Meet Missouri Star: Cassie & McCall

Cassie

Cassie

Cassie is a quilter in our long arm department and has been at Missouri Star for six months. She’s got a pretty cool sewing story!

Do you sew? I did not sew before becoming employed at MSQC. However; working in quilting and seeing everyone’s amazing creations is so inspiring, I’ve got a couple projects of my own going now as well as a list of future ones!

Do you have a favorite fabric? Civil War prints!

What’s the best thing about your job? It’s so wonderful to have a job that I look forward to every day. I love seeing all of the finished quilts that come through our quilting department; the talent, creativity & effort put into each quilt is incredible.

McCall

McCall

McCall is our Summer Hospitality Management Intern and has been with us since February!

Any special experience that helps you with your role? For me it is the other way around… Later on in life I will be able to say that MSQC gave me experience. I have learned SO much about the hospitality industry this summer. It had been an awesome experience!

Do you have an interesting story about how you got the job? I started in the shipping department as a member of the original night crew my senior year of high school. I worked part time after school & on weekends, and full time the summer. That was the summer I learned why my parents are exhausted come Friday! Then I went off to school at University of Missouri, Columbia to study Hospitality Management. Knowing that the company was going to finance restaurants I talked to Al about connecting me to the right people to be able to work there (not that I didn’t want to work at MSQC, but I needed experience in the industry of my major). Little did I know, I would be getting plenty of experience. This summer I am covering every sector of Hospitality Management: Food & Beverage, Event Planning, Tourism, and Hotels & Lodging. I work in Poppy’s Bakery during her busy times. I am the coordinator for the company’s summer out door theatre events, Movies In the Park. I give company wide tours to our customers. And, I am the Retreat & Sewing Center’s assistant coordinator.  I am most commonly found in the Retreat & Sewing Center with Jean. That place had become my summer home. The running joke is that I do almost everything besides anything with quilting. But truly, in this company you can’t escape the quilts!

Do you sew? Yes! When I arrived home after my first day of work back in February of 2013 there was a brand new Singer sewing machine sitting on my counter top, courtesy of my grandma. She was SO excited for me. With the soon arrival of my new baby cousin, Haley, my mom and I got started on a quilt for her using my new machine. We chose a chevron quilt made with Ty Pennington Fall 2012 and white. It turned out great and is still her favorite quilt! I hope to start on my second quilt some time this summer. And this time it will be for myself!

Do you have a favorite fabric? I am in love with Rowan Jones! The colors are mellow and aztec is just funky enough for me.

What do you like best about your job? My co-workers are the best thing about this company. In shipping I had many co-workers, but now I work very closely to Jean, the Retreat & Sewing Center coordinator. She is a saint. Hands down.

Anything else about yourself that you wish to share? My boyfriend Riley and I have been together for two and a half years. He is a welder and is currently working a pipeline job up in North Dakota. We rock at this long distance stuff! I have 5 siblings, an older brother, two sisters in middle school and 2 brothers in elementary (basically the Brady Bunch). We have a lot of fun when we are all together. Family first! My hobbies are baking and crafting. After graduation and before I start my family I hope to flip houses in my free time. My addiction to HGTV is responsible for that dream.

 

 

Meet Missouri Star: Dani and Wade

Today we’re off to meet Dani and Wade, who both work in the shops!

Dani

Dani

Dani is relatively new to MSQC, having worked here for three months.

Do you sew? I do sew. I haven’t had time to work on much lately but I enjoyed hand sewing quilts.

Favorite fabric? Layer cakes!

What do you like best about your job? MSQC has a great, welcoming environment. Everyone is always ready to share a laugh and help each other out. It is also really neat to meet so many different people, especially the customers who travel far distances just to visit the shop.

Wade

Wade

Wade has been with MSQC for 9 months. Perhaps you’ve seen him in the main shop during a recent visit?

Do you sew? I do sew! I just finished my first quilt top using Jenny’s half-square triangle tutorial. Super easy! I never thought in a million years I would make a quilt, but here I am. Quilting is very enjoyable.

Any funny work stories that can you can share? A few customers have told me they love me before.. But I totally love them back! I also enjoy taking pictures for all the excited tourist that come into the shop.

