Support and Compassion Build Road to Success

Wendy is a shipping and receiving group lead at the Pioneer Distribution Center (PDC) in Fife. The center receives aerospace parts from 10 different aerospace manufacturers for Boeing and tracks, stores, picks, packs and ships the parts to Boeing for various line assemblies. She shares her journey to Pioneer the first time – and then back to Pioneer the second time.

When Wendy was five years old, her older brother became her father figure. Her father was hit and killed by a train and left Wendy’s mom with three children to raise alone. Wendy and her brother got into a lot of fun and trouble together, and unfortunately, her dad’s alcoholism was passed down and she started drinking with her brother from a young age. When one of them would get clean and sober, the other would drag them both into drinking again. It was a cycle that played out for years.

As Wendy got a little older, she started hanging out with the wrong crowd and drugs were introduced into her life. She started a path down the road of arrests and jail time. Often, she was guilty by association, as her choice in friends was not a healthy one.
 
After her last arrest facing jail time, she was given the opportunity to enter drug court and she started her search for employment, but she found that there were many employment barriers due to her arrest record. She found retail work but needed a more solid career. Labor Ready shared the tip with her to speak with staff from the Pioneer Distribution Center (PDC). Wendy interviewed with the PDC program director, Vicki, and found that she was accepted and not being judged for her past.

Wendy shared, “I was hired to pick aerospace parts to get them ready for packing. Eventually, I moved up to the D-20 packing table where I packed Boeing airplane parts into kits for specific airplane’s line assembly. The management team supported and encouraged me and I worked hard.” Wendy continued, “To round out my skills, I also got certified to drive the forklift and the lift picker. I felt appreciated and noticed in my work and that felt good.”

Unfortunately, during this time Wendy got involved in an abusive relationship and found herself immersed in a domestic violence situation. Her partner dragged her down and she relapsed into her past behavior. She could not work and was in a bad situation. After her abusive partner died, she found herself homeless and again looking for help. She ran into Kathy, PDC distribution manager, and Kathy assured Wendy that Pioneer believed in second chances and hired her on again in 2018 at PDC. 

Wendy commented, “Kathy and Vicki supported and believed in me so I could rebuild myself. Both of them understood my situation and have never judged me for my past. As my bosses, they not only trained me, they helped me heal and encouraged me to move forward. I learned from them that I can be productive and turn my life around.”

Housing was also an issue, so the PDC management team looked into affordable housing options and helped Wendy secure an apartment in Pioneer’s housing in Tacoma where she could live with her two sons. Then, an apartment in Pioneer’s former housing in Auburn opened up six months later and she moved there as it was a larger space and much closer to work.

Wendy is now a shipping and receiving group lead at PDC where she excels in her work and is relied on by management. She leads her team with a professional expertise that keeps the busy distribution center’s deliveries organized and on-time. 

In 2020, Wendy suffered a brain aneurysm, but she received care in time and is looking at another brain procedure that her neurosurgeon is recommending. She feels fortunate to have Pioneer’s medical insurance that has covered the costs. “I love Pioneer. It has helped me in many ways including my personal life and career. During the process, I have evolved into a new person,” Wendy said.

“Vicki has an open door policy and she helped to mold my positive behavior - instead of always feeling ashamed. Kathy coached me to feel like I am important - instead of feeling like a nobody,” Wendy stated. She added, “If you don’t feel secure about yourself or feel that others believe in you, it is too easy to retreat back to unhealthy past acquaintances because they can’t judge you. You kind of sink back into that hole. It sometimes just takes that one encouragement or positive reinforcement to open the door that saves your life. That’s what Kathy and Vicki did for me.”   

When asked what she would tell another person needing help because of a conviction history, Wendy shared, “You have to want to change. Even if you don’t succeed the first time – Pioneer will still be there for you, but you need to have the fight to keep trying to make a positive change. If you fail – don’t give up – keep trying! Don’t hide or be ashamed, ask for help and all the resources that are available. That is what Pioneer has – endless resources. They care and want to give you the opportunity to succeed!”