03/14/2017
Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world
She took the midnight train going anywhere ... although the train was an airplane and it took me to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas where I raised my right hand and pledged my life to protect and defend the constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic. After basic training I went to the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterrey, California where I learned a foreign language as my Cryptologic Linguist job in the Air Force. From DLI I went to Goodfellow Air Force Base (AFB) to learn the tactical components of my job. I went to another training in Spokane, Washington before heading to Panama for 2 years where I was part of airborne reconnaissance missions routinely reporting on matters of national security leading up to Operation Just Cause when the US ousted Manuel Noriega. I returned to Goodfellow AFB to be the youngest and lowest ranking instructor - an honor received based on merit and performance. At the end of 6 years enlistment, due to unforeseen circumstances, I became a civilian. I stayed at Goodfellow AFB developing computer code to revolutionize the way linguistic students would learn. My job took me to Washington DC where I worked on the White House Communications team and the Pentagon. After losing 12-team members in the attack on the Pentagon on 11 Sept 2001, I returned to Goodfellow AFB to build computer code for the Joint Imagery Analysis Course (JIAC) where military students would learn to read images in support of national security. In 2004 an opportunity presented itself to move to Charlotte, North Carolina where I helped establish operations at a start-up company called Lending Tree. After successfully leading Lending Tree to a stable operating practice, I started working at a large financial institution called TIAA-CREF and had the honor of leading them in an operational transformation journey by designing and implementing a brand new cloud-based software as a service solution called ServiceNow. That was ServiceNow's first corporate implementation. Since 2005 I have traveled the world leading major Fortune 100 companies successfully traverse the challenges with Organizational Transformations and implementing ServiceNow. I've lived in Panama, London, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and Australia. I've visited 88 countries and every continent except Antarctica (it's on my list though). Now, it's time to retire from Corporate America and become a small town girl with a successful Brewery! As I've traveled the world one thing I've learned - people are the most important aspect! When people are treated with honesty, integrity and honor ... nothing is impossible! So you see, The Bank Brewery will be owned by a successful executive who is leaving her career where on a daily basis she makes multi-million dollar deals to give back to the community where it all began. The Bank Brewery will also be owned by the same woman who is a disabled veteran who will never give up the good fight when she's fighting for something she believes in. Will you believe in The Bank Brewery with me? Together we can impact the Decatur and surrounding areas for the greater good in all of us. Love heaps ~ Marilyn ❤
