Chapter 25

GUY & MADELYN

Madelyn chose to talk with Roger from Sales first. Guy let her handle it, and she started by telling Roger “We are committed to promoting as many key people from the existing staff as we feel can do the job. From what we have found out, only you and Rachel would be reasonable candidates for the top Sales job. We want to find out what your interests and career plans are.”

“You mean when I plan to retire, don’t you?” Roger quipped. “Let me make a suggestion. I have been here almost since day one, and I know every customer’s history. We have never had a customer support organization like most companies do. We have also never had a product management function. Let me set up one or a combination of both of those functions. Give Rachel the top Sales job.”

“Other than your history with the customers, why would you choose that over Sales?” Guy asked.

“It probably doesn’t even say it in the personnel records,” Roger explained, “but I went to trade school to become a machinist. Back in the day, I pretty much got drafted into Sales. I’ve always been the one to bird dog production to make sure customers get their orders. I guess you could say production is my first love.”

“What kind of shape is Production in right now?” Guy pressed.

“The consultants must have told you,” Roger answered. “The VP of Manufacturing was family and pretty useless. He’s gone now, and I worry about the, uh, vacuum.”

Guy looked at Madelyn and discovered that they could talk without words. After her imperceptible nod, he challenged Roger “How big a risk would we be taking if we made you VP of Manufacturing?”

Roger actually gulped, then coughed for a moment. After apologizing, he answered “You would probably look foolish to outsiders. But I honestly believe I have done more to ensure stuff gets out the door than the departed guy. There’s a hell of a lot I don’t know, but I know the people on the floor very well, and I know what the customers need.”

“I suspect that Manufacturing needs massive upgrades and reorganizations in a lot of areas,” Guy pointed out. “Will you be comfortable managing those changes?”

“Maybe you have heard that I have been pushing for all kinds of changes for a long time,” Roger answered. “I will relish the chance.”

“Would you unofficially promise to work past sixty-five if things were not ready to be handed over?”

At that point, Roger did the drowning fish bit, then “Damned right I would!”

“Roger, we’re hoping that by elevating key existing employees that we think have escaped the complacency disease we can reenergize the whole company and get back to a growth mode. More than anything, what we would expect from you is energy, optimism, and enthusiasm while you catch up with what you don’t know. If you think consultants can help you, we’ll talk about that. We did not come in here even thinking about you for the job, but I am offering it to you. Madelyn will have to work up the package.”

After Roger had left and Madelyn was waiting to call Rachel in, she asked him “Instinct?”

He knew what she meant and nodded. “He is a big link to the company’s history who is willing to help lead it into the future. The effect on other employees should be huge. That is what I am going to emphasize in the announcement.”

Rachel looked worried when she came in and Madelyn guessed why. She took the lead and told Rachel “We just promoted Roger to VP of Manufacturing.”

After a look of complete shock, Rachel broke into a huge grin. “Janet told me that we could stop worrying about the company’s future and all of our jobs would be safe. That was hard to believe after the last few years. But now I believe her. That took guts, but I think it is brilliant. He may have been in Sales, but Roger knew more about production than the idiot who was in charge. Besides Janice, there is no one in the company people trust more.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Guy told her. “That means you will work well with him if you accept the job of VP of Sales.”

“Of course I’ll accept it! Boyd already mentioned how you want to change the systems, and I can’t wait.”

“Who do you think we will lose when your promotion is announced?” Madelyn asked.

“I’m not sure anyone will leave on their own. I hope I have the power to let a couple of people go, though.”

“Of course you do,” Guy assured her. “Could I ask the main reasons.”

Nodding, Rachel told them “One man is all tied up in the wheeler-dealer style of sales. He continually makes deals with the customer that we just can’t live with. When we have to back off, he bad mouths Sales management. Now, previous management deserved a lot of bad-mouthing, but that can’t be allowed. Besides, he will never work for me. One woman just can’t seem to close anything.”

“Does she work hard at it?”

“She does. She should be doing something else.”

“Well, I want to talk about structuring sales more in two or three person teams with only one actually pounding the pavement,” Guy said. “Maybe she would fit in that role.”

“Does this promotion have to be kept secret for a while?”

“Definitely not!” Guy exclaimed. “We told everyone it was a new world. We certainly won’t keep proof of that secret. Why do you ask?”

“Because I am like Boyd. I’ve had a lot of people telling me I was foolish to stay here. I can’t wait to tell them all that I was right!”

