I‘ve never been a social person - no one in my family is. We’re more the “family first” types, and so we don’t go out with friends very often. Because of that, friendships at work become even more important than they might otherwise. Work itself becomes more important - because I love my friends, I love my work, and I put more of myself into it.

After four years at my current job, I’m pretty invested. The people there who I call friends mean more to me than I can possibly put into words. I’ve learned so much from each of them, and I’ve received so much more than I ever expected I would. They have blessed my life in a thousand ways.

As I look back at my time at Dobson, it has been punctuated by so many memories…

My initial experiences on the phones with no training, except for a couple of days listening to and watching Micah, one of the most talented phone professionals I’ve ever known.

My time as a team lead when I took over 100 escalated calls a day, did a ton of my supervisor’s paperwork, took incoming calls and did all the cancellations for our region. If it hadn’t been for one sassy little girl named Andrion, I’d have never survived. As different as we are in age and culture and experience, I grew to love that smart, funny, talented young lady, and I couldn’t care for her more if she were my own daughter.

My time as a sales trainer when I was lucky enough to get to travel to so many small towns in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and Missouri and meet so many wonderful people. I will always think of Kristi, Danny, Stormy, Kelly, Steve, Keith and so many other wonderful sales gurus with great affection. With such difficult jobs to do, they are all great successes, and I know no one with bigger hearts.

My time as Project Manager of Internal Communications when I had the indescribable pleasure of working with the most talented people I know - Kathy, my friend and shoulder, who works harder than just about anyone I know; Kathleen, who has entertained me with her quick wit, buoyed me when I was down and wowed me with her amazing speaking skills; Ken, who has engaged me in some of the best conversations I’ve ever had; Jarred, who is mature beyond his years, funny and talented to no end and has a heart of gold; Shannon, who let me boss her around and saved me from myself a hundred times; Amanda, who’s tough as nails and an extremely talented communicator; Diane, who has taught me that even Yankees can be lovable; Michael, who shares my love of Jedi mind tricks; Joyce, who amazes me with her amazing wit, strength and courage; and Lori, who’s sharp as a tack and shares my love for the Beatles. Heather, Dan, Court, Heidi and the other wonderful trainers…awesome people who have done so much for me.

Getting to work with my wonderful son, Michael, who is talented beyond measurement and doesn’t even know it.

And there are so many other people there who have come to mean so much to me - the HR gang (such funny, sweet amazing women)…Cindy, Justin, Russell, Braxton, Bill, Thom, Terry, Miriam, Danny, Jason, Lori, Jackie, Rick, Andrea, Frank, April, Karla, Sara, Crystal, Nick and so many more of you. If I named you all, I’d never be able to get through this. You know who you are. :)

You have all made such an impression on me. You all mean SO much to me.

So, it should be no surprise that leaving you is so hard for me to do. I am filled with truly mixed emotions - excitement that I don’t have to search for months to find a decent job and sadness that I can’t be with you and just go on doing the great work we’ve been doing for all these years. I desperately want to take you all with me - to start something new and wonderful and show the world what we’re truly worth. We could so wow them!

But that is not possible, and so tomorrow I bid you all my fondest adieu. I know each of you will come out of this on top, carving out even better niches for yourself one by one. I just wish I could be there to see it.

I love you guys.

I miss you already. Thanks for being my friends.

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