2010-01-29 - Life-long friendships, true love and an enjoyable career
Back in 1965, when Kathy (aka MK) Catalano interviewed for a position at, then Bailey Meter Company in Wickliffe, Ohio, she dressed according to the day's standards for her job interview.
"I wore a hat and white gloves." she reminised with a smirk."Can you imagine. I didn't own a hat, so I borrowed one of my mother's. I was so nervous, I failed my typing test." she said, smiling.
Kathy was hired that day, just after her 18th birthday. She bagan her career working in the Pneumatic Control Contract Engineering group for Bob Harris, as a secretary, earning $275 per month.
After 2 years, she transferred to the training department, where customers received free training to learn how to operate the control systems and instrumentation products that were sold. "These were some of the finest products in the world," she noted.
After one year in training, she moved to Contract Engineering, where she worked her way to technician, and stayed in the group for 36 years. At one point she had 64 direct reports.
MK (Mary Kathleen) is now a valued member of the Customer Service group, handling customer inquiries in the North America Customer Service Center in Wickliffe, Ohio. She has been in this role for the past 6 years.
"I've loved it all. I have been so privileged to have worked with so many brilliant people and to have been afforded the opportunity to make life-long friends. Above all, to have met the love of my life, Vince Catalano."
"It has been great! I would not change a thing! It is still fun. When the fun stops, I will too... I plan to be around for a while."