Throughout the year, we feature employees sharing their unique stories about their time at Ritchie Bros. In this edition, Edna Wood, Regional Account Sales Coordinator, talks about being a so-called “military brat,” her connections to the military community, and how they benefit her in her role at Ritchie Bros.
April is the month of the military child and National Military Brats Day is celebrated on April 30. “Military Brat” was coined from the British military acronym BRAT standing for British Regiment Attached Traveler, which was a status assigned to families who were able to travel abroad with a soldier. April is a month to recognize and show appreciation for the selflessness and sacrifice military children have made in support of the service of their family members. Edna Wood, a core team member of the Ritchie Bros. SERVE (Military) Employee Resource Group, shares her own story as a military brat.
From Military Brat to Ritchie Bros.
I was born into the Navy and am a proud military brat. My father was stationed in Naples, Italy, where he met my mother who is originally from there. We moved around quite a few times over the 22 years my father was in active duty. That is probably the hardest part of being a military brat – all the moving. You meet someone, you click, and then you find out one of you is moving far away.
As part of a military family, you hardly see your active-duty family members when they are on assignment, so your military friends become like your family. Because of this (and all the moving that can come with being part of a military family), you end up with ‘family’ all over the place. That is probably one of the main benefits of being a military brat. However, back in the day, it was hard to stay friends with most of the people you became close to when your family or their family moved; but with technology being more widely available now, it’s easier for military brats to keep up with the family they’ve created for themselves all over the world.
Ending up with the best job ever
At the age of 18, I met my husband who had just joined the Navy, and we were married a few months later. This meant I had to go get a new Military ID. As a child, you get your ID at the age of 10, which is a big deal for a military brat. So, I went in with the ID that had my father’s information on it, and I came out of the office with my husband’s information on my ID. It was quite a proud moment for me to deepen my connection to the military community even further.
My journey with Ritchie Bros. started in March of 2018. My husband was retiring from the military after 24 years of active duty in the Navy. His last duty station was in Virginia Beach, VA and once he retired in 2017, we moved to Texas.
Once we got here, I started looking for a job. And that’s how I ended up with an amazing role at an awesome company, Ritchie Bros. I started as a Title Clerk and then moved into my current role of Regional Account Sales Coordinator.
Edna and her husband, Operations Specialist Chief (Surface Warfare) Retired, Jason Wood, US Navy
Discovering that same sense of community
At Ritchie Bros., I feel that same sense of connection, camaraderie, and family that I have experienced throughout my life as part of the military community. The “One Team – All in” mentality at Ritchie Bros. demonstrates we’re a close-knit unit and that we have each other’s backs. Further, people at Ritchie Bros. are genuinely interested in learning about you, understand the value your unique life experiences bring to the table, and are here to support you on your journey at the company just as you will do the same for them.
Being part of the military community has also benefited me in my role at Ritchie Bros., particularly when it comes to building relationships with customers. We get customers coming in from everywhere, and that’s one of the most exciting parts about working at Ritchie Bros. My connection to the military community means I have ‘family’ all over the world and, when I meet a customer from an area I have military family in, it helps me to build rapport and form a meaningful connection with the customer quicker. That, in turn, allows me to offer up solutions that will best meet their business needs and provide an exceptional customer experience.
At Ritchie Bros, we have quite a few colleagues who were (or still are) involved with the military and many have also become a part of my extended family. It’s really nice to work in this kind of environment – where connection to the military community is viewed as a strength, where teamwork and forming meaning relationships is valued, and where you have the opportunity to build a promising career.
I too am a military brat and lived all over Canada growing up. My father was in the service for 35 years including 5 years in the British Army. Ritchie Bros also has that same kind of vibe as a family. I also come across a lot of customers at the counter who I can identify with that have lived where I did or are delivering somewhere that I know. I have also formed a good relationship with many of them.
Thanks for sharing that, Susan.