After 40 years with Datamax, Terrie Brown has more than enough stories to share.

But one in particular quickly comes to mind. This story brings us to the beginning of Terrie's Datamax journey. But it also has an odd foreshadowing effect as well.

Just like vehicles chosen on a car lot, it's advantageous for professionals to choose an organization that's built for the long haul. And that's exactly what Terrie was after when she decided on a career change.

A Well-Built Engine

In late 1978, Terrie had made the arduous decision to leave her retail position with Woolworth, the largest five-and-dime store in the Midwest at the time. Her plan? To go to work for Datamax (then-AB Dick Products), a company she was aware of and one that she saw immense potential with. Her current manager pleaded with her not to leave, that he had a regional management position in mind just for her.

Why in the world, he wondered, would she leave to go work for a company so much smaller than Woolworth? “This is a big company, that’s got a lot of places to go,” she remembers him saying.

But so did Datamax, Terrie figured. 

Terrie’s quick to point out, of course, that Woolworth isn’t around anymore, while the growth and opportunity that’s come with working for Datamax speak for itself.

A lot of places to go, indeed. If her new company were an engine, she saw thousands of smooth, productive miles ahead with Datamax.

After 40 years with the organization, the St. Louis Operations Manager will retire at the end of this week. Terrie reflects on the many changes she’s seen sweep across her desk and throughout the St. Louis office in that time, but also on the opportunities the company has afforded her professionally.

Engine Modifications

The Datamax engine Terrie knew on Jan. 15, 1979 (her first day on the job) isn’t the same one that rolled off the assembly line. But each modification has been made exclusively for improved performance for the road ahead.

Terrie first came to Datamax because she’d grown tired of balancing working weekends and nights with two small children at home. She was familiar with the company. She also knew the general manager of Copying Concepts, an operation under the then-AB Dick Products name that first started selling Minolta products.

The AB Dick Products name was eventually dropped to reflect the vastly changing business technology environment, replaced by Datamax.

Terrie started out with a part-time dispatcher position. However, two weeks into the job, the office manager was in a car accident and Terrie was thrust into the role of daily operations. As she recalls, the office was run more efficiently, paperwork was properly set up and the phone was answered correctly.

Employees there began to ask if Terrie could take over the Office Manager role.

“The answer was a resounding YES,” Terrie says. “Particularly, after I answered the phone and it was (owner) Mr. Sumner. After the call, he wanted to know who responded so well on the phone.”

After 18 months as office manager, Terrie worked in the credit department and then took over as Credit Manager. After the Little Rock office was added, Terrie helped train the team there in billing. She’s also worked in leasing and customer service over the years.

The position moves have been many, but the direction was always upward. 

“It was always challenging and I never knew what the day would bring, but always happy to accept the next challenge,” she said.

The Evolution of the Engine

Organizational changes have been consistent. Company structure. Product lines. New locations added to the Datamax name in both Texas and Arkansas.But that's been an absolute positive, Terrie says.

“It is the change that has allowed our growth. Too many companies keep plodding along and never adapt to the ever-changing environments,” Terrie says.

Which takes us back to December, 1978 as she walks away from the largest five-and-dime store in the Midwest, for a family-owned company that, as she says, embraces change and allows for people like her to grow within the organization.

40 years later, it's certainly been a great ride for Terrie.