Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Crawford.
Hi Nancy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the daughter of Army SSG Odas & Marqueta Wade, girlfriend to Terry, Mother to son Michael, Grandmother to Timothy, Ethan, Connor & Logan, and great-grandmother to Memphis. I am the oldest of 5 children, sister to Debbie, Cathy, Odas II & Mike. My father was an Army SSG, and Mom was a stay-at-home Mom until the youngest was in school. We followed Dad every 3 years to different Posts around the world. The 1st 18 years of my life were very structured but enlightening; I was able to see sights most kids didn’t; 2 of my most memorable places were Mannheim, Germany, where I attended the 1st 3 years of High School, and Ft Stewart, Georgia, where I graduated in 1978. I started working at 14 years old, which was the requirement age in the military to be able to work, bagging groceries for tips. Once I graduated high school, I went directly into the workforce as a clerk in a hotel near the Military Post, Ft. Stewart. We moved to Ohio in 1979 after Dad’s retirement from the Army to be closer to family. I love to travel and see new places, my boyfriend Terry, whom I have been with going on 11 years now, go to as many places as we can to learn about each city and see the sights, fun times and laughter along the way is an important key. My Great Grandmother told me when I was a teenager that you must make as many memories as you can in life and take as many pictures so that generations on down who hear about your amazing stories can see them and the person you are also once you have reached the age of not being able to get about and sitting in that chair or bed, you have many fond memories to look back on and smile. My 1st real job that would start my career was as a Data Processor at the Keebler Company; I then worked my way up to Supervision as an Inventory Control Analyst and Shipping/Receiving Supervisor. I was married and had 1 son during that time. After 19 years, we divorced. After 29 1/2 years at the company 22 of us supervisors were let go due to downsizing. I then found a position with a flavor company and stayed for 12 years. I retired and found that sitting around was not my cup of tea just yet. I really didn’t want to get back into my career field, so while waiting for my boyfriend to come to retirement age, I looked around for something office-related close to home and found The Phoenix Center. I couldn’t have asked for a better fit to fill my time. As time passed here at TPC, I noticed a need to help these men in treatment, so I jumped into gear and decided to do something about it; most of the client come straight from jail or do not have family to help; my thought was that being clothed and comfortable would help them be focused on their recovery and concentrate on the curriculum offered at the facility. I would send internal emails asking staff for clothing/shoe items they could donate; I then went further to post on Facebook and was blessed to be put in the direction of GLAM. That organization has done so much in helping me help these men. The smiles and thanks I get when I am able to give them just a few shirts or pants makes it all worth it. In addition, the teamwork here at TPC is amazing, staff go above and beyond getting snacks and extra food for the residents.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all, as noted in previous field, moving every 3 years as a military dependent was hard, but adapted as did the other families in the military. My belief it made us stronger individuals to face the world. My divorce was not a pleasant one, but I got up, dusted myself off, and rebuilt myself financially and mentally. I also did not let losing my job after a loyal lengthy time knock me down. I used these times to grow and make myself a better person.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am currently an office clerk with The Phoenix Center in Mt. Orab Ohio. I go above and beyond to help the staff in any way possible to make their jobs easier to focus on helping the clients in treatment.
I noticed the practically non-existence of donation items for the clients in need, so I took it upon myself to help seek donations for these men in treatment.
I learn as many positions as I can so I can step up and help anywhere in the company as may be needed to keep facility running as smooth as possible.
COMMUNICATION- I firmly believe in communication, no matter how small a detail.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Listen to all around you.
