A Legacy of Service
By Karen Breakfield, who retired this month after 33 years of service as Administrative Manager, AT&T in Charlotte, NC. She is looking forward to continuing her volunteering and service to the community.
This spring, I am retiring from AT&T after 33 years of service. It is bittersweet to leave a company where I have spent my entire career, and while I am looking forward to my retirement, I will miss the many amazing opportunities I had while with the company.
One of the things I will miss most about AT&T is the commitment to service I have shared with my employer. Over many years, I have spent my time assisting with company-sponsored community events, as well as personal charities outside of work. I have held positions in both Pioneers/BellSouth Women’s Networking Alliance (BWNA) and Women of AT&T (WOA). WOA helps to ensure professional and personal development for continuous growth, advancement and success through education, mentoring and networking to benefit both the individual as well as the corporation. It was quite an experience to bond and help my female colleagues. This year, I was thrilled to be one of the more than 4,000 AT&T employees being recognized for helping to achieve great things in our communities through the President’s Volunteer Service Award – what a way to culminate my tenure with the company!
I believe everyone should take part in assisting in our communities where and when possible – making things better begins with each of us. I have tried to live through this philosophy in my daily life, both at work and at home. My children have grown up knowing the importance of giving back, and while I did not often tell them about my day-to-day responsibilities, they were regularly involved in the community events and charities that AT&T sponsored. This has helped them in becoming citizens in their own communities and careers, and I am honored and proud to have been a part of shaping that in each of them.
This year, during the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer week, I am pledging to continue my service to my community and hope others will follow suit. By working together to create change, we have the collective power to make a positive impact – one person, one neighborhood at a time. Thank you, AT&T, for allowing me the opportunity to give back.
