I recently celebrated two milestones, my sixth year of being employed at Bookmans and two years of handling Community Relations for our Phoenix and Mesa locations. It seems like only yesterday I was working behind a hotel front desk when one of our guests told me he was the contractor for a new bookstore opening up around the corner. Imagine my excitement when I found out who it was. I had been shopping at the Mesa and Flagstaff locations for about five years at that point. The next day he brought in a business card for the store's manager and said they were hiring. I sent off my resume and received a call back to schedule an interview. Based on previous experiences, I had dressed up but felt over-dressed when I was greeted by a gentlemen wearing a Ramones t-shirt and beanie cap. Long story short, that was the coolest day of my life. I had been hired by what I considered to be the mecca of my interests in pop-culture.

When I started at Bookmans Phoenix, I worked in the Electronics Department. I remember a week where we did nothing but clean old cartridge games and test out video game systems in preparations for the store's opening. Every day I went home smelling like dust and rubbing alcohol and my nails were a mess but I was happy. Working the trade counter is probably my all-time favorite part of my previous position. I learned so much about so many different things. My taste in books has changed over the last six years. I've expanded my horizons in music ten-fold. Not to mention enjoying the variety of the odds and ends of trinkets our customers bring in.

I cannot express how enjoyable it is to have great conversations with my co-workers and our amazing supporters every single day. I appreciate that I get to share my passion for who we are as a company with an entire city. Thank you to everyone for making my job as enjoyable as it is. I am grateful that I have the ability to go home every single day with a smile on my face and look forward to going to work the next day. How many people can say that? Thank you Katy Ransom, when you hired me you changed my life!