What hobbies do you have? Photography, cooking/baking, playing the piano

Favorite fabric? Hearty Good Wishes

What do you like best about your job? Besides working for such incredible people, I would have to say meeting so many wonderful people. All of our customers are incredible and make the day go by in an instant. It’s the best job I could ask for.

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We hope that you get to meet these two fantastic people if you are in the shops soon! Catch up on all of the “Meet Missouri Star” posts here.

 

Meet Missouri Star: Kelly & Kari

We’re back in the shipping department today to meet Kelly and Kari!

KellyS

Kelly

Kelly works in our warehouse and has been with us for a year and a half. 

Do you sew? No (Missouri Star side note: we’ll have to convert her!)

Any favorite fabrics? Denyse Schmidt’s Ansonia line (the greens and blues!)

What do you like best about your job? The people I work with are great!

KariC

Kari

Kari is a manager in our shipping department and has been with Missouri Star for sixteen months. 

Do you sew? I have sewn buttons on shirts and one block! My goal is to get a sewing machine some day soon!! There are lots of lines of fabrics that I want to do a quilt with!!

Do you have a favorite fabric? Riley Blake fabrics!

What do you like best about your job? I love how MSQC is a loving and caring company.

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Join us next week when we head to the retreat center to meet the staff there!

 

Meet Missouri Star: Betty & Jamey

Today we’re headed back to the longarm quilting building to meet some more of the great people working here, finishing your quilts! Ready to meet Betty & Jamey?

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Betty

Betty has been with MSQC for about a year and a half and according to Betty, “They said they hired me because I laugh a lot, always smile and talk a lot. I know no strangers! LOL! They all have been friends of mine for several years and treat me like family. I love them very much and count them as God’s blessings to me.”

Do you have a special story about how you got the job? I was recovering from several chemo treatments and would visit with Jenny to get out of the house. She is always there for me and told Al and Sarah to hire me when I recovered. She called me one February day and told me to come in for an interview. LOL! Al said he was not sure how to interview me as he knew me too well! LOL! Because of this and because I “talk a lot and laugh a lot” and (they say) because they love me, I was hired! Boy, has God blessed me. I get to help set up a museum and do crafts which is a love of mine!

Do you sew? Yes I do sew. I have sewn my own clothes in the past and made gifts for others. I love to crochet, do counted cross-stitch and all other crafts. If you saw my “office” and sewing rooms, (yes, rooms!) one would know I love to do crafts and make projects to give to those I care about and love.

Any funny job-related stories? When my mother-in-law was alive, she gave me two car trunks full of yarn, which someone had given to her. She was so excited to do so as she knew I would use it and I have!! I have made crocheted slippers for several at MSQC and was asked to make some for Alan. I was told they would have to be extra large! He has them and they are; but, I got the best out of the deal as I got and still get hugs from him!!

Favorite fabric? Civil war and florals.

Anything else you want to share? My husband, Les, tells everyone that “you could not pry me away from my job with a crowbar” when they ask if I like my job. He tells them I love it and I do! I love it and the “family of MSQC!” I do laugh and smile and talk a lot because I am happy. I am ornery, too, as others can testify! LOL! All because I have not been this happy working for a very long time!

What do you like best about your job? The best thing about working at MSQC is the family atmosphere and love. They care about us and I am living proof of this as I am still recovering from breast cancer and chemo side effects, as I still get sick easily, yet I still have a job and they let me know I am loved! We are a family and we care about each other and help take care of one another. It is truly God’s gift and blessings to be a part of this!

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Jamey

Jamey, who manages the longarm quilting department, has been with MSQC for nearly two years. Jamey got to help develop the process that is used to check in the quilts that arrive in the mail.

How’d you land the job? I worked with Jenny and her family at the Hamilton Community Arts Theatre. So I started watching Jenny’s tutorials. I made a quilt for my mom for Christmas and turned it in at MSQC. Later, I was walking in front of the store one day and Natalie and Sarah came out. They said they thought I knew how to sew and asked if I was looking for a job. I accepted and started to learn to quilt the next week.

Do you sew? I do sew. I’ve made quilts, table runners, wall hangings and one sad pin cushion.

Any work-related stories you can share? I grew up in Hamilton. Every day, I am so proud to meet people from all over the world who come to our small town who are so excited to be here visiting.

Favorite fabric? Layer cakes.

Anything else you want to share about yourself? In my free time, besides quilting I like to cook, sing, direct plays in the local community art theatre. I enjoy movies, especially comedies. In addition, I am a huge fan of the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats and Penney High School Hornets.

