Interviews from

Working from the Heartland

		Lori Risner Occupational Therapist Chicago, Illinois "We see people come in here who can't move their hands at all. Eventually I can tell them that they have increased their range of motion by this much, or their grip strength has increased by that much. But it's when they come in and tell you, 'I opened the car door today,' or 'I turned a key today,' that's when this work really feels good."

		Ike Brainerd Beekeeper Branford, Connecticut I must say that anyone who really wants to study a healthy relationship between management and self-motivated employees should take a look at the beekeeper and his colonies of bees. It's a conglomerate like no other human enterprise.

		Candy Watson Shelter Worker Friends for Animals Asheville, North Carolina "I don't work as a shelter worker. I am a shelter worker. I'm a lifer, I don't see myself leaving. Oh, I've thought about it, I've even sent out a resume. But I changed my mind. I don't know what it would take for me to leave."

		David Dionne Park Superintendent Baltimore & Annapolis Bike Trail Anne Arundel County, Maryland "Being a person who grew up never belonging in a community or belonging anyplace for that matter, suddenly I feel like I've arrived. I'm where I need to be. The right county, the right time, right training. All the right circumstances are here. This is where I can blossom best."

		Evelyn Self Director of Community Affairs Warner-Lambert Morris Plains, New Jersey In a corporate environment, you can be productive, you can work from your heart, you can stick to your own true values and beliefs.

		Frank Wobst Chairman and CEO Huntington Bancshares, Inc. Columbus, Ohio "Read the classics. In turbulent times our frame of reference is so very, very different. You have to know that you can live through it."

		Randy Fisher Arborist Winterthur Gardens Wilmington, Delaware "When I'm dead and gone 100 years from now, it's nice to think that the arborist who will have my position will study and respect what I'm doing now."

		Lisbeth Selsor Director of Human Resources Winterthur Gardens Wilmington, Delaware "People are going to be motivated if they feel good about the mission of the organization. And they're going to buy into their work to the extent they understand how they fit into that mission."

		Tom Buchter Director, Garden Department Winterthur Gardens Wilmington, Delaware "Part of our approach to gardening is based on the Arts and Crafts movement. One of the principles that comes out of that larger movement is respect for the workman, the craftsman, the raising up of the quality of human endeavor. These are things I personally believe in."

		Peggy Langley Executive Director, Elizabeth City Downtown, Inc. Elizabeth City, North Carolina "It's important to demonstrate that you love your work. If you're not having fun and enjoying your work, that's a sad part of life. You really have to love what you do in order to do it right and feel fulfilled."

		Therese O'Brien Director of Marketing, EverWell Atlanta, Georgia "I gave up too easily and accepted positions that were logically and intellectually a perfect natural progression based on my skill sets. I was gifted with intelligence and a great education. So I can rationalize anything convincingly."

		Jose Rego Administrative Coordinator, Arquitectonica Miami, Florida "Success also has to be measured by how you help other people...it's meaningless unless it can be shared. If you're the only element involved in that success, there's something missing."

		Peter Hvizdak Staff Photographer, New Haven Register New Haven, Connecticut "You're not really photographing a wedding or a basketball game. You are photographing people who have worked hard doing something they've committed themselves to, who have found something that they love. It's not the event itself. It's the motivation, all those things below the surface that don't meet the eye."

		Cecil and Elizabeth Johnson Owners, Tybee Island Charters Tybee Island, Georgia "There's a difference between a natural difficulty and an unnatural difficulty. If it's meant to be, it will happen. And it will be an easy happening. If it's too difficult, you're pushing it. Why put that kind of stress on yourself?"

		Jack Zimmerman Public Relations, The Ravinia Festival Highland Park, Illinois "I've done a lot of odd things in my life. I once played trombone on Bozo's Circus. One day I walked into the band's dressing room and all the guys were crying. I asked what's wrong and they said 'We're being let go.' They fired the Bozo Band. I was only about 27 at the time, and these guys were 45 and 50. They had nowhere to go. I knew right then that I didn't want that to be me when I was their age."