Honoring our Veteran Employees

In honor of Veteran’s Day, we are highlighting a few of our employees who bravely served in the military. They share what went into their decision to serve, details of their time enlisted, their transition into civilian life, and their path to finding WebstaurantStore. The employees below are in various departments throughout the company. ?

Thank you to all veterans for their service, and for the veterans at WebstaurantStore, we are proud to have you with us. ?

John Grijalva , Logistics Specialist:?

The decision to serve was deeply personal and steeped in a family tradition of military service. My grandfathers, with one serving in the Navy and the other in the Marines, alongside my father's time in the Air Force, were instrumental in guiding my choice to enlist at 18 years old right out of high school.?

I served proudly in the Air Force for over 20 years, in the Security Forces career field. My early days were rooted in air base defense operations as an apprentice. My dedication and commitment led me to the position of Personal Security Officer for the Commander of Air Force Space Command, a role that came with 24/7 responsibilities. I spent 4 years as a military trainer at the United States Air Force Academy. Here, I served as the senior enlisted advisor for a 100-man cadet squadron and took on the mantle of program director for a character and leadership development program. I later went on to lead a 120-man security forces flight as the flight chief. In this pivotal role, I spearheaded the air base defense effort, ensuring the safety of over $9 billion in assets and the protection of over 18,000 personnel. My deployments spanned across the globe, with 19 countries in total including Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Jordan, among numerous others.?

Returning to civilian life was not without its challenges, especially in translating my vast military experiences into civilian roles. My pathway to WebstaurantStore came through my daughter, Mariah, who is part of the Customer Solutions division at Web. Within Web, I found a new arena to apply the skills I developed in the military. The emphasis on teamwork, the ability to perform under pressure, and working with diverse individuals were competencies I carried from my time in service to my role at Web.?

While my service took me across the globe, my heart and appreciation remain anchored to the US. Serving in the military was more than a duty, as wearing the cloth of our nation filled me with immense pride and a profound sense of purpose. The unwavering support and guidance from my family have been instrumental in shaping my post-military chapter, both at Web and beyond.?

Cornelius Harrison, Employee Experience Specialist:?

My decision to serve was sparked primarily by a desire to leave my hometown in Norfolk, VA, and search for a career that had purpose, direction, and structure. Naturally, the military met all those needs that I had, so I decided to enlist in 1990.?

I served in the Army from 1990 – 2012, and retired in Heidelberg, Germany, as a Master Sergeant. I initially enlisted as a Combat Photographer, and as I was promoted through the enlisted ranks, I served as a Team Leader, Drill Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, and Senior Enlisted Advisor for general officers. I have deployed several times – Bosnia, Kuwait, and Iraq. I have also been stationed abroad in Germany (x2), Korea, and Hungary.?

After retirement in 2012, I considered joining the civilian work force immediately, but decided to take some time off to demilitarize and reflect on my quality of life. My wife is also an Army retiree, who was deployed to Afghanistan when I retired, so my focus was on my two daughters – who were teens at the time.?

I heard about WebstaurantStore through Indeed, and after researching the company, thought that I would be a good fit. My tenure at Web has been great as I have been able to apply many leadership traits to my daily duties as an Employee Experience Specialist. In the Army as leaders, we took great pride in taking care of our soldiers, and in my role now, I get to serve in the same capacity.?

Alex Houston, CTFL , Software QA Supervisor 1:

I grew up in Charlotte, NC, where I received a partial scholarship offer to play junior college basketball following high school. However, I had already determined the proverbial ‘school bell’ to have rung on my desire to continue formal education. Joining the military was an easy decision because I did not want to simply hang around town and find some odd job to pass the time.?

I signed with a recruiter to join the US Army, but during that time a parent’s signature was also required. My father, really wanting me to join the US Air Force, advised me to wait another day or two to be certain, and he would then sign if I still wanted to join the Army. I ultimately sided with my father and went into the Air Force in 1985.?

After completing Basic Training and Technical School, I was excited to grow my skills and talent as an Intelligence Specialist beginning in the United Kingdom for three years (where my 2.4 lb. daughter was born in a British hospital, thereby receiving dual US and Great Britain citizenship). My eventual Air Force travels would also take me to Maryland (National Security Agency), Italy, Germany, and Japan. Regrettably, I only spent a total of nine years before deciding to return to the civilian world.??

Since leaving the Air Force, I have been fortunate to spend time in several different industries working with software, from e-commerce (Lendingtree), to medical (University of Maryland Medical Systems), to motorsports - NASCAR, IndyCar, LeMans, etc. (Pratt and Miller Engineering). Eventually, our love of travel caused my wife and I to relocate from Charlotte, NC, to the Tampa, Florida, area to enjoy the climate, beaches, and military base proximity.?

