When Annette Johnson took on a temporary office assignment at a waste company, the thought of working in the trash industry was a foreign concept to her. At the time, she couldn’t have imagined that those 60 days would turn into 30 years!
Johnson was recently honored by her coworkers at GFL’s Conway, South Carolina branch for reaching this major milestone in her career. Her coworkers even managed to keep her surprise party a secret, a feat which impressed Johnson.
“They caught me completely off guard,” Johnson said. “I had absolutely no clue that they’d been working secretly behind the scenes to pull it all together.”
Her celebration included a catered lunch from her favorite restaurant, a plaque, gardening tools because she’s an avid gardener, and a bottle of her favorite perfume. Johnson was thrilled to discover that her family and members of GFL’s regional leadership team had been invited to the party too.
Born and raised in South Carolina, when Johnson completed high school, she decided to enter the workforce rather than go to college.
“But after about 10 years, I decided that I wanted to go to college,” Johnson said. “I decided to do it for me.”
She took afternoon classes at the local technical college, earning her associate degree in administrative office technology. At the time, she also worked as a cashier at a car dealership, was married and raising her first daughter.
After her second daughter was born, Johnson decided to get her bachelor’s degree. Determined to succeed, she enrolled in online classes at the University of Phoenix where she earned her bachelor’s degree while working as a bank teller and looking after her family. But Johnson knew the banking world wasn’t for her.
After spending time raising her children, Johnson yearned to return to the workforce. She visited a temporary office agency and was offered the 60-day assignment at the trash company that would change her life. At the time, the recruiter had to persuade Johnson to give it a try.
When she arrived at the office, the staff were so welcoming that Johnson’s hesitation vanished. Her work ethic impressed management and they offered her a full-time position. Still, she thought about the offer carefully and with her husband’s encouragement, she decided to accept the position.
Today, as office administrator, Johnson thrives on her busy schedule. She finds genuine satisfaction in the fast-paced nature of the waste industry, noting that no two days are the same.
Johnson credits her parents and her sisters for being her special mentors. They’ve encouraged her educational pursuits and instilled the work ethic that has led to her success.
When she’s not working, Johnson enjoys reading and doing puzzle books, but she especially enjoys spending time with her family. Most of her seven sisters live locally and they spend Sunday afternoons at their mother’s house, sometimes with their children and grandchildren.
Thank you, Annette, and congratulations on 30 years in the waste industry!
