By Kate Merrihew, Director of Education and Marketing
Hard to believe it has been 20 years, but this month we celebrate a long-standing member of the D.S. Murphy team, Dawn Cole.
Born and raised in Arizona, which is hard to find, this mountain-loving Director of Operations is the oldest of 13 grandkids. She lived the glorious life of an only child for a solid 9 years before her 2 sisters were born (9 and 10 years younger) and she realized that she liked chaos and being surrounded by big families. *Her brothers are 3 and 6 years older than her youngest son. In high school she was in JRROTC and was a lieutenant on the competition drill team. The team was known for a silent sequence of 25 (signaled and measured by taps on their shoes). They appeared in competition in California where they came in 2nd but were state champs in Arizona for 3 years. Dawn also did gymnastics and cheer (pop warner football) but she commented that athletics weren’t her thing.
Dawn first decided to go into apartment leasing and property management for a complex, she did apartment specific work for about 6 years and ended as a manager of her own complex. While working in that business she attended banking school and after leaving the Leasing/Property Management world, she performed various jobs in the banking industry, including collections before coming to D.S. Murphy. She started at D.S. Murphy on temp assignment in 2001. In 2003, she got a call asking if she knew of anyone for a new position. Lucky for D.S. Murphy, she was not happy with her current banking position back as a teller. She joined the team full time.
One of the happiest days of her life was marrying her husband Rick in February of 1995. She gained 3 phenomenal stepchildren that day as well (to add to her ‘little family’ of she and her son of almost 3 years). Shortly after, they moved to Whidbey Island in Washington State. She loved the greenery and living close to the water as well as the joys of small-town life. The kids enjoyed the ferry rides to other islands and trips to Dugualla Bay Farms for seasonal activities. She jokingly remarked that it took her “7 years to hate the rain.” Washington State began her trend of the “7-year itch.” She has lived all over the U.S. (mostly for 7 years at a time) and has only exceeded that by her time in Arizona. There was as stint in Kissimmee, FL, Alpharetta, GA and Fort Walton Beach, FL. She remembered the panhandle fondly as being the only place she would like to live again. In Alpharetta, the proximity to the mountains and camping opportunities were the biggest draw.
In 2013 she moved back to Arizona to be closer to her family. They had all stayed around the West Valley area and she longed for the revolving door of siblings and cousins and grandkids (of which she has 5 between the ages of 2.5 and 12). She continued working for D.S. Murphy remotely and still does today. She mentioned that the banking world “never leaves your brain” and she still sees the effects. She checks her bank account every day and if it’s off by a penny she said it “drives her crazy.” (I, for one, am happy she is the one looking out for our invoices.) D.S. Murphy has been a huge part of her life and she commented frequently during the interview about the uniqueness of the family created. She saw this company as a great opportunity to be a part of something with people you like and trust and with flexibility. Today Dawn is enjoying Arizona life and the occasional trip to GA for the D.S. Murphy family reunion.
We are so thrilled to be able to celebrate 20 years of attention to detail, running the numbers, following up with clients, occasional overuse of the CAPS LOCK with a huge heart and steadfast, loving loyalty.
I asked Dawn the following questions…
Q: What made you want to work in this industry?
A: I kind of fell upon it. I had started as a temp and it was one of my assignments. A lot of what I liked was just the people. Stephanie came along right about the time when I did. Opportunity knocked FOR me – god’s intervention. I didn’t really seek it out but even in the banking industry you are still in an admin position. The bottom line was the people who have stayed and the flexibility.
Q: What would you like to do when you are no longer working at DSMurphy?
A: Travel. We do travel a bit but it’s kind of limited. We have talked about getting an RV and having a trailer on the back for Rick’s motorcycle and my Camaro.
Q: What the weirdest thing you have come across in this line of work?
A: Some of the stories that the appraisers have. I should’ve started a book way back when. The javelina that Hugh Carver came across in a house back in the day really sticks in my mind. When people call and they are calling to get an appraisal and they don’t have the right information. Nothing amazes me anymore – you just kind of shake your head and say “welp, that’s a new one.”
Q: Something no one knows about you?
A: I’m a police officer’s daughter. I can pick up things with my toes. I’m pretty much and open book so I feel like everyone knows all the things. I have traveled to all 4 corners of the US but the farthest NE is New Hampshire.
Q: What words of wisdom can you share with the team?
A: Take a big breath before you communicate and don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff. In my own anxiety life, it’s just to breathe and try to take a moment to regroup. If not, you will go insane.