Profile of Success

 

Nan S. (#2121) is a former high school math teacher and coach from Indiana who settled in the Bay Area of California in 1980, and after 22 years moved to Grass Valley. She is happily married to Bob and has an 18-year old son, 2 rescue dogs, and a cat. They live in their dream home located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.  Nan is very active in volunteer opportunities in her area and also works part time at a winery's tasting room. Her career path leading up to her semi-retired status has seemingly paved her way into the Shure Pets business.

Nan says, "I found myself in a most precarious situation after moving to California. With a degree in education, I could not get a teaching job! So I took a less-than-desirable job as a junior clerk at a computer company that trained people from all over the world how to digitally design automotive parts, circuit boards, and architect buildings...Within 15 months at the company, I worked my way up through the ranks and became a full-fledged CAD instructor, but as luck would have it, 20% of our company was laid off the day I taught my first class. Disappointed and unsure how I was going to pay my rent, I got a recommendation from a friend, and one month later, with this new computer skill under my belt, I took a 10 year job at Lockheed teaching CAD, PC and MAC classes to engineers and administrators, facilitated the New Employee Orientation classes, and served on the Lockheed Recreation Board of Directors. The best thing was that I was TEACHING! It's amazing how I took that seemingly awful position as a junior clerk, yet it all turned into a huge benefit that, unknown to me at the time, prepared me for every other position in my life, and where I am today with Shure Pets. The common thread between all the ups and downs was my attitude and how I accepted life's curve balls. I ducked, swerved, and swung at a few of those balls - but when I struck out, I always did it with my head held high, and used the brokenness as a place to start over and grow."

Nan has been to Uganda twice to support her church's involvement with a group of women and orphaned children. She finds a lot of similarities between Shure Pets and the organization she worked with in Uganda. Nan says "they are both organizations that are trying to teach people life skills - and empower men and women to make some money so their lives are better."

Even though Nan says she is still quite busy even being semi-retired, her priorities remain in balance.  "I have learned to say "no!", and my passion to build my Shure Pets business and help others grow theirs is at the top of my list."