WebstaurantStore was my very first interview in the Tampa area. However, I opted to work at Publix and then on to Price Waterhouse Cooper until I finally found my way “home” with WebstaurantStore in 2020. Apart from the absolutely loving what I do from day to day, the culture here as well as the cast of people on our SW Development / QA Teams sometimes make work not really seem like “work.”?

Dionte Jones, Customer Solutions Specialist:?

There were a couple of reasons that I decided to serve. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA with honors, however, I did not receive an academic scholarship and did not want to take out student loans. By joining the Air Force, I was able to obtain a skill while also going to school for free. I also wanted to travel the world and see other places that people would only dream about.??

I served in the United States Air Force as a fuel technician for 8 years. During that time, I was able to join a family that was unlike any other organization in the world. The camaraderie inside the military differs drastically from the civilian side because you are literally living and going to battle, so the connections are a lot tighter. I deployed twice to Qatar in support of Iraqi Enduring Freedom for 6 months each time. Through those deployments, I learned discipline, attention to detail, and the true meaning of sacrifice. Watching the bodies of those killed just miles away changed my mindset, and it forced me to cherish this great thing we called life.??

After serving for 8 years, I got the call from God to get out of the military and pursue ministry. I currently serve as the Assistant Pastor in Albany, Georgia. While transitioning back to civilian life, I found WebstaurantStore. Joining Web has been a Godsend. The Air Force was big on training and ensuring that airmen adapt to any situation and circumstance. I was able to bring that same mindset over to Web, as we are constantly changing every day. Additionally, I was trained that there is no "I" in team. A strong team gets results. On my current team, I serve as a moraler, so it is my job to ensure that morale is always at a high level. I do this by ensuring that each person understands their role and no one is left out. While the military has a different organizational structure, the transition was seamless because of the training I learned while I served. Our core values in the Air Force are “Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.” Those values are still implanted in everything that I do at Web.?

Drew McClune , Director of Facilities:?

As a kid, I grew up playing with GI Joes and watching Top Gun. My grandfathers served in WWII and Korea, and I loved the idea of supporting a common cause bigger than myself and serving my country. Watching my older brother attend the US Naval Academy and later serve in the USMC cemented my decision to serve. My brother has been a significant influence on me, and when I was in 11th grade, he recommended that I attend Penn State and earn a commission in the US Navy through Naval ROTC.???

While I was a senior at PSU and in ROTC, the events of 9/11 unfolded. I knew that I would be commissioned as an Ensign the following year once I graduated from Penn State during a period of heavy conflict. Every home flew an American flag and patriotism was strong across the United States, and I could not have been prouder to have the opportunity to serve to combat terrorism.????

I earned a commission as an Ensign in the US Navy in May 2002 and attended flight school shortly after to become a Naval Flight Officer aboard P-3C Orion aircraft whose primary mission was anti-submarine warfare. During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, many of our missions centered around intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Although I qualified as a mission commander and weapons and tactics instructor in the Orion, I learned I would not get to fly indefinitely during my career as the Navy values diverse job experiences amongst its Naval Officers.???

A degree in civil engineering paved the way for me to be the lead engineer on a provincial reconstruction team in Ghazni, Afghanistan. I worked closely with local Afghans to develop and build their infrastructure in Ghazni. Following that deployment, I found myself in the role of not flying but supporting naval aviation as a catapult and arresting gear officer (a.k.a. shooter) onboard the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis (CVN 74). Think of the beginning of Top Gun when they show the footage on the flight deck. I was the guy with the green helmet and yellow jersey launching the aircraft… a truly awesome experience. After that, the Navy got me back in the seat flying P-8A Poseidons with the contingency that I would also be the Maintenance Officer in a squadron.? Because the Navy gave me another opportunity to fly, they then required me to complete another tour supporting aviation, which was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) as the Combat Direction Center Officer. I was in charge of defending the ship, and our claim to fame was during Covid when we set the record for most consecutive days at sea (207 days) without seeing a port, not a record I wish upon anyone.?

After 20 years, six deployments, nine duty stations, and countless days away from family, I retired as a Commander in August 2022.????????

Little did I know, I was participating in a 17-year internship with my father-in-law, Fred Clark. He had been evaluating me since I met his daughter and offered me a job as a Director of Facilities at Clark Associates when he learned that I’d be retiring from the Navy. The Navy exposed me to a variety of people and jobs, which forced me to work well with others and problem-solve. Both traits proved vital in my transition to my new civilian career in facilities. I also had the privilege of working with phenomenal leaders and learned what characteristics helped them succeed. The best leaders exemplified what I coined as my four P’s: Positive Attitude, Patience, Presence, and Professionalism, and I aspire to excel at these.????

