Steve Calkins, our CEO and founder, wrote this letter announcing big news for one of our dearest colleagues and closest friends. The whole Statements family will miss Penny dearly, and wishes her well in her new adventures. Feel free to add a comment at the bottom of the post with your congratulations and best wishes.
April 30, 2010
Dear Friends,
It is a bittersweet time for Statements and for me as I announce the retirement of Penny Everhart.
Nearly twenty years ago, I found myself interviewing this exciting woman who had spent a number of years working for ‘The Bon Marche’. Penny had progressed as far as she could with The Bon and was looking for a new career. Eager to prove to me that she could be the best salesperson ever, we began a wonderful journey. During these past two decades, Penny has been an irreplaceable part of our work family at Uniq and at Statements. Through the years she influenced the decisions about product we would purchase. Traveling to stateside exhibitions and to Italy on buying trips she always focused on what her customers wanted and her design sense produced many exciting offerings. We worked hard and laughed often as Penny would lighten the moment with a family story about her dog chewing up a shoe or another story about her husband Tom, who we’ll miss nearly as much as Penny. And yes, most years she was our top producing salesperson.
Of course I will miss her but I am excited when she talks of more time for family and for travel and for being available for those who need her. Penny heads to Florida this week to kick off this new season in her life.
I know Penny has shared her news with some of you. Our hope was to celebrate with a retirement party, but that is not what Penny wanted. In her usual unselfish way, she just wanted to say goodbye without fanfare and tears. If you want to send a congratulations card, you can mail it to Statements and we will be sure to pass them on for you.
Thanks to all of you for supporting Penny and Statements through the years. Tony Etzkorn, who has been with Statements for nearly ten years (many as a salesperson in the north end), will be taking over Penny’s accounts. I am sure you will be comfortable with the transition as I have the utmost confidence in Tony.
May the road rise up to meet you, Penny, and the wind be always at your back!
Best regards,
Steve Calkins
Posts
Last Wednesday Valley Floor Company had a benefit for the 3 DAY Walk for Breast Cancer. Penny was there to represent Statements Tile knowing that she would only be working there a couple more days, she was very dedicated to her job. I was sad and happy at the same time, for Penny, as I have known her for more than 25 years. She has been my favorite rep of all, always sharing her life, good and bad, and making me laugh. I will miss her sweet voice and her great design ideas.
Bobbie Fritcher
May 4, 2010 @ 2:13 pm
Penny we will miss you! It has been great working with you over the years, your knowledge and expertise will be missed. I sincerely hope you enjoy the upcoming years- spending time with family and seeing the world! Take care,
Kyle
May 5, 2010 @ 8:13 am
Shucks, Penny, what can I say? I will miss your “Hey it’s Me!” on the phone and your straight-shooting perspective on life. Where many people stick to small talk about the weather (bor-ring!) you would break any situation down to the bare bones and embrace it for what it was: funny, sad, weird or what-have-you. I wish you & Tom all the best in this new chapter of life and look forward to hearing about your travels.
-Kimi
May 5, 2010 @ 8:26 am
Penny,
Ditto to what Kimi said. You live life fully, no matter what it throws at you. Your strength through good and bad times has been an example for all of us, and you deserve only the best in this new season. Two of my favorite memories are like bookends to your time working with Steve. The first was many years ago at a company party that Steve and Carol hosted in Edmonds. I remember you and Tom entertaining the whole crowd with hilarious stories of your lives. And then, years later, sitting around the picnic table this last summer at the company picnic at your house. Once again, you and Tom regaled the crowd with stories of your kids, your dogs, and your adventures at the local Wal-Mart.
All our love,
Ryan
May 5, 2010 @ 8:35 am
Penny you will be missed, however, I know the way to your beach house…I will hunt you down!!
So many great memories with you, I can’t even begin to list them all! Thanks for all the motherly advice! I can only hope to live up to your legend as a “super mom”!!
xoxo…Tonya
May 11, 2010 @ 1:34 pm
Hello,
My mom is Penny Everhart. I would like to share a few words about her.
My mom is the hardest worker I have ever met and probably will ever meet. She divorced my father early in life after many years on travelling the US, eventually ending up in Nashville because my dad was transferered there… if you get a chance, ask her about adventures, they are pretty amazing. In the end, she wound up with two kids under the age of three. She transported us kids (3 and 1.5 yrs) back to Washington from Tennessee. From then on she worked her butt (excuse the language) off to go back to school and earn a degree in interior design while working full time at The Bon Marche (now Macys) while raising two children who were in preschool and elementary school (she put my dad through school by working insane hours several years prior). She worked so hard sometimes I wondered if she ever slept. Her priority was her children and their future. She bought her first home on her own in Redmond only because it had a good school district. She didn’t care about where she lived, she just wanted to make sure that her kids has a good life. She wanted this so badly because she did not have the life that most kids should have. When my mom was 12 years old she lost her father to a car accident. Her mother (who I would’ve love to have know more) was her rock but was forced to support a family of 6 kids on a JCPenny wage. After the age of 12 my mother won the nation badmition champtionship–something she won’t tell most people because she is so humble.
Anyway, back to my life with mom… I am 28 now and my mom has been working with Steve in the tile industry for most of my life. She has been so dedicated to it and strived for perfection. She not only wanted to make great sales, she wanted to make her clients happy which most times went hand in hand. She never steered a designer in the wrong direction. She was brutally honest and her clients/designers respected her for that. She only did well because she treated everyone the way she would want to be treated. She is someone for all of us to look up to.
My mom is not only an amazing salesperson, she is an amazing mom. I cry as I write this but she opened so many doors for me and made my life so incredible. I love her to death and I know many of those around her do to. She is so incredible.
As a kid she wanted me to have the chance to take part in sports. One day she drove me to the Lake Washington Soccer Associateion office and asked that I be registered for a soccer team. They told her that it was closed and that there was no space available. But, it true Penny fashion, she did not take no for an answer. As we were driving away in mom’s old Volvo (those old timers know which Volvo I am talking about–thank God it is gone!) a lady came out banging on mom’s car saying that she found a spot–way to go mom!!!! I have now been playing for 23 years including college play. It is my mom who knew I had potential and got me there. If there was a way, my mom would get there.
In the end, I just want people to know that my mom is the most amazing person. She has always cared for others more than she has cared about herself–employees or family. She has never lied or miseld anyone, what you see is what you get with her. She has loved everyone she has worked with and often came home with fantastic stories. I know that she will miss working though she deserves a break after 48 years of working.
I love my mom dearly and I would never be where I am without her. She has pushed me to new levels, encouraged my when I was down and been the best friend I could ever ask for. I love her more than anything in the world.
Mom, you are my hero. I love you so much. I am so proud of you. I want to be the person you are but getting to that level is nearly impossible.
You are my rock, you are my best friend. I am so blessed to be your daughter. I LOVE YOU MORE.
Your daughter,
Alison
And yes, Travis and I will give you your first grandchild… just be patient
xoxox
May 14, 2010 @ 7:45 pm
Thank you Alison for a wonderful tribute to your mother! As you know, I have been a “Penny Booster” for twenty years. True to her word, she would always tell me what she thought.
Penny expressed great love and support for you and John. We enjoyed a running email commentary about our families and she expressed so often how much she was proud of you.
Thank you again for sharing…
Steve
May 20, 2010 @ 12:58 pm