Welder Bob Bauman, of All Phases Welding & Fabrication, works on a floor joist bracket. Bauman has been welding for 23 years — even performing the job while serving in the U.S. Navy.
Earl Gibson has worked as a loader/operator at SMR Aggregates, a subsidiary of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch that mines and sells aggregates such as shell and sand, for about 15 years.
Amorelle Olsen has only worked in the Publix bakery for a few months, but she said she loves baking. "It’s something joyful," Olsen says of dishing out baked goods. "It’s a little frivolous, and yet you need (it)."
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing employee David Rafferty loads up a pallet of beer for distribution. Gold Coast distributes almost 1,000 different items to stores in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.
ICU nurse Brooks Westcott, who has worked at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center for six years, always knew she wanted to be a nurse. "It just seemed like the right thing to do," she said. "I like taking care of people."