Tell Me About Yourself

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.