The best place to start is
a introduction of the principle characters. That would be me: Alex. As of
this summer I earned an Associate degree from the Oakland Community College
paralegal program. Core paralegal classes dealt with civil law, with special topics
like probate, immigration, criminal, and other areas. The program covered
everything from substantive law (contracts and torts) to research and writing.
As part of this experience an opportunity to be an unpaid intern at the MI
Attorney Grievance Commission presented itself.
The MI Attorney Grievance
Commission (AGC) is the proprietorial arm of the MI Supreme Court that handles
complaints about attorneys. The primary area that utilized my assistance was
the Trust Account Overdraft Notices...banks are required to notify the AGC if a
lawyers trust account is overdrawn...and receiverships. This was a great
experience and exposed me to a variety of activities.
This
newly gained fancy-pants learning is built on years of real world work
experience in various venues. Most recently in the auto industry, where I last
worked as an assistant buyer / expediter for a local automotive supplier. We
were, literally, the nuts and bolts of the vehicles: Selling fasteners to
tiered suppliers and the OEM's. My special niche was dealing with the overseas
suppliers. That included authorizing shipments and coordinating with our
logistics company and tracking shipments in transit for estimated delivery
times. The position included monitoring stock levels, customer requirements,
and delivery dates from our suppliers.
An
earlier position, with a different supplier, was that of plant receptionist and
payroll clerk. Working under the HR department was illuminating. How some
people game them system to their best advantage while others act conduct
themselves as adults. This was the manager that taught me “90% of the rules are
made for 3% of the people.” While the numbers are grabbed out of the air…the
lesson was clear.
Between
those two positions was an opportunity to work for one of the Big Three,
starting as a support for the buyers of the electrical team. In this position I
would enter contract changes and correction, make part number changes, create
presentations, or all sorts of support activity. More than simple
administrative support this involved creativity and analysis. So much so, that
I got a “promotion” to be a buy for ALL antennas and infotainment cables for GM
vehicles. That role involved managing 15 suppliers which involved sourcing new
parts, market testing existing parts, negotiating price reductions, and dealing
with routine business matters with the supplier.
Before
the automotive business was retail bookselling: A general bookstore, Metro News
Center, and a specialty one, Construction Bookstore. The general public can
present unique challenges, because for every couple of wonderful customers who
are nice to assist there’s the one that just has to try a retail person’s last
nerve. But, have to be professional and do the job as best as possible. I realize
now that if it paid a living wage, ‘bookseller’ would be my job of choice.
The first
type of jobs I worked was basic customer service: Receptionist for Hospice of
SE Michigan and teller at Michigan National Bank. It was my role to assist
customers, patients, and family members in a variety of ways. It was in these
positions that the first lessons in teamwork were taught. Everyone has a part
to do if we’re to successfully meet the needs of the people we’re serving.
This was to be a quick introduction. Evidently summarizing a
professional life of eleven employers (not all represented here) over 27 years
covering five industries doesn’t lend itself to an Elevator Speech. But it does
suggest what this experienced worker brings with him as this adventure in
writing commences.
