My First Job: Terrie Battuello, Bothell's economic-development manager

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July 23, 2006

My First Job: Terrie Battuello, Bothell's economic-development manager

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Terrie Battuello

Current position: The city of Bothell's economic-development manager/assistant to the city manager. As the city's first economic-development manager, her responsibilities include the implementation of community plans to revitalize downtown, business retention and recruitment, work-force development and oversight of city tourism programs.

First job: At age 14, I worked at Forget-me-not Florist in downtown Bremerton. Employees at Forget-me-not worked underground like elves below the tiny shop in the main street area. After long days of sweeping floral tailings and performing menial tasks, like picking sticky yellow stamens from the white bells of hundreds of lilies, I was required to spin bolts of ribbon to bows before punching out. Among favorite activities, I assisted the shop owner in stringing yards of satin ribbon across a twinkling ballroom ceiling at the local country club.

How I got the job: I was selected for the job in 1974 after I entered "Floral designer" as my third career choice in a popular summer-intern program offered through school for high-school credit and a $2.25 minimum wage. That internship and good work ethic resulted in a decent holiday employee paycheck for the four years that followed.

What I learned: Forget-me-not shop owners Irving and Elaine Allen took pride in every creation they delivered and taught me that every transaction results in a lasting impression, positive or negative, and that every impression mattered.

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