Through this initiative, we are advancing the way we collect and share the voices of workers we serve. This initiative intends to develop a collection of interviews and professional images reflecting workers’ experiences. This interview is with Tobey Miller, a Production Leader at MM Solutions. He has been with MM Solutions for 3 years.
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On His Background
“I grew up in a military household. My dad was in the Air Force. I joined the Army National Guard in Minnesota when I was 22. Basic training was just my childhood all over again. I already knew how to do military corners and where to put my hands at the table. I’d already had good discipline.”
“I’m the oldest of 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I was one who got to make all the mistakes and get away with it. I was kind of like the leader of the kids and the example. I think that’s helped me a lot with joining the military and with being a type of manager or leader in every job I’ve ever held.”
On His Career
“I was in the Army National Guard for 6 years. I was a truck driver and drove in supplies, troops, and food. Basically, whatever was needed. I unfortunately was never deployed, which I guess was fortunate. My mom’s very thankful.”
“I’m the lead of the production shop at MM Solutions. I run a really tight ship. Things go in the same spot, we pay attention to detail, and we care for our bodies. We’ve implemented stretching at work to get ready for the day. We make sure stuff’s getting built and assembled correctly. I really like the teaching aspect of the job. I like that moment when you’re helping somebody struggle through something, and they just figure it out on their own. It is a great feeling to watch that happen. I remember walking out of my interview with MM Solutions and going home. I looked at my wife, and she asked how it went. I was like, I think I found my retirement job.”
On His Free Time
“I like to be busy. We do a lot. I have a lot of hobbies woodworking, building, and hunting . I dabble in everything. My kids and my wife and I like being outside. We hike every Sunday morning for about four hours.”
“I’m also a collector. I’ve been collecting Star Wars items since March 2nd, 1994. That’s when I first saw Star Wars. Star Wars is a big part of our life. Every action figure that I ever got as a kid, I still have unopened. My kids’ middle names are Luke and Leia.”
On His Challenges
“We moved to Colorado on January 1st, 2021. We really wanted to start 2021 with the move. My wife is originally from Colorado. We just bought our first house last year. That was exciting and stressful. We really wanted to have stability for our kids. Not like paying rent where we might have to move because the lease is up.”
“We saved up, got some help from the in-laws, and found a house that we liked. It was a huge, pivotal moment for me. I felt like I became an adult. It was a nice moment of self-satisfaction and pride. When we first moved to this HOA we had to water the lawn and keep it green. Our water bill got really expensive really fast. We also had to get new tires. With my wife’s car you need to buy all 4 tires. You can’t just buy 2 tires. We weren’t really prepared for that.”
“When I was younger it would have been embarrassing to ask for help but as an adult, I know, sometimes I need help. Sometimes things get away from me.”
“They’ll [Worklife] get you to where you need to go.“
“When I was younger it would have been embarrassing to ask for help but as an adult, I know, sometimes I need help. Sometimes things get away from me.”
“When I talked to WorkLife Partnership, they actually listened to me. They are not just yeah, yeah, okay. They want you to know that they are there for you. She listened and followed up with me. They also wanted to know how they were doing as a company. I like that, and that gained a lot of trust in my eyes.”
“We used the small dollar loan program and got some utility help. I don’t know all the programs that they offer but I would recommend people just call a navigator and talk to them. They’ll get you to where you need to go.“
On His Resiliency
“I would say my upbringing has made me more resilient. My dad was a military man, and he was tough, and you know there is a past there but the resiliency I developed keeps me going forward. When life pushes me down, I get back up.”
“Strangely enough, I also attribute my resiliency to Star Wars. That was something I grew up with, and it really stuck with me. I think that is why to this day, I still love it. The whole hero’s arc and one person believing in him. I learned a lot of resilience from that and from life in general.”
On What a Perfect Life Would Look Like
I want to get my kids through school, get them off, and start their lives in whatever path they choose. I want to someday retire with my wife, go live in the mountains, and have a small little business.
That’s what I want out of life -not too much. I just want to have good friends, work, and get to that retirement age where I can sit back and enjoy life and enjoy my kids and their kids, if they choose to have some.
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WorkLife’s Worker Voice Initiative aims to advance the way we uplift the voices of workers we serve, focusing on authentic stories from workers who experience systemic and societal issues that impact their ability to bring their whole selves to their jobs. If you’re interested in sharing your story, please email us at [email protected].