Today, in about 1 1/2 hours, I resign my job of 11 years. Kinda nervous, for various reasons.

I have accepted a position with Kenwood, USA (yea, the home and car audio people, but that's not the division I'll be working in). I start the 21st of October - I should have done this several years ago, and an ad they ran which I saw in about 2006, was the reason I went back to school for my degree. Well, they ran the ad again a month ago and responded to my resume in 5 business days.

I'll be traveling 26 to 40 weeks a year thru out the USA, Virgin Islands, Bermuda, etc. and maybe a trip now and then out of the country. I have no spouse, children at home or even pets - so I'm free to go and I think I'll have fun with this! As I travel, perhaps I'll be able to meet some of you around the country who cannot seem to make a Dragon GTG!

So, at 51 I start a new job, and enter the corporate world for the first time since I was 21 (worked for RCA for 6 months back then.)

I've got to go buy my own notebook/laptop, I've used the company's for 11 years. I will probably disappear from here and FaceBook for awhile. But I'll be back soon!

I wanted to announce this at the Dragon, but there was an item or two that had to be worked out first...

 

Let me be the first to congratulate you, well done and good luck. Don't be a stranger, keep in touch.
PS
The US Virgin Islands and Bermuda are out of the country, and don't forget your passport application if you haven't one already.

 

A bold move, Sir. And bold begets bigger.

Congratulations. Enjoy the new chapter in your life.

 

I left a LOT out of the OP, I was required to have a Passport or be able to get one within 6 months. But I've had one so I could visit my son in Japan since 2003.

Anyway, thanks guys... yea, a bold move for sure. But you dont' get anywhere if you don't risk something. (Wait a minute, that's what I said when I married last year............................ )

 

Whew!!! Am I relieved. I thought for sure it was gonna be a sex change this time.

Anyways, sounds like a great deal. Have some fun with it. Kenwood is a great company. I have owned my Kenwood home stereo equipment for twenty years now. Still works flawlessly.

 

So what you are saying is that there is life without hope?

 

Funny stuff Rush.

Excellent reply 180.

 

Oh, and of course, congrats to you Mark. Best of luck with the new job.

 

Congrats my friend. I wish you the best in your new job.

 

Congratulations and good luck on your new endeavor. Stay in touch!

 

Congrats.

I guess you'll have to put a Kenwood in your Xfire now........

 

Mark, is this the job that you wanted? Congrats to you my friend! You have a lot to set up being on the road so much of the year. What great adventures you are going to have! What will your new job entail?

 

Cool Mark!
Good luck bud.
Stop in sometime and we can go lookin'!

 

Congratulations !!!!
Best of luck in the new job.

( will you be able to get us Kenwood head units at employee price ???? )

 

Congratulations Mark !!!
If your travels bring you to Chicago be sure to send me a PM so we can hook up.

 

Congrats buddy, I'm stoked for you. Prayer works, and I appreciate you sharing this with me a while back.

You're going to LOVE the travel. They'll have to pry you out of the Carribean

 

Congratulations, pizzaguy! Great story, too! "I applied, but they wanted more qualifications, so I went to school and then re-applied and got the job."-basically. That's how it's done! Bravo to you, sir.

 

Congratulations! It was great meeting you this weekend at the Dragon.

 

Yes, this is the one, Kim!

It's hard to describe the job to someone not in the industry.... let me try.

I will be involved in the installation and implementation of large-scale radio communications systems used by Public Utilities, Gov't agencies, large industries, etc. It will be different in that I now work in 911s and other public safety systems (police and fire - part of the reason I don't get many tickets around here - I know most every cop in city-county and state police roles in about five counties).

I won't actually work on the individual radios, my role will be in tower sites and dispatch centers.

The systems I'll work on are those that are too big or too complicated for the local dealers - or I'll assist local dealers and "make them look good, because we support our dealers".

My experience with competitive systems, my record of working unsupervised, my record of 11 years with one company, my record of working in 911 centers (with the pressure and visibility that goes with that) helped me land this job. (Have you ever dialed 911 and had NOTHING happen? It happens more often that you think - many times I have raced to a local 911 in the middle of the night because calls were going NO WHERE.)

Words cannot express how I feel right now. I know I am "in for it", the Senior RF Engineer made that clear - he's outlined how rough the job can be, how "visible" I will be and the responsibilities involved. He kept saying, "I need you to hit the ground running... we have issues here and corporate has FINALLY allowed us to hire some help". I am told I'll be in the office for two weeks, then instructed to go rent something to drive, load it up and head for Eastern Tennessee where I'll spend Monday thru Friday until after Christmas.

.... and I can't wait.

 

Good luck Mark and I enjoyed meeting and running with you at the Dragon. Take care!