We know where these leaders are now – but where did they start?
We asked executives, founders and innovators from different organizations around town to share their #firstsevenjobs.
David P. Barksdale
Job: CEO, Carolina Premier Bank
1 Ground cover maintenance (mowed yards)
2 Boy Scout summer camp counselor
3 Construction helper (errand boy)
4 Painter for craft shop
5 Credit card collector (NCNB)
6 Market research intern
7 Banking management trainee
Moira Quinn
Job: COO, SVP Communications at Charlotte Center City Partners
1 Bike shop front desk
2 Summer theater actor
3 TV studio cameraman
4 TV News photographer/ENG tech
5 PM Magazine host/producer
6 WBT host/producer
7 TV news reporter,/anchor
Bruce Clark
Job: Digital Inclusion Project Manager, Queens University of Charlotte
1 Jewel/Osco grocery bagger
2 movie theater usher
3 Domino’s pizza maker
4 office temp
5 deer season butcher shop help
6 bar manager
7 restaurant corporate trainer
Jenifer Daniels
Job: Co-founder & CEO, Colorstock
1 babysitter
2 sales clerk
3 dorm resident assistant
4 events planner
5 community relations associate
6 PR strategist/manager
7 adjunct faculty
Tom Hanchett
Job: Community Historian, History South
1 Delivered weekly Pennysaver newspaper
2 Helped with kids’ drama program on summer playground
3 Part-time book shelver/check-out desk attendant at college library
4 Photographed old neighborhoods for historic preservation agency
5 Historic research intern with Community Development agency
6 Year-long full-time internship with Utah State Historic Preservation Office
7 Part-time record store guy during grad school
Amy Herman
Job: Owner of Vintage Charlotte
1 Stock Girl at a Gift Shop
2 Subway Sandwich Artist
3 Camp Counselor
4 Subway Sandwich Artist
5 Waitress at a sushi restaurant
6 Night receptionist at an Arts Center
7 Subway Sandwich Artist
Hyong Yi
Job: Assistant City Manager, City of Charlotte
1 Flea Market Stand Assistant
2 Mens Clothing Store Associate
3 Cutco Knife Salesman
4 American University Law Library Librarian
5 Intern – Institute for Public Policy Research (London)
6 Intern – U.S. General Accountability Office/Health, Education, Human Services Division
7 Intern – National Education Goals Panel
Jennifer Appleby
Job: President/Chief Creative Officer, Wray Ward
1 Babysitter
2 Steak N Shake waitress
3 Retail clothes store sales associate
4 Third shift college diner waitress
5 Finished artist at ad agency
6 Junior Art Director
7Art Director
Jason Rome
Job: Senior Engagement Manager, Skookum
1 Piano Accompanist for a Musical Camp
2 Waiter
3 Intern for an Energy Broker
4 Business Services Specialist
5 Information Security Analyst
6 Solution Architect
7 Product Strategist
Edwin B. Peacock III
Job: Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual
1 Fuller Brush Salesman
2 UPS Driver’s Assistant
3 Car Wash Detailing Business
4 Intern, Commerical Building’s Security company
5 Mortgage Loan Originator
6 Financial Advisor
7 Elected Official- CLT City Council (part time position)
Amy Hawn Nelson
Job: Director, Institute for Social Capital, UNC Charlotte, Urban Institute
1 Cleaned bathrooms at my dad’s office. Our family owned a small business. Kids were the custodial service for many years. As the youngest of 4, I was given task of cleaning the bathrooms. Aren’t my siblings generous? I was paid $3, and spent all of it on candy each week.
2 Peer mediation trainer through a consulting firm called Peaceful Endeavors.
3 Summer counselor at Highland Renaissance Elementary. (1994)
4 Summer counselor at the Johnston YMCA. (1995)
5 Nanny (1996-1997)
6 Fraternity Court Maintenance Crew (college work study job). I was really good at fixing toilets. (Must have been my training from childhood).
7 Ice cream shop (first summer of college)
Jeff Jackson
Job: State Senator, North Carolina General Assembly
1 Blockbuster
2 Lab Technician (i.e., washing beakers)
3 Private – U.S. Army
4 Cadet – U.S. Army
5 Officer – U.S. Army
6 Assistant District Attorney
7 State Senator
Mary Newsom
Job: Associate Director, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute
1 Inventory at a hardware store
2 Babysitter
3 Restaurant server
4 Intern reporter/copy editor
5 Daily Tar Heel reporter/news editor
6 Reporter/copy editor
7 Assistant state editor
Tyler Ford
1 Newspaper Delivery – Allied News
2 Grocery Bagger – Bilo
3 Trained Killer – United States Marine Corps
4 Salesperson – Wendell August Forge
5 Store Manager – Music For a Song
6 Store Manager – Tommy Hilfiger Company Stores
7 Merchandise Coordinator – Tommy Hilfiger USA
Page Crawford Fehling
Job: Anchor, Good Day Charlotte on Fox 46
1 Babysitter
2 Hardware store cashier
3 Snack-bar cashier
4 Health Club kid’s room babysitter
5 Health Club front desk
6 Hostess
7 Waitress
Rob Cummings
Job: Co-Founder & Director, DealCloud Inc.
1 After-school sports coordinator
2 Lawn mower
3 Golf course clubhouse attendant
4 Amusement park fast food stand guy
5 Fryer cook
6 Waiter
7 Desktop publishing assistant
Corri Smith
Job: Owner, Black Wednesday Social Co.
1 Nanny/babysitter
2 Marketing/Administrative Assistant at Chautauqua Golf Course
3 Sales girl at The Body Shop
4 Bartender at Brio
5 Admissions Rep at Kaplan College
6 Director Marketing & PR at Heist Brewery
7 Marketing at NC Music Factory
Greg Jarrell
Job: Co-Director and Chief Door Answerer, QC Family Tree
1 File clerk
2 Youth minister
3 Saxophonist (Still have this one)
4 Waiter
5 Substitute Teacher
6 Preschool gymnastics teacher
7 Community arts center staff
