Maintenance Superintendant

Southeast
US Navy, E-8

This is the second time that Orion has helped get me a job. The first time was when I retired from the Navy in 1997. Through Orion, I was offered three jobs from the first conference I went to and accepted a traveling service engineer job. I was promoted within four months to Regional Manager and, a year after that, to North American Director of Service. I even used Orion as a hiring manager. With such a successful past relationship, I decided to work with Orion once again when I was laid off.

The hiring process for my new job did not come through a conference this time, though. Mike Skinner called me with this opportunity in Arkansas, and I was flown in that week for an interview. On my return flight, Georgia-Pacific called Mike with a verbal offer. I am now the Maintenance Superintendent at a Georgia-Pacific plywood plant in Arkansas.
 
It was John Teague, my recruiter, who set me up with Mike. When it started to look like the pickings were slim, John persevered. He knew Mike’s client wanted a Nuke with management experience, so I fit the bill. At one point, I was calling John two or three times a week. He took it stride, though, and, even when I told him I HAD to have a job before July, he was forever confident.

At Georgia Pacific, I am a nuke electrician and am in charge of the entire plant’s mechanical systems! It is a welcome challenge, but it is little different from running a division onboard a ship or sub. We have repairs to do, as well as PM's, but now we quantify it in dollars and not lives or freedom.

The stress is there, but not as much as onboard a ship. The Navy gave me the attitude that I can do anything, and all of my bosses have always noted how no matter what they give me, my field or not, they knew I would get it done. Being honest and trustworthy has magnified my "can do" attitude and has gotten me far in my civilian career.
 
All of the staff at Orion were very helpful, caring, and dedicated. I couldn't ask for a better placement service to work with. Orion is dedicated to the individual. And that is what is needed in order to get the right person in the right job.