Jamie's 2nd Interview on TV

Here's Jamie's second interview on TV! She hasn't even been working for 2 months and she's already doing TV interviews like a pro! Click below to watch her.

The River, 911 Memorial, Visitor's Center and Lilly Garden

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Horse Ride

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An Article about Jamie's First Events

Here is an article about Jamie's first event. Yesterday morning we delivered tons of energy efficient bags to local area neighborhoods.

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/sep/09/aiding-others-is-its-own-reward/

Jamie Riding a Horse named Donny

Jamie and I went ridin' horses today. It was fun! Jamie's horse was a little moody and loved to eat (figures) her name was Donny. My horse was relaxed and easy to control (again, figures) his name was Pappy. And when my horse got to close to Jamie's horse's rear, Jamie's horse kicked my horse! I was able to film a video of Jamie riding and if you listen carefully you can hear our guide telling Michael Jackson jokes while wearing a wicked Fu Manchu mustache!

"Death of a car salesman"

As many of you have heard by now, I had a rough first experience as a car salesman. I'm still not sure what the company was thinking but I did get one heck of a story.

At my initial interview Paul was twenty minutes late. The professionalism and courtesy I expect to receive when interviewing with a company was absent. I decided that there may have been more going on that I was unaware of and accepted the offer to work for Lithia’s Autoplex Dealership in San Angelo, Texas.

I had only recently moved here from Iowa one month before beginning my employment at Lithia. My first day consisted of training videos as it does for everyone else employed there, but at no time was I shown around the premises or even introduced to people on my first day. The only person who made an effort to welcome me for more than two seconds was a gentleman named Clyde, who was also new. I was never informed about how to request time off, how I would be paid, what hours I would work or even who I reported to. Part of this was more than likely due to the fact that the man who was supposed to be assisting with my transition quit on my first day.

It was my second day that would cause me to leave the dealership. Again without any questions a professional employer would answer for a new employee I began watching the training video (I want to be clear I understood the meaning for these videos and they had no negative weight on my experience). At 5 o’clock a salesman named Sergio came to me and told me I was done for the day and would be making a delivery. He told me I would be running these documents to College Station (which I though might have been near Angelo State University). But then I was told it would be a quick 3 to 3 and a half hour drive to Bryan, TX (College Station) and I would need to get the documents signed and bring them back the same night. Being new I said okay, and took the documents. I figured I could get back by 11-12 and since Jamie was going to be gone until 9:30 anyway it seemed like a good night to do it. About an hour into my trip I realized there was no possible way I could get there in 3 and a half hour. I called Sergio and his only concern was that I got there in time for the client to be able to sign the papers. The trip is listed on Mapquest as 5 hours and 6 minutes. The Autoplex sent me on a ten hour drive after eight hours of work at 5pm at night with no notice or even an offer to put me into a hotel in case I got tired. I was told the trip shouldn't take long as long as I went fast. Please keep in mind this was my first time driving around Texas since I moved here one month ago and as many of you know I don't have the best sense of direction. There was no concern for my safety throughout the trip. Sergio, the salesman who’s sale it was (I believe he was splitting the sale with another man) did not care enough about the sale to go himself instead he sent a new employee with no understanding of any of the forms. Sergio printed out directions to Bryan, TX from Google maps... but just to Bryan, TX and not to the man's home. Luckily, unlike the rest of the delinquents working at the dealership I have a college degree and had a back up plan in case something like this happened, instead had brought my Garmin. On a side note, I was driving a 2008 GMC through some questionable towns. Every restroom stop was filled with people who looked as though they could be prime suspects on any episode of Law and Order SVU.

When I arrived at the customer, Stephen Blavier’s house, he was a great guy. He was an assistant coach for Brett Favre when he played for Texas Tech. Stephen has a Master’s degree and was a math professor for twenty years. He had asked Sergio about the interest and Sergio had told him "it wasn’t bad". Stephen saw the interest rate at 17.65% and immediately refused because Sergio had misled him. After about an hour of conversation between Sergio and a finance manager, Stephen closed the conversation offering to put me up in a hotel to Sergio. Sergio said no and to send me back. By this time it was about 11pm and I was beginning the second half of a completely unnecessary trip. I had at least 5 hours going back as it would all be at night. I was driving a company car and did my best to drive safe considering the 73 deer I counted standing along the road. When I was driving through Copperas Cove it was about 1:15 in the morning and I was on the phone with my mom when I saw a police officer pull a u-turn. Sure enough he pulled me over. He asked what I was doing out and I told him a long story with all of the details (as I am doing here). He was laughing through the whole story and at the end he asked how I liked San Angelo. Apparently he went to Angelo State University. I told him I had applied for a few jobs there but hadn't received anything yet. So Gary (the cop) gave me his old boss's name at ASU to contact and to tell him "my buddy Gary told me to call". After we were done talking he told me the speed limit was 40 through town and he had clocked me at just over 50 and that I should drive careful the rest of the way. I didn't get a ticket, just a connection. I called his old boss and am working on another position at Angelo State but who knows what will come of that.

Fortunately for the company I made it home safely. It was clear to both the customer and I that the sale was more important than the safety of the employee. I arrived home at 4:30am after a 20 hour and 30 minute second day of work. Sergio told me before I left that they were going to promote him to team leader.

I told them if the kind of dishonesty Sergio used is rewarded with promotions, then Lithia is not a company I will be a part of. In such a competitive industry with such a large turnover rate, I would expect the company to treat their employees with dignity and respect because they may become your top salesperson.

I was dissapointed with my personal experience but in the end if I was completely honest, I am glad I have that endlessly long story.

Jamie on TV!

Jamie was interviewed by the San Angelo news! She does a great job getting information out. Watch it below.