What do you like best about your job? The job is so enjoyable, and the feeling of family that we share with all our co-workers.

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Join us next Monday when we head back to shipping to meet two more people working amongst the fabric there! Catch up on all of the “Meet Missouri Star” posts here.

Meet Missouri Star: Ammon & Jarom

Today’s Meet Missouri Star post introduces you to Ammon (on the left) and Jarom. This pair of brothers can be found in the warehouse, hauling boxes, organizing arrivals and knowing exactly where things are on each shelf. They’re really pretty amazing. And like Ammon says in his interview, together they are “Jammon.” Ha! Want to meet them? Let’s go!

AmmonJarom

Ammon

Ammon is our warehouse manager and has been with us for two years now. Sarah is his sister-in-law, so though he’s not a Doan, he’s definitely family! 

Any special experience that helps you with your position? I worked for 11 years for a company that merchandised in Walmarts, was in a lot of Walmart back rooms and delt with all different kinds of product. Stocked, did inventory counts, helped customers find what they wanted, and had to remember all the things we had avalable for sale. Turns out, all those things are very useful still!

How’d you land the job? My sister-in-law and friend,  Sarah, called me one day and asked if I would be interested in working for them. I said, “No.” I was happy with my job of 11 years. But something kept bugging me to check it out, so I did. Came in to check it out, met with Sarah, had decided to take a chance and take the job. Sarah spent the next 30 min or so trying to talk me out of taking the job because they couldn’t pay what I was currently making, but I am so glad she didn’t. It has been a crazy ride so far, but a worthwhile one. And it is great to be working with family and all the wonderful people at MSQC. What a story and what a ride. Thank you Sarah for the job, and for not talking me out of it. 😉

Do you sew? I can sew. Buttons on shirts, patches on pants and things like that. I have yet to attempt a quilt. That will be someday in the future for me! I do have a fabric line picked out for my first one!

Any crazy work stories to share? Everyday is a crazy work story for me! We receive thousands of pounds of fabric everyday, I did most of that all by myself for about a year. Just recruited my little brother Jarom, and we got twice as busy after he came, so thank goodness he came when he did. All alone I was just Ammon, you add Jarom to the mix, and now we are Jammon! Life is good. 😉

Favorite type of fabric? The fabric line called Gorjuss, and I am also a big fan of the socky line

What do you like best about your job? Working with my family. And being close to home. And meeting people from all over the world!

Anything else you want to share? I have a beautiful wife named Cyndi, five boys and one baby girl. I love movies ( big Tim Burton fan), books, frisbee, and basketball, love to bounce on the tramp with my kids and just hang with them. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and love Jesus 😉 am a bit of a goofball, and my wife says I’m a flirt. I also love skulls (very fond of my own), am a fan of the outdoors, love all the little plants and animals that you really have to search for, like blue tailed skinks, oreals, snakes, and spiders (especially jumping spiders). But even though I like the out of doors, I’m not a fan of camping!

Jarom

Jarom is Ammon’s warehouse assistant and has been with MSQC for three months now. 

Any past experience that helps you with your job? I delivered appliances and furniture for a company in Idaho for eleven years and then was a salesman for them for one year. So I have lots of lifting and product handling experience mixed with some people skills.

Do you sew? I’ve sewn some buttons back on shirts before. But no, not really.

Any funny work stories to share? I’m Ammon’s younger brother but I’m a bit bigger than him. It’s always funny when Ammon introduces me as his little brother. A few of the girls in the shipping department can’t remember my name, so they just call me Big Ammon.

Favorite MSQC product? We just got a new line in called Gorjuss. love it!

Anything else you want to share about yourself? I’m married to the most amazing woman in the whole world! We have six beautiful children. We love to spend time together reading books, watching movies, enjoying the outdoors, hanging out with grandma and grandpa and aunts and uncles and cousins.
I play the piano, love to ride my motorcycle and enjoy sports.

What do you like best about your job? Working with Ammon every day!

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How about those brothers?! Pretty awesome guys, right?! You can tell in the photo that they really enjoy being together and we love seeing family members side by side, creating such cool teams. If you enjoyed reading about Ammon and Jarom, check out the other posts in our Meet Missouri Star series. We’ll be back on Monday with more folks for you to meet!