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COVER STORY

Leanna: Tell me about your professions. customer service in the store. I am an ankle
Raynette: I went to college to be an art biter. I keep on people to get the job done. I

professor. My focus was drawing, watercolor, promote action over words.
and oil painting I was tired of school at the
time. It wasn’t good for my health. I was sick Leanna: Ted, when did you decide to become a
a lot. I went into retail and loved it. I’ve been professor?

in retail since 1977. Ted: I wasn’t enjoying my job. In the
commodity profession your job is not to talk
Ted: When I started college, I studied social to people. I was more interested in working
science, achieved a B.S. in Sociology, which with people. By 1986, I also achieved my CPA

was not economically the best decision. My and decided to leave. Raynette said, “I found
mother said, “Son, there are always going a job for you at Western Business College.
to be jobs in bookkeeping and accounting.” You can go and teach there.” I applied and
It wasn’t my interest, but I was okay with it, got the job. I taught there for three and a

returned to college and graduated with a half years. From there I taught for fourteen
degree in accounting. years at Warner Pacific College. I finished
My first job as an accountant was in Port my PhD in 1997. I was an adjunct professor at
Angeles, Washington. After that I did tax numerous local colleges, then emeritus after

work in Forks. We moved to Yakima where twelve years at Eastern Oregon University
I worked for Weyerhaeuser for 5-1/2 years. and five years at Multnomah University. I
While there I earned my master’s degree. In retired on June 30th.
January 1984, Weyerhauser promoted me

and we moved to Portland. Leanna: I know both of you spend a great deal
of time as volunteers. Where do you volunteer
Raynette: When we left Port Angeles, I was together?
working for The People’s Store, a mercantile Raynette: We volunteer together at the

company. I continued with the company in Institute of Management Accountant (IMA).
Yakima. Six years later the stores closed. Ted joined IMA 32 years ago. He went to
The timing was incredible. I lost my dinners and invited me along. After dinner
job just as we moved to Portland. My store they held board meetings. They needed

manager called a friend who set me up help taking minutes. I took them since I was
with an interview at Nordstrom. When I there anyway. Soon I was their unofficial
moved to Portland, a job was waiting for secretary. Later I joined and eventually
me at the downtown Nordstrom. I became became the chapter president. It’s been a

a department manager and a jewelry buyer. wonderful journey. It’s our favorite volunteer
After 22 years, I went to work for Mario’s organization. In 2019, IMA celebrated its
clothing store as Mario’s executive assistant, 100th anniversary. It’s the biggest thing
office manager. Since Covid, I am in in our life to have been part of this global

8 ONE COMMUNITY