Jon Gruett:
CLASS OF 1973
Bemidji High SchoolClass of 1973
Bemidji, MN
Bemidji State UniversityClass of 1982
Bemidji, MN
Brainerd High SchoolClass of 1973
Brainerd, MN
Jon's Story
Boy, where do I begin....
I am currently married and my wife has two grown daughters and I have two grown daughters as well. Between my two daughters we have 4 grandchildren, the most recent grandson is 9 months old in Seattle and the other three are in Camp Lejeune, NC. My youngest daughter, (their Mom) is a former Marine and their Dad is career Marine. OOORAH!!! Semper Fi!
After 6 years living in Brainerd my Dad got a promotion and we moved to Bemidji. Spent one year at Bemidji HS and then went back to Brainerd for a few months until I decided I wasn't going to flip burgers at Perkins all my life. Joined the Navy to see the world (and get out of the winters).
Spent boot camp and 'A' school in San Diego then was sent to Philipines to meet my first ship, USS Dixie. Was overseas on WESTPAC for 6 months then back to San Diego. Got married and spent the rest of my Navy time in San Diego on the USS Dixon at the Sub Base. Had one daughter there before discharge and went back to Bemidji where my folks lived. Went to Bemidji State and graduated in May of 1982 with my BS in Industrial Technology. Three months after starting college had the second daughter so money was always tight. Worked full time during college as well so sleep was rare. Classic case of you do what you have to do....
First engineering job was in St. Petersburg, FL. Wanted a change of climate from MN but I guess I really didn't understand what I was asking for. Climate change indeed!! Spent four years at three companies in the defense electronics manufacturing business and then had the drive to go to the Pacific Northwest.
Found a position working for Boeing Electronics in Seattle and moved there in 1986. Was in charge of the aut...Expand for more
omated equipment cell for circuit board assembly and all that went with it. (credit and blame).
Was recruited away to work for an ultrasound equipment manufacturer there in Seattle area and was the project manager for installing a multi million dollar line for circuit board assembly. Politics got to me (very political and back stabbing environment) and I wanted to move into sales so looked outside and found a San Jose based mfgr rep company looking to expand into the Northwest and went with them selling robotics and other capital equipment to manufacturers. Worked there three years until the President announced he was retiring.
Decided to go on my own and start a mfgrs rep company with my full sales pipeline. Had a great time and was VERY profitable until the bottom fell out just before 9/11 and afterward. Spent about two years in financial planning until I realized that money was too tight in the market to make a living so went to work for one of my previous electronics customers. Got my MBA at 52 and wished I would have done it 15 years before.
The last company I worked for laid me off in June 2008 and have been looking for the right position where I can put my skill set and experience to good use. REAL unemployment here in the Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA area is about 23% so good jobs are nearly impossible to find. Trying to look at future here as positive but it is difficult. Gotta keep the faith and realize that there is a great position out there that appreciates a hard working, diligent, midwest work ethic, experienced, driven person.
Currently live in the Vancouver, WA area and would love to talk to others I went to school with or was in the service with from 30+ years ago.
Cheers.
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