Employee Spotlight: Charting a new course, from customer service to real estate

A few short months after graduating high school, Jeana Tye began working as temp employee on a conversion project. By spring, she was a regular employee in our Contact Center, enjoying her role helping our customers. She knew she had found a place where she could grow so she set her sights on advancing and ultimately running the contact center, which she did for 11 years.

During the pandemic, finding herself stuck at home with a limited social life, Jeana set a goal to take advantage of these circumstances and learn a new skill. Real estate had always been a passion, combined with the many opportunities real estate investment can offer. Jeana dug in and completed her pre-licensing training, passed the real estate exam and completed her post-licensing training. For the next several years, Jeana successfully ran our contact center and sold residential real estate in her free time. Her skills translated nicely. At this point, she had about 15 years’ customer service and problem-solving experience, which she applied to her new customers. Last fall, longtime Alaska Communications manager, real estate, Gayle Doty, approached Jeana to share news of her upcoming retirement. She encouraged her to consider the role. Knowing this was an opportunity she didn’t want to miss, Jeana pursued the role and is now our new manager, real estate.

“Alaska Communications has invested in me and my growth,” she said. “I look forward to bringing value and contributing to the company in my new role. I would love to be able to retire from ACS someday.”

Her advice to people considering career changes is to not be afraid. When you follow your passion and are intentional about what you’re doing, you set yourself up for success, but be prepared for a learning curve. A tactic that works for her is creating vision boards. She creates them for her personal, financial and business goals. “I look forward to plugging in our corporate real estate goals as well,” she said.

Jeana’s journey from customer service to real estate showcases the potential of embracing change and pursuing your evolving calling. Her story reminds us that it’s never too late in our careers to redefine our paths. Thanks, for everything you do, Jeana!?