My First Job: Chuck Pettis, president and founder

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August 21, 2005

My First Job: Chuck Pettis, president and founder

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Chuck Pettis

Current position: President and founder of Medina-based BrandSolutions, which works with companies and nonprofits in developing, implementing and managing brand identities. Also the creator of Earth Sanctuary on south Whidbey Island, a meditation parkland, sculpture garden and retreat center.

First job: Working at Challenge Industries in Ithaca, N.Y., supervising sheltered-workshop employees with mental and physical challenges, including blindness and Down syndrome. I had 35 people who worked for me doing bulk-mailing services. They were a fantastic group of people.

Pay: $6 an hour (1972).

How I got the job: My father knew someone who worked at Challenge Industries.

What I learned: You can't judge a person by their IQ. Many of the people there were incredibly kind. But I learned that working in social services is an incredibly hard way to support a family and kids.

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