FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Mary Katherine Henley
April 13, 2015Media Relations Marketing Coordinator
(580) 242-2750, Ext. 226
RESTAURANTEUR TO TRUCK DRIVER TO AUTRY
ENID,Okla. Suzanne Smith is never still for long, whether it be bouncing around the room or bouncing from one career to the next.
Smith is a self-proclaimed "Jill-of-all-trades," having done everything from owning a restaurant in Florida to driving 18-wheelers with her twin sister. Now, she is graduating from the surgery technology program in July.
Born in Georgia, Smith moved to Enid recently from Alabama when her husband got a job as a lineman for Power Secure, who is contracted by Sandridge.
Smith didn’t take the half cross-country move as a setback, however. She took it as an opportunity to start a new career.
“I was just driving by Autry one day and decided to stop,” Smith said. “I initially thought about doing something administrative.”
She had never heard about surgery technology before, but when one of Autry’s career counselors got to know her, they quickly suggested it. Smith took to surgery technology immediately.
“The best thing about surgery technology is the excitement,” Smith said. “You never know what you’re going to be doing.”
When she graduates, Smith plans on concentrating in labor and delivery.
“I love the idea of specializing in one field so I can really excel at it,” Smith said. “I plan on finding a job at a hospital in Enid.”
Autry Technology Center has been a part of the Enid community since 1967 and is one of 29 CareerTech schools across Oklahoma. The center has more than 25 career programs and offers a wide variety of evening and weekend short-term courses and certifications for many diverse career fields. Autry serves nearly 13,000 individuals each year, including many area employees who receive training through the Business and Industry Services Department that works with over 500 local businesses each year.
# # #