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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781491810491 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | AuthorHouse |
| Publication date: | 08/15/2013 |
| Pages: | 220 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d) |
Read an Excerpt
Professional Career Paths
By Ronald W. Holmes
AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2013 Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4918-1049-1
CHAPTER 1
Career Cluster: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources
Farmer, James Mays
There are over 285 million people living in the U.S. according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Of that population, less than one percent are farmers – operating approximately two million farms. While farms and farmers have declined significantly since the 1930s, the demand for agricultural products has increased. The demand is being met with the aid of large farm equipment, improved crop varieties, commercial pesticides and fertilizers.
A farm is any establishment that has produced or sold $1,000 or more agricultural products during a year according to the USEPA. Ninety percent of farms are owned or operated by individuals or families. James Mays is owner operator of the Mays Family Farm in Lee County, Georgia.
What interested you in this profession?
I enjoyed helping my dad and uncles as a child growing up on the farm. As a fourth generation farmer in the Mays family, I was the only one of my siblings who wanted to take over the family farm. Watching my dad as a child made farming seem like a cool job, especially since my dad was his own boss. I also wanted to farm because I enjoy watching plants grow from a seed to large plants.
What professional training is essential for this occupation?
Basically, anyone with a desire to farm and has five acres or more can be a farmer. With five acres you can sign up at the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to gain all the rights to all government programs and services. I learned all the proper procedures to be a good farmer by watching my dad and uncles.
I knew in high school that I wanted to run the farm, so I took all the Future Farmers of America (FFA) classes, as well as the 4H classes. I attend classes several times a year through Lee County's agency office. The county educates farmers on the proper way for planting, preparing the land, fertilizing the land and using chemicals.
I initially learned how to apply chemicals as a teenager from my uncle Bob (Robert) Mays who has a degree in chemistry. When my dad farmed, they could get pesticides and herbicides with no problem. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed 20 years ago in that farmers must attend classes in their county government building to get a license to purchase farm pesticides and herbicides. In my region, some of the classes are held in Plains, Georgia and at Fort Valley State University.
What advice do you give to students who desire to pursue a career as a farmer?
I would advise any student interested in farming to make sure that they take all the FFA classes in high school, 4H classes and to get a degree in agriculture from Fort Valley State University or University of Georgia.
What is your typical work day?
I start my day by checking the oil in all of my equipment to be used that day. Of course, each day is different depending on the time of the year. Spring is the busiest time of the year for planting peanuts, cotton and soybeans, which have to be planted by the end of May. Each one of these crops takes approximately 120 – 150 days before harvest time depending on the weather. Outside of planting, many days are spent picking up parts and giving instructions to workers.
Once all the crops are planted, we have to spray all fields with pesticides and herbicides and sometimes walk the fields and pull wild weeds. In mid fall, we are busy harvesting the peanuts, cotton and soybeans. The pressure is on to get the crops out of the field between rainstorms and before the hard cold hits. Wheat is planted behind the peanuts to be harvested in the spring during April or the beginning of May. As always, weather determines when the process begins and ends.
There is always something to do on the farm, even during the off season, with tilling the land in preparation for the next planting season, working on equipment, shopping for the best prices for seeds, fertilizing the land, using the chemical and talking with bankers to secure operating loans for the next farm season.
In addition, the county agent classes are usually held during the off-season at the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University to update farmers on new procedures involving the pesticides and herbicides in order for farmers to maintain their chemical license.
James Mays passed away before the printing of this book. In addition to being a great farmer, he was known for being hardworking, generous and loyal to his family.
CHAPTER 2
Career Cluster: Architecture and Construction
Construction Company Owner, Ken Adams
Ken Adams is the owner of R.K. Adams Construction, Inc. a family owned business in Tallahassee, Florida since 1982. The company specializes in commercial and residential, custom homes, kitchen and bathrooms, additions and remodels, cabinet installation, project management, certified home inspections, insurance damage restoration, etc. R.K. Adams Construction's mission is to provide the highest quality of craftsmanship and attention to detail to ensure that every project is built to last.
What career path led to your profession?
We have a family history in construction. As a child, I always was around the business and it became very natural to me. I have worked in the business since high school in the construction trade during summer jobs and full-time employment. While I tried other career paths, I always came back to the building trade.
What educational background and/or professional training are essential for this profession?
For the 21st century, I would say that an education in accounting and business are essential for the construction industry. The industry is much more competitive and the tests require much more accounting than actual building knowledge. In my opinion, most builders are lacking the necessary skills in the trade. It is important that you maintain the required knowledge for the business by attending continuing education classes pertaining to the laws in the construction industry every two years. It is also important to network with other businesses. Reputation is always your best advertisement.
What influenced you to pursue a career in your profession?
