‘DOESN’T MATTER WHERE YOU START’
New Service Center Directors Grew In Their Careers
Two of our newest service center directors, DAVID PARKER in Gadsden and DEXTER MCMILLER in Houston, have experienced career growth at Averitt. They also have practical advice that can help you take the next step in your Averitt journey. ‘THE CYCLE JUST CONTINUES’ David came to Averitt in 2000 as a part-time dock associate in Gadsden and eventually went full time. In 2002, David transferred to Birmingham for a regional admin position, then he moved back to Gadsden as a frontline leader. In 2012, David moved to a sales position and stayed there until his recent promotion. “Averitt wants to help you grow, because if Averitt invests in you and you invest in the company, we all do well,” David explains. “The company grows, you grow, and the cycle just continues.” While David did a bit of moving during his career journey, he says there are opportunities that can fit everyone’s personal situation. “The good part about Averitt is, if you need to stay where you are, you can do that,” he says. “I know people who have worked the dock for 30 years, and they like doing that. If you're somebody who wants to move up the ladder, or you want to move from Texas to Virginia, or Miami to Milwaukee, you can do that. Whatever you want to do, there's a spot for you to do that.” STABILITY AND UPWARD MOBILITY Dexter, meanwhile, came to Averitt because his previous employer had been bought out by another carrier. “I could see the writing on the wall, ‘This is not going to last,’” Dexter recalls. “So I tried to get out of there as soon as I could. I knew a lot of people in the industry, so I asked around to a lot of people I respected. They said, We love to Promote From Within, because leaders who have grown up in our culture know what it means to be an Averitt associate, and they know how to pass that culture on to the next generation of associates.
New service center directors DAVID PARKER (above, left) and DEXTER MCMILLER (above, center) have experienced growth in their Averitt careers.
‘Have you thought about Averitt?’” Dexter took their advice and made the move. Once he did, he realized Averitt could be his long-term career home. “I started seeing the structure of the company, and I said, ‘There’s probably a good opportunity here for me to do something more down the road,’” Dexter says. “I’ve been going at it ever since.” When SCOTT HARRIS was promoted to Region 6 Vice President of Sales, Dexter was promoted from his previous role as Director of Corporate Business Development. Dexter says one of the biggest keys to career growth is preparing for that next opportunity. “It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish,” he says. “If you’re starting on the dock or in operations support or whatever role you’re in, make sure you’re putting forth the effort and work to move up. There are always opportunities that pop up somewhere. But you’ve got to be prepared when the opportunity comes. Whatever level you’re at, master that position and volunteer and learn about other positions so you’ll be ready when those opportunities come up.” Dexter adds that having a team-first mindset is also important. “I’ve always been somebody who is willing to help out,” he says. “And that’s probably one of the things that leadership saw in me. At my previous employer, some of the people were not so willing to help. They were very territorial and not willing to extend that helping hand. I always said that if I ever got into a position where I could help other people, I wanted to do that.” RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW If you’re ready to take your next step, we encourage you to check out our Opportunities Page! There, you’ll find a list of open positions by state, a link to our Job Hotline, information about our Leadership Development and Dock- To-Driver Training programs, and video testimonials of how we Promote From Within. To learn more, visit InsideAveritt.com/Opportunities . T m
SAVE THE DATE: AUGUST 16 It’s never too early to start preparing for one of our favorite traditions – the Averitt Cares for Kids Family Softball Tournament ! This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16 , and it will once again be held in Cookeville. This year marks the third time the softball tournament has been held in Cookeville, and for good reason. The last two years, we’ve hosted record numbers of associates, family members and friends. We’ve received incredibly positive feedback on the venue, so we can’t wait to see you there again! Remember that as always, the Averitt Cares for
Family Softball Tournament Returns To Cookeville
Kids Family Softball Tournament is a free, family- friendly day with plenty of food, drinks, fun and softball action for you and your family. Continuing with our tradition, there will also be activities, face- painting and games available for kids. In addition to the highlights on the field, the tournament is an opportunity to put a spotlight on Averitt Charities and our support for the good works of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you’ve never attended the softball tournament, we hope you’ll mark your calendars for Aug. 16 and make plans to attend! T m
COMMUNITY CHALLENGE matters
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