Here I was in 1972 . . .
. . . and here I am in 2008!!
Hi. This is Robbie Grier. I'm originally from Gastonia and Charlotte, NC. From July of 1999 until April of 2004 I lived in Atlanta. I was a Corporate Sales Trainer in Tucker and a Sales Manager in the Morrow office with The Real Yellow Pages from BellSouth [now AT&T Advertising Solutions]. In April 2004 I moved to Florida. I was a Sales Manager in our West Palm Beach/Deerfield Beach offices. Then I was the Area Sales Trainer for the West Palm and Fort Lauderdale districts. Next I was Sales Manager - Support for the Miami district, with offices in Miami and the Hollywood area. Then back to the Fort Lauderdale office as Sales Manager - Major Accounts. Then, Sales Manager in the Emerald Coast District, alternating between Tallahassee [January thru June] and Fort Walton Beach/ Destin [July thru December]. Next I was the Continuation Trainer for New Orleans. Now, I'm back in my most favorite job ever - Initial Sales Training - in Birmingham, Alabama!!! [I'm thinking of changing my ringtone to Willie Nelson singing "On The Road Again" - LOL] I've been blessed with working with some wonderful folks in the various offices, but I love my new gig! And, as anyone who knows me would tell you, my absolute favorite thing is training!!! As I laugh and tell folks - I'd do it for free if I could afford to!!!!!
Growing up in Gastonia, I attended Central Elementary, Grier Jr. High, and Ashbrook High School (class of '72). After graduating, I attended Wake Forest, Gaston College, and UNC Charlotte (where I was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity). I returned to UNC Charlotte in the Fall of 1993 and graduated in December of 1998 with my B.A. in Communication Studies and a minor in English.
Before coming to BellSouth in March of 1993, I spent many years in the car business in both Gastonia (Earl Tindol Ford) and Charlotte (Independence Nissan).
My two daughters both still live in North Carolina. Tanya is a UNC Charlotte grad and was back there again working on her Master's degree. She completed her studies in the Spring 2007 semester. She lives in Winston-Salem. Erin graduated from UNC Charlotte as well. She lives in Charlotte. Erin is an Independent Sales Director with Mary Kay. If you need any of their products, let her know!! By the way, my Mom was also a UNC Charlotte grad - it's gotten to be sort of a family thing!!
Erin bought her first house and moved in over the 2006 Thanksgiving holiday. The best thing – she says that there is a room for ol’ Dad when I come to visit!!
Update: Tanya and Toby bought a house in Winston-Salem in November of 2009!! I look forward to seeing them when I head up to the Carolinas. She always says there's plenty of room for me when I come!!
In January 2003 I took the plunge and returned to school. I attended the University of Phoenix to get my M.B.A., starting at the Atlanta campus. When I moved to Florida, I attended class in Fort Lauderdale for a while. Because of some travel with the Training job, I finished up with a blend of on-ground and online classes and graduated July 16, 2005. Even though I occasionally fussed about the work, I loved being back in school. UOP is a great program. I am considering a doctoral degree, however, any further studies will have to wait until at least sometime in
Growing up in Gastonia, I was a member of Olney Presbyterian Church. In fact, in many ways I still, to this day, consider it my "home" church. Mom remained a member there and continued to sing in the choir as long as her health allowed. I attend services there every time I'm in Gastonia and it STILL feels like coming home.
Many of the members there were friends, mentors, and teachers of mine as I was growing up and I thank God for their friendship and guidance. Under the leadership of their fairly new pastor, Mike Sears, they remain a solid, viable, and relevant force in the world. If you live in the South Gastonia area and are looking for somewhere to worship God with some good "old-time religion" folks who are concerned about their community today, then visit Olney and tell Mike that Robbie sent you!!
While I was in Atlanta I was a member of Clairmont Presbyterian Church. I still attend anytime I get back to Atlanta. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming. On Sunday mornings there is a contemporary service and a traditional service. If you're in Atlanta, living or visiting, and want a church to visit, be sure to go by Clairmont - and tell them Robbie sent you!
While I was in South Florida I was a member at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Lauderdale. If you are in or near the Fort Lauderdale area and want a church to visit, go worship with them and tell them I said "Hi".
In Tallahassee, I found a church home at Faith Presbyterian Church. As the web site says “At Faith Presbyterian Church, we welcome all persons who seek to know, love and serve Jesus Christ and who want to grow and mature as Christ's faithful disciples.” There are multiple services each Sunday and plenty of programs for all. If you’re in Tallahassee and want to visit, let them know I sent you!
With my move to New Orleans, I'm found the community of faith that God has in store for me. As our Mission States says - "We at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church are called by God’s grace to be a community of faith in Jesus Christ, supporting one another in love, and trusting in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to bring hope and healing to a broken world." If you're in the New Orleans area visiting, or maybe you're looking for a church home, feel free to come and sit with me!!
To find out more about us, or find worship service times, click HERE
If you're a friend from the past (or present for that matter) and want to write, send email to rhgrier@hotmail.com Hope to hear from ya!
Now I'm on Twitter!! While at this point, I don't post a lot of Tweets, I may post more as time passes. We'll see. To follow my Tweets, click here.
This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 KJV
All content © 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Robbie Grier