My love for this type of work keeps me in it. I enjoy creating something from an idea. I do all of the hands on work such as cabinet installation, additions and remodels. I learned these skills from on the job experience.
What professional, civic or community organization do you belong?
I am a member of the Florida Home Builders and Chamber of Commerce. I coach youth baseball, and I am involved in my church.
What advice do you give to students who desire to pursue a career as owner of a construction company?
Students should know that being in the construction business is very much influenced by the economy. Be careful in growing too fast and putting yourself on a limb with unsold inventory such as spec homes. Be smart. I was able to keep from failing or going under during the recession of the 1980s and in the past few years by not overbuilding and growing too fast. It also helped that I have the skills of doing the work myself. Remodeling work has paid my bills when I had nothing else. You never know when you may have to hammer a nail to put food on the table. Don't be too proud to think that is beneath you. Keep enough cash flow in your business for that rough year because it will happen to you. In this business, you can be sure of that.
What is your typical work day?
On a typical day, I work from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It begins with planning and scheduling with employees and subcontractors to coordinate each project. When you own the business, you are working 24/7. While you may physically end your day, you are always preparing for the next day in your mind or on paper.
CHAPTER 3
Career Cluster: Arts, Audio/Visual Technology and Communications
Art Gallery Owner, Andre Guichard
Andre Guichard is an artist, national curator and co-owner of Gallery Guichard in Chicago, Illinois. The gallery represents artists from around the world while specializing in art of the African diaspora. The gallery hosts several local, national and international exhibits as well as participated in the 2013 Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage. All of the gallery's work is original and includes paintings, sculptures, ceramics and furniture. Guichard lives with his wife Frances and has been in business with her for eight years.
What career path led to your profession?
With my father being an artist, I was raised in a home where art was all over the house. My immediate family and I enjoyed viewing the beautiful paintings and sculptures. Although art was in my DNA, I went to college and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics at Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois. Afterwards, I interned and worked at State Farm Insurance for eight years in customer service, underwriting and claims. I facilitated training to various employees in this job. I was also very active in Toastmasters to hone my communication skills. These experiences prepared me to return to my childhood roots. I have been painting professionally for 22 years, and my work can be found in over 2,000 corporate and private collections nationally and internationally.
What educational background and/or professional training are essential for your profession?
I believe training in this profession is critical. Frances and I did training with the Chicago Urban League (CUL). CUL has an entrepreneurship development program called NextOne that partners with Northwestern University to provide hands on experiences for running a business.
What influenced you to pursue a career in your profession?
As I was a young artist, there was an art gallery in Houston, Texas called Gallery 3921. The representatives of the gallery traveled to different venues including The New York Black Fine Art Show. Watching them work and seeing how they were successful as dealers inspired me to have an art gallery. Also, meeting my wife who is an artist and at the time, worked in management fostered a perfect match for our business.
What professional, civic or community organization do you belong?
I am a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the Chicago Urban League and Chicago DuSable Museum. I spearheaded the creation of the Bronzeville Arts District in Chicago. We host monthly trolley tours to galleries in Bronzeville. I am the national curator for Bacardi USA and spokesperson for Russell Simmons and Bombay Sapphire's Artisan Series. To celebrate emerging talents, I coordinate and judge over 4500 artist submissions nationally. In 2010, six of my paintings were featured on canvas totes in 7,000 Walgreen's stores nationwide as part of Walgreen's Community Corner program to diversify suppliers and help small businesses. I was also one of the featured artists at the San Alejandro University and the Blue Havana Circle Gallery in Havana, Cuba during the 2013 Havana Biennial.
What advice do you give to students who desire to pursue a career in your profession?
I recommend that they hone their craft and, particularly, find a craft that speaks to them. They should understand that you need business training as much as you need art training to successfully work in this profession full time.
Describe your typical work schedule?
Frances and I work collaboratively to discuss the plans for each day. Exhibits such as the one on the Tom Joyner Fantastic Voyage are planned six to eight months in advance. We book rental of the gallery which generates additional revenues. We work with interns in our art gallery for planning exhibits on the local, national and international levels. We also participate in special projects such as the new bridge program in South Africa.
Auto Upholstery, Claude Childs
Claude Childs is owner of Golden Touch Sunroof, an auto upholstery business in Conyers, Georgia. Childs specializes in sunroofs, convertible tops, custom and complete interiors, reupholstery and audio alarm systems.
What career path led to your profession?
I had no formal training. I did not attend a college or technical school for a career in auto upholstery. I learned the trade as an apprentice working alongside my older brother, Kenneth Childs at Custom Art Upholstery in Los Angeles in 1974 at the age of 21.
What educational background and/or professional training are essential for this profession?
