[Don Wright]

I got a job at AVL as an Intern in 1994. A guy who used to work with my dad at Ford now worked at AVL and turned in my resume and recommended me.

I graduated and went to another company where some people I had worked with at AVL had gone to. They turned in my resume and recommended me.

In 2000, I was approached by people that were still here at AVL about coming back. They turned in my resume and recommended me.

I'm still here.

Honestly, who you know gets you in the door.

What you know keeps you there.

What you learn, who you meet, and what you do moves you up.

FIRST is an incredible way to network. Even better than Greek organizations, IMHO. It's amazing how many people I can meet in meetings or otherwise who have some FIRST experience and we can immediately relate and connect on a personal/professional level.