Johnsons's Garden Centers Text File document - copyright 2005
PDF file available at http://www.johnsonsgarden.com/newsletter/profiles.html

Managing His Final Semester
April 2005
Carolyn Utter, Johnson's Marketing Director

    For most people, a 21-hour semester would keep them plenty busy.
Many of us would be maxed out just taking on a new management position.
Jonathan Anderson is doing a very fine job of doing both of these things
at the same time!

    Jonathan has been employed in the nursery at Johnson's since the
fall of 2000, the middle of his senior year at Maize High School. He's
now in his final semester at Friends University where he's pursuing a
degree in Religion and Philosophy. If everything goes as planned, he'll
graduate with honors in May. Add to that a recent promotion to Nursery
Manager at Johnson's West 13th store and you have a taste of what life
is like for Jonathan. Busy.

    Jonathan is also very active with campus ministries and has been
involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes for the past three years
and in charge of Friends' FCA for the past two years. FCA meets every
couple of weeks seeking ways to encourage the school's athletes.

    Encouraging people seems to come naturally to Jonathan. When asked
what he likes best about his new responsibilities as Nursery Manager,
his reply focused on the efforts of others. "I like the chance to see
the best in my staff. They work so well together and help me so much."
Jonathan's ability to encourage others and see the best in people will
come in handy in his future plans. After taking a couple of years off
school, he plans to enter the seminary and would some day like to become
a pastor.

    For now, Jonathan will concentrate on finishing school and continue
getting the West 13th Store's nursery ready for spring. Jonathan and his
crew have done a fine job of doing just that and they stand ready to
help you select trees and shrubs to beautify your landscape.

    In the little spare time he has, Jonathan likes to read, although he
notes "there's not much time to read much more than school books." He
found time recently to read "Messy Spirituality, God's Annoying Love for
Imperfect People" by Michael Yaconelli. "I've really wanted to read that
for a long time" he explained. "It's about spirituality for people who
often don't feel very spiritual."

    Jonathan also enjoys a good game of soccer, having played the game
for most of his life. In grade school, Jonathan played with a club team
that travelled all over the country. He went on from there to play at
Maize High School and just finished his last soccer season at Friends.

    Jonathan's family includes his parents and one brother. His mom
works in the Fine Arts department at Friends University and his father
owns a business designing kitchens. Jonathan's older brother, Chris, is
a school teacher at Harry Street Elementary.  At the Friends graduation
ceremony this May, Jonathan and his brother will "walk" together, as
Chris is earning his Masters Degree from Friends at the end of the
semester. "He already walked for his undergraduate degree, but mom
insisted that we walk together." Jonathan's girlfriend of four years,
Erin Friend, will surely be there, too, to share in Jonathan's big day.

    Once graduation is out of the way, Jonathan looks forward to
devoting all of his time in the nursery. He credits all his past and
present supervisors for making his time at Johnson's such a good
experience. "Everyone has been great to work with. I have the highest
respect for all of them and they've always shown respect towards me."

    No doubt, Jonathan will succeed at whatever he puts his mind to. He
recalls with a chuckle that he applied at Johnson's three times before
he was hired. Lucky for us he was so persistent!