Guy made a quick decision. “I want to have a formal introduction of the new officers around a catered lunch on Friday. I will also talk about any other plans that have been decided. I hope each of you can say just a few words.”

The announcement luncheon really did not have much to announce. All of the news had spread instantly. It did, however, give Guy a chance to strongly endorse the new directors, and to urge all employees to follow their example of loyalty, energy, and innovation.

Warren Magnuson was there and spent a few minutes with each of the new officers. Taking a chance, Boyd asked Warren “Mr. Magnuson, is there someone among your companies that you consider a real innovator in applying new communications and technologies? I would really like to learn from them.”

“You know, Boyd, you will soon be right at the leading edge,” Warren answered thoughtfully. “I cannot think of anyone who has had a clean slate like you have. Your question, though, has me wondering. I don’t believe there is much interaction between our various companies in the way you suggest. I suspect we could all benefit from more sharing.

“Boyd, I don’t like to micro-manage, as you may have heard. However, I sense that some of the things you want to do could be very useful at other companies. I would appreciate it if you would send me a message when you reach significant points in your plans. I would like to look at what you have done more closely. As far as I know, you will be on the leading edge among all of our companies.

“I will tell you one thing I can help you take advantage of,” Warren went on. “All technology vendors have strong, innovative technical people. Usually, they are not in sales. When you feel you need access to those people, I will help by having other of our companies sit in on presentations. I know the Magnuson name draws attention and it is one form of help I can easily offer.

Jenny’s had an unprecedented six new openings. Besides his two ‘wives’, Hanford ended up hiring four women for permanent positions. One each in the childcare and food service positions. The other two were hired by Boyd for web design and network maintenance.

Amanda Caruthers was put thru two interviews for the network maintenance job, largely because she just did not look like the type. No more than five feet tall, it would be surprising if she registered one hundred pounds. On top of that, she had a baby doll face. There was no doubt she was amazingly bright. She had finished third in her large high school. But she had taken shop for an elective, and done extremely well. At Jenny’s, she was known as Miss Fixit. But mainly, she immediately caught Boyd’s, then Madelyn’s attention when she opened with a plan. “I can do the maintenance, if that is what you want, I can handle anything that comes up during the workday, believe me. But I think the way to get through this pretty short initial period is to have one or two part timers, probably college guys, working after hours. That way, there should be smooth starts to every day.”

She expressed the opinion that she wanted most of all to get in early on anything new so she could become the expert on new equipment and apps. Madelyn asked her if she could handled giving direction to the after hours employee, quite likely a guy. Amanda blew her away with her reply: “Can I hire him or her?” Madelyn had too much experience to act shocked, but as she was staring at the young mom, Amanda added, I see this as an unbelievable chance for a decent life for me and my son. I will give it everything I’ve got. First, it was Jenny’s, then Hanford. I am just so grateful!”

Madelyn was blown away by the tiny girl’s composure and confidence. She knew that Boyd had plenty to do without getting involved further with network maintenance, so she went ahead and did the hire. “Let’s get you all signed up, then, Amanda. I will send out word to several local colleges and we should have some candidates in a few days. Uh, do you have some work clothes with you?” Amanda just nodded and went to change.

CAMMIE & CALEB

`

Since the day she first undressed at the Marshalls’, Cammie had been changing in numerous ways. When she finally moved in, she totally abandoned the ‘camouflage’ clothes assigned by her mother, and that freed her psychologically to interact with her classmates as she never had before. Of course being seen with Krissy, who was herself emerging as an unleashed ‘babe’, helped Cammie’s visibility and confidence a lot.

Among several children from her parents church that were in her high school, Cammie had probably known Caleb Swenson the longest. Their respective parents used to commiserate about the impossibility of keeping the two from running around the church together when they were pre-school age. Actually, their mothers were somewhat related.

Since puberty, Cammie had just avoided contact with her childhood friend. Because her mother’s efforts to make her look and feel dumpy and unattractive were so successful, she felt unworthy to talk to Caleb. Caleb was large, strong, fast, and a promising football prospect. Little did Cammie know the burden he was carrying.

One of the Lindsey’s boys who came out to do the Martial arts classes was in an AP class with both Cammie and Caleb. When the boy, Tod, greeted Cammie before class, she smiled and chatted with him a moment. When she turned away from Tod, Cammie caught a look of surprise and sadness on Caleb’s face. With her own surprise and some embarrassment, she wondered why she and her old friend could not at least greet each other. She did not do anything to approach Caleb right away. After all, he was an athlete, and her self-confidence, while growing, did not reach that far yet.