As I gathered photos for this article, I came across some pictures of deployment homecomings. Homecomings are the best and remind me of how much I love and appreciate support from family and friends. My wife can attest that I’m not an emotional person, but when I come across these pictures I get choked up every time.?

Andrew Penhorwood , Sr. Software Engineer 1:?

The year was 1984 and I was fresh out of high school. Jobs were scarce and while I already knew two computer languages, BASIC and Z80 machine language, I didn’t see my computer skills as more than a hobby. My older brother, fresh out of auto mechanic school, decided to join the US Air Force. An article about cryptography that I read in a magazine and my brother’s influence led me to enlist in the Air Force for 6 years. At the time if you enlisted for 6 years, they promoted you to Airman First Class out of Basic Training. I became an Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) analyst and was stationed at Security Hill and Kelly AFB in San Antonio, TX, Kadena AB in Okinawa, Japan, and Bergstrom AFB in Austin, TX.?

My time in the Air Force was short, but I had some great opportunities. I was Airman of the Year for my unit at Kelly and for the Electronic Security Command’s lower 48 states. I didn’t make the next round, so I missed going to meet the President. In Kadena, I worked with the SR-71, one of the most admired aircraft to take to the skies. Since I had a personal background in computers and continued to develop my skills in programming, I would use them at work. I co-wrote an intel plotting system at Kelly where we entered data and then plotted it out on a large-scale plotter. For that project, the US Air Force gave me a medal. All was going great, but then in 1986, my brother drowned while stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City.?

His passing had a profound effect on me. I began a journey of wanting to know what happens to someone when they die. My brother was 24 years old; his body was here, but the part that gave him life was now gone. I needed to understand that. Through a chain of events, while stationed at Kadena AB, I gave my heart to Jesus and became a Christian. My newfound faith changed the trajectory of my life. I began pursuing a career as a minister. I separated from the Air Force and found employment at a local computer retailer. They hired me because I was a programmer, but I spent most of my time learning hardware from the owner of the company.?

I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1991 to train at Rhema Bible Training Center, a two-year Bible school for ministry. Computers paid the bills while attending school as I worked at a bank as a computer operator. After school I moved back to Ohio and worked at several computer-related jobs, from installing networks, building custom personal computers, programming, and running an internet service provider. I also was an associate pastor of a few churches, but those jobs never came with a salary.?

In 2000 I moved to the mission field in Brazil and ran a Bible school for one year and then pastored a church in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. There I met my wife and started a family. We moved back to the States in 2005 and I once again turned to computers to pay the bills. I had learned ColdFusion prior to moving to Brazil. I became a contract programmer and moved all over the US writing code for the University of North Carolina, Cayton Homes, Discover Card, and others. In 2020, I was the head of IT of a trucking company in Ohio when COVID hit. The trucking company decided to outsource the whole IT department, so I returned to writing code in ColdFusion. I interviewed with WebstaurantStore, and in June of 2020, was hired as a Senior Software Engineer.?

Amy Smee, Operations Manager:?

I knew from a young age that I wanted to join the military. As a kid, I would play with GI Joes. I always got excited when I saw military vehicles. When I was very young, around six or seven, I remember having a conversation with my grandmother that I wanted to be an officer in the military. It stuck with me. I graduated from high school in the 11th grade and joined the military shortly after I graduated. I was only 17 when I joined, so my mom had to sign the papers to let me in.???

I served in the Army for 10 years; I was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington with the 864th Engineers. I was deployed twice. I did one tour in Iraq in 2003 - 2004, where I earned a Bronze Star, and then another tour in Afghanistan from 2005 - 2006. It was a challenging and dangerous experience, but also rewarding and meaningful. I was a heavy equipment operator and specialized in operating the road grader.????

After finishing my service in the military, I started a career in the grocery industry. It started out as a part-time job while I was going to school. I always gave 100% effort into whatever I did, and that paid off. What started at a part-time job ended as a store manager at two different grocery stores.????

I stumbled onto WebstaurantStore through someone I worked with at the grocery store. She told me about the company and how much she liked working there. She convinced me to apply for a leadership position at the warehouse. I was hesitant at first because I did not have much experience in a warehouse, but she assured me that they would train me and support me, and with my management experience it would be a good fit. She was right. Once I made the leap, I found that it was a great place to work. They appreciated my hard work, they took my dedication seriously, and they understood the work-life balance. I found that the adaptability I learned in the Army helped me adapt to a new career in the warehouse. They also valued my skills and experience from the military.???

Looking back on my journey, I can see how much I have grown and changed as a person. From the military to the grocery industry to the warehouse, I have faced different challenges and opportunities, but I have always stayed true to myself and my values. I have learned to be adaptable, resilient, and resourceful in any situation. I have also learned to be grateful for what I have and to give back to others whenever I can.?