That was the year Brenda Patterson got her first job at Areas’ Ft. Pierce Turnpike Plaza taking orders and making sure customers were happy. Today, 46 years later she is a shift supervisor keeping her team in line and smiling all the time. “I treat everyone like a customer, with a smile on my face, and do what I am supposed to do. I don’t have time to talk about anyone’s business, I’ve got my work to do.”
The Florida Department of Transportation recently presented Brenda with a Longevity Award for her many years of service and the value she has provided during her tenure. “She is a living example of excellent work ethics, enthusiasm, and commitment,” says Alex Martinez, Director of Operations at FLTP North.
Brenda lives up to those values because as she says, she loves everything about her job and gets along with everyone. “There has been a long train of managers and supers and I’ve never been mistreated. We work together as a team and get everything done.”
She also enjoys working with her current General Manager, Mike Ingle. “If there is a problem, he is always there to handle it and he is a good person.”
“Brenda takes pride in all that she does,” says Mike. “As a Supervisor on the third shift, Brenda is essentially the General Manager of the plaza between 10 PM and 6 AM. Her servitude approach towards associates and guests is phenomenal.”
When she is not working her two-day-a-week shift, Brenda loves to go window shopping, spend time with her son, and dreams about taking a cruise to Jamaica. Thoughts of full retirement are not in her immediate future. “What would I do, sit in the house doing nothing? I have to keep my body going until it stops. As long as the Lord helps me drive myself to work, I’ll be there. My hips are strong, I have my health, and can take care of myself.”