90 Years. 90 Stories.

Tyla Blair

Tyla is a former employee of Purcell Tire.

In 1991, the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, I started working at Purcell Tire. As the “floater,” I worked wherever I was needed — in accounting, marketing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and reception.

Although I was still in high school, I was never treated like I was inexperienced or unimportant. I felt respected, trusted, and valued. Many of Purcell’s office staff took the time to teach me, give me responsibilities, and show me how a business really worked. And yes, I even learned Lotus 1-2-3 — the OLDDDDD version of Excel! Purcell Tire also helped pay for some of my college education through tuition reimbursement. That meant so much to me at the time, and looking back, I realize what a tremendous investment it was in a young employee who was just getting started.

I stayed at Purcell Tire until 1996, when I accepted my current position as the Business Manager of Potosi School District. The skills I developed there — organization, accounting, customer service, responsibility, problem-solving, and an understanding of how the pieces of an organization fit together — became the foundation for a career that has now spanned more than 30 years.

But the greatest thing I gained wasn’t the on-the-job experience. It was the people. I made friendships at Purcell Tire that have lasted a lifetime. One memory that will always stand out is Bob and Juanita taking time away from managing a huge corporation to attend my wedding. Even with their incredibly busy schedules, they made time to be there for me! That gesture says everything about the kind of people they are.

Looking back, Purcell Tire wasn’t simply my first job. It was where I learned to believe in myself, discovered the value of hard work, and experienced the lasting impact of people who invested in my future.

I’m incredibly grateful for those years, the lessons, the opportunities, and, most of all, the lifelong friendships.

Sometimes your first job isn’t just where your career starts. It’s where the foundation is built, and I will forever be grateful for my friends and co-workers at Purcell Tire!