Kandis Jamison, from Mt. Sterling, KY., began her freshman year making brooms for Student Crafts. Now a senior, she still loves making brooms. Broomcraft is a hands-on labor assignment. It's dusty, hot, and your hands get color-streaked from the dyed broomcorn.
But Kandis took to broom making as naturally as her hair is red. She didn't just learn to make brooms - she excelled at making brooms, earning the respect of her supervisor, Lonnie Reed. "She has a great attitude, never complains, and is a big help teaching the craft to beginners," says Reed. "I couldn't expect anyone to give any more than she does."
Reed's quality standard and attitude set a good management example. "Making a Shaker broom requires six inches of hand braiding the broomcorn to the broom handle, taking me nearly ten minutes per broom. Because Lonnie understands my limits, he doesn't pressure me to make an unreasonable quota of Shaker brooms during my two hour shift," explains Kandis. "And if Lonnie's attitude indicated he didn't want to be at work, I wouldn't want to be there," she adds.
"I like my job because I'm creating a tangible product," says Kandis. "I like seeing the results of what I've done." She often gives brooms for presents to her family. "One wall in our home is called the 'wall of brooms' because we have so many!"
Another thing Kandis likes about working at Broomcraft is the chance to "meet so many visitors and alums. Some alums come back for 50 year reunions. I like hearing about their labor positions, how much they were paid, and what life was like in those days."
Each year one Student Craft student is chosen to demonstrate broom making in October at the Kiyosato County Fair in Japan. This year that student is Kandis, giving her a unique opportunity to meet thousands of the Fair's attendees.
Learning production and marketing hands-on is a real business plus for Kandis. "Thanks to my Berea experiences, I feel ready for the challenges of owning and managing my own business."
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