What Cammie did do was look around at lunch and find that Caleb ate in the same period and that he sat at a table with other players, but did not seem to be a real part of the group. It took three more days of not being able to get Caleb out of her mind before she finally approached him before class. “Caleb, any chance I could join you for lunch? I’d like to catch up with what has been happening with you.”

“Catch up with me?” Caleb exclaimed. “I’d sure like to find out how you disappeared from church, but your parents are still there. How about whoever is there first grab one of those small tables?” She agreed and they sat down for class.

At lunch Caleb could not wait to find out. “How did you get out of going to church. I thought your parents were as bad as mine about that.”

“At least,” Cammie answered. “Caleb, I moved out. I’m living with the Marshalls - you know, Krissy and Pen.”

“But how ... they sure aren’t in our church.”

“They don’t go to church at all,” Cammie told him. “But you know what? The Marshalls have lots of something our parents’ church has wrung out of them. They’ve got honest to goodness love.”

“How did you ever escape?”

“Well, I have been friends with Krissy for years. Along with another friend of ours, Jess, I spent most of my free time at the Marshalls’. I started keeping some halfway decent clothes in my locker and changing at school. One of the church girls ratted me out and I had a huge blowup with my mother. I showed up at the Marshalls’ at 2am and I’ve been there ever since.

“Of course, my parents showed up to take me home. Guy, Mr. Marshall, had all of the legal facts why they couldn’t force me to live at their house, and it’s my home, now. I’m happy like I’ve never been.”

“It shows, Cammie. I’ve noticed it lately. It makes me ... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t feel this way, but it makes me jealous. You look good, really good.”

“Well I can wear stuff that shows I have some kind of shape. And I’m losing some weight, too. Thanks for the compliment. You know, I went years without any, just criticism. It sounds like things are not so good for you. What’s happening?”

“I guess you just missed the announcement. Our denomination has managed to start a school in town. Guess what? My mother decided my soul will be lost unless I go there.”

“But your football! I thought your dad was really proud of that. Couldn’t he stop it?”

“You haven’t been around my family for a long time. My mother has turned into a psycho and my father has had his backbone removed. She...”

Cammie waited, then demanded “She what?”

Caleb shook his head disconsolately. “I can’t talk about it, Cammie.”

“Have you ever talked with anyone about it?”

“It’s just ... it’s just too embarrassing ... too unbelievable. If it ever got out...”

“I’ll bet it has to do with some kind of obsession about sexual things, doesn’t it?” she guessed.

His eyes widening gave him away, but he shook his head strongly and would not answer.

Not believing her own boldness, Cammie put her hand on his arm and they just sat that way silently for a while. Finally, she asked “Would you be able to get away from home to visit me at the Marshalls’?”

“I basically have to sneak out when they’re at one meeting or another. It’s funny. They watch me like a hawk except when they’re at a church meeting that I don’t have to go to.”

“When can you come over?”

“I could get away for a while tomorrow night.”

“Can I have Pen pick you up?”

“He’d do that?”

“Sure.”

“I’ll call when they’re gone. Should be about 6:40.”

Of course, Cammie had not cleared anything with the Marshalls, and it would mean everyone would have to dress, but it wasn’t the first time. At dinner that evening she told the family, including Jess, what she had learned about Caleb and the new school. “There’s something else bad that he won’t talk about. I think it has to do with the church’s focus on sex. I’m going to find out. I’m going to get him to talk to me,” she declared.

“How are you going to do that?” Jess asked.

“I’ll figure something out,” Cammie assured her friend. “Is there any chance Caleb could be the next teen that escapes here from his family?”

“So, you think it might be something pretty serious?” Guy asked.

“Probably not serious enough for Lindsey’s, but I don’t know. I tell you, half the people in that church are nuts, so who knows what she’s doing to him.”

“Let’s do what we can to find out,” Guy encouraged. “It may take more than one visit to win his trust enough so he will tell us.”

Since without anyone saying anything, they had all come to dinner nude, Cammie’s sudden full-body blush was very obvious. “I think Cammie has figured out a wa-ay!” Krissy sing-songed teasingly. Trying to get Cammie off the hook, Krissy asked “If you were such good friends when you were little, how come you never mentioned him to any of us?”

That ended Cammie’s blush with a long sigh. “Well, Caleb grew up into this hunky jock. And here I was, this fat, shapeless thing. I wasn’t worthy to talk to him.”