It’s said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Jean Atchley’s seven-year (and counting) journey at Texas Health began with a walk across the street.
“I was working as a manager at Grandy’s across town,” said the Food & Nutrition Services team lead at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. “I don’t drive, so after my husband passed away, I really wanted to find something closer to home. I applied three times, but I finally got in. It worked out really well for me.”
Atchley’s extensive experience in food services shows, said Molly Rios, director, Food & Nutrition Services at Texas Health Arlington Memorial.
“Jean is the definition of teamwork,” Rios said. “She jumps in and helps no matter what position or task needs to be completed. She picks up and covers open shifts. She has been known to leave work and come back in to help when we are short. She is always looking for ways to be better and improve the process. She is organized, caring and compassionate. Jean makes our department better.”
Read more about Atchley in her own words:
What did you want to be as a kid, and how did you ultimately choose your career?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. When I was a teenager, I thought I’d be a secretary, but I didn’t really pursue it. I mostly worked jobs close to home, so that if I didn’t have transportation, I could walk to and from work.
When I graduated high school, my cousin who lived down here needed a roommate. She worked at the airport and told me that if I agreed to move in, she’d help me get a job there, too. So, I got a job at a restaurant at the airport, and that’s how I first started in the food business.
What do you like about your job, and what are the challenges?
It can be physically demanding, but it’s so friendly here and I really like it. I enjoy working with all the different personalities and seeing so many people with different skills. I spend a lot of time in the back, so I don’t have as much contact with our customers as some of my co-workers do.
What’s a typical day like?
I usually help with the tray line, and then I just float, making sure all the positions are covered and helping anyone who needs it. I know pretty much all the positions here, so I can fill in wherever I’m needed.
What is your department doing to improve the consumer experience?
We’re trying to up our game a lot, and our leaders are always asking for our input. We recently implemented a meal host program. We’re going to the rooms and delivering the trays to patients personally, instead of just bringing the carts upstairs and having the nurses deliver the meals.
We’re also making some changes in the cafe, celebrating the different holidays with special foods. And we’ve added all different kinds of specialty salads for the salad bar.
What’s something people would be surprised to know about you?
I grew up on my dad’s dairy farm. I have eight brothers and two sisters (I fall somewhere in the middle). My job was mostly helping my mom with the cooking and cleaning, and I also did all the mowing. At haying time, I helped load the hay bales onto a wagon, so lifting boxes at work doesn’t seem all that hard to me.