For me, it was being an artist. I was very crafty and skillful with my hands. I sincerely believe my high school courses such as wood shop, art, drafting and metal shop contributed to my success in the auto upholstery business. These courses enabled me to become a successful upholsterer and owner of one of the top custom auto upholstery shops in Atlanta.
What influenced you to pursue a career as owner of an auto upholstery business?
My love and passion for automobiles and drawing skills in art greatly influenced me in pursuing a career in auto upholstery. I have a gift for coordinating colors for the interior of cars, and my customers love it.
What professional, civic or community organization do you belong?
In the past, I have been an active member of the Greater Faith Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia and the Better Business Bureau.
What advice do you give to students who desire to pursue a career in your profession?
Staying in school is essential to becoming a great entrepreneur. However, with the rising cost of getting a college degree, it is not necessary for a career in upholstery. I strongly advise students to find a good upholstery shop and pursue their passion by learning the trade as an intern or as an apprentice. I have hired several students straight out of a technical school for automotive. They knew a lot about small engine repair and auto mechanics but very little about auto upholstery.
Describe your typical work day?
My work day begins at 5:00 a.m. As a small business operator, I carefully plan my activities for the day. I am very organized, and I think things through at that time. After opening the shop at 9:00 a.m., I make room for a larger work area by moving cars outside of the shop. If customers are present, I meet, greet and attend to their needs, as well as give my technicians their work orders for the day. Next, I place orders for materials and supplies needed to complete auto upholstery and sunroof repair jobs. For the remainder of the day, I attend to appointments that have been scheduled. This includes giving estimates, repairing sunroofs, doing a convertible top, doing a headliner or doing a complete interior job with carpet, seats, dashboard and door panels. A typical work day is from 5:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with an hour lunch break. There are times when I work overtime for customers who are entering their vehicles in an upcoming auto show. Golden Touch Auto Upholstery and Sunroof Repairs have had numerous vehicles to walk away with cash or first place trophies. Pictures of the quality custom work from Claude Childs of Golden Touch Sunroof can be found at www.goldentouchsunroof.com.
Hair Salon, Amir Salmon
Amir Salmon, artistic director is co-owner of TAG Concept Salons, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. Amir is in business with his wife Gilda, Tracy Frasier and J Jeff Carr. As a team, Amir and Gilda have over 20 years of experience in hair care and styling techniques including international hair color lines. This consists of Logics, Wella, Vero, Clairol, Scruples and Alfaparf. While TAG Concept Salons specializes in natural hair care, it is also noted for providing excellent customer service to a diverse clientele. TAG Concept Salons has been featured in publications such as Black Enterprise, Essence, Try-It-Yourself Hair, Hype Hair and Sophisticated Black Hair. The business has also been highlighted on television shows such as The View, Maury Povich (makeover show), The Ricki Lake Show and Good Day New York.
What career path led to your profession?
For many years, I performed barber services on family and friends as a side gig. Employment challenges coupled with a desire to be more in control of my financial destiny caused me to begin considering a full-time career in cosmetology. My wife was a rising talented hair stylist in northern New Jersey and it offered a great opportunity for us to have a family business. We operated a hair salon in Paterson, New Jersey for five years. During that time, Essence Magazine named us one of the Top 100 Salons in the country and Black Enterprise used our salon in the book, Black Enterprise Guide To Starting Your Own Business by Wendy Beech in 1999. For fashion shows, we have been consultants for Project Runway contestant Kara Saun.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Professional Career Paths by Ronald W. Holmes. Copyright © 2013 Ronald W. Holmes, Ph.D.. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................... 1
DEDICATION.................... 2
INTRODUCTION.................... 3
CAREER CLUSTER: AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND NATURAL RESOURCES.................... 11
CAREER CLUSTER: ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION.................... 15
CAREER CLUSTER: ARTS, AUDIO/VISUAL TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS........... 19
CAREER CLUSTER: BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.................... 38
CAREER CLUSTER: EDUCATION AND TRAINING.................... 53
CAREER CLUSTER: FINANCE.................... 93
CAREER CLUSTER: GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.................... 99
CAREER CLUSTER: HEALTH SCIENCE.................... 109
CAREER CLUSTER: HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM.................... 140
CAREER CLUSTER: HUMAN SERVICES.................... 147
CAREER CLUSTER: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.................... 159
CAREER CLUSTER: LAW, PUBLIC SAFETY, CORRECTIONS AND SECURITY............... 166
CAREER CLUSTER: MANUFACTURING.................... 174
CAREER CLUSTER: MARKETING, SALES AND SERVICE.................... 179
CAREER CLUSTER: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS........... 186
CAREER CLUSTER: TRANSPORTATION, DISTRIBUTION AND LOGISTICS................. 196
SCHOOLS: BEST PRACTICES.................... 203
REFERENCES.................... 207