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We Celebrate Darla’s 30 Years at Glen-L

On January 14, 2011, in News From Gayle, by Gayle Brantuk
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Today is the 30 year anniversary that our Office Manager, Darla Schooler, began working at Glen-L Marine. She started with us back in 1981 when she still had her two daughters at home and before grandchildren, soccer games and a second home in Arizona.

Darla--Happy 30-year Anniversary!

Darla on phone sometime in the 80’s

You can imagine how much knowledge Darla has picked up after 30 years of talking with guys building boats, proofreading all of the Glen-L books and instructions and reading the forum. She has become a valuable part of the Glen-L team over the years…

When Darla began work at Glen-L, we didn’t have computers. Can you imagine? In fact, Ken Hankinson was still working for us as one of our designers and we had recently purchased a giant Word Processor.  Not sure that Goliath ever did pay for itself.

The accounting was done on this huge Burroughs bookkeeping machine that only Darla knew how to work. In fact, she had actually had a class on using this machine in College. Darla learned of the job here because her neighbor LaVonne was moving out of state and had been working for us for quite a few years. So, she recommend Darla for the position and Glen hired her.

Book keeping machine

Book keeping machine similar to the one Darla operated

Her duties at Glen-L have obviously changed quite a bit from when she started. Instead of entering orders by typing up labels and making file cards, everything  is now done by computer. Instead of clearing each credit card payment by hand by entering it in a little terminal, it’s done with a click of a button.

As long as I can remember, Darla has had the title of Office Manager. And that is just what she does. She is responsible for answering the phones and taking customer orders. She processes all of the orders each day and handles all the payments and reports. She does the purchasing of all our products, prepares all the accounting figures for our book keeper each month, does payroll, pays bills, and whatever else comes up in the course of a day.

In addition to these tasks she also has had to put up with all our family members over the years (me included)–that requires additional learned skills :) of which she has become proficient.

From my point of view, we are very blessed to have Darla on our team. She is trustworthy which is so important. It is a very comforting feeling to know that I can take a day off here or there and am confident that Darla will take care of everything. This has been the case for many years and I hope we don’t take her for granted because we are sure thankful for her.

Happy 30-Year Anniversary Darla!

Jack & Darla at Christmas, 2007

When Darla’s not at work, she spends time with her husband Jack going to her grand kid’s soccer or baseball games. They also have a home in Arizona that they can escape to from time to time. She has two daughters, Jackie and Denise who live close by and are both married with two children each.

Darla today

Darla at her desk a couple of days ago

We’re having a dinner celebration for Darla tonight at a nice restraunt on the water in Long Beach with her family. I hope we can convey to her just how much we appreciate all she does and has done all these years and for her loyalty to Glen-L. I personally thank you Darla for your friendship over the years…

 

 

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