made the best decisions of my life and made the best of friends. Thank goodness I’m fallible.
Frank Wallmeyer
First job: Cutting grass at age 10, followed closely by a paper route.
First career job: Management trainee at a large plumbing wholesaler, where your No. 2 business was my No. 1 business.
Current job: President at Safeguard Print, Promo & Design.
Most important lesson: Treat people well and give them excellent value.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By knowing the difference between good advice and not-so-good advice.
U.S. Navy Capt. Robert “Bob” W. Sanders
First job: Newspaper delivery boy at age 12.
First career job: Fire protection engineer designing fire suppression systems for industrial application.
Current job: Executive Officer, Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Most important lesson: It’s not about me. It is about the people that work for me. Give them a vision and a goal, give them the responsibility and authority and let them do their job.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Never be afraid to make a change when you see that something you are doing is not working to achieve the desired objectives. There comes a time when you have to admit to yourself that you may be wrong.
Helen Ludwig
First job: Selling men’s furnishings (that is what they called it back in 1939) at Sears in De-troit, Mich.
First career job: Insurance agent selling commercial property and casualty insurance to a variety of businesses in the Detroit area. I believe I was one of the first women to specialize in that class of insurance in Detroit.
Most important lesson: To treat all people alike and not judge by appearances. To treat everyone as though they will someday be your friend and treat our friends as though they will someday be your enemy.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? By remembering the above lesson.
Brenda Ezell
First job: Paper route at 12 years old.
First career job: Associate at Rogers Towers.
Current job: Owner, Ezell Law Firm.
Most important lesson: There is no such thing as perfection, so take ownership of your mistakes.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? This is an interesting question for me because I have learned from all of the mistakes I’ve made and cannot think of one mistake that I would try to avoid.
Devlin Mann
First job: Building pools for The Batts pool company.
First career job: National tour of “Romeo and Juliet.” I played Tybalt.
Current job: Artistic/executive director, The BackLight Theatre Group Inc.
Most important lesson: Planning ahead is critical as it allows quick and efficient adjustments when faced with unforeseen obstacles.
How could you have avoided your biggest mistake? Patience.