How Judy Wood, Lowe's longest-tenured associate, turned Lowe's into a lifelong career
When you’ve been at a company almost 45 years, it’s funny the small details you remember. When Judy Wood joined Lowe’s Corporate General Office in the spring of 1974, she distinctly remembers filling out a one-page paper application and taking her first steps into the N. Wilkesboro, North Carolina office. During her time at Lowe’s, Judy has seen the company grow tremendously. Back in the general office in 1974, she said, “you knew every [co-worker’s] face if not their name.”
After spending 24 years working at the general office, Judy changed her career path a bit in 1997 and decided to leave the corporate world. Since then, Judy has worked in three Lowe’s stores throughout North Carolina, starting in the front-end and then finding her passion on the sales floor. These days you can find her matching customers with their perfect flooring in Elkin, North Carolina.
All these years later, Judy heads into both Employee Appreciation Day and Women’s History Month with a lot to celebrate. March 2019 marks her 45th anniversary with the company, which means she is officially Lowe’s longest-tenured associate. What has kept her at Lowe’s all these years?
“I never thought I would be number one,” Judy shared. “I just love my Lowe’s family.”
She considers her customers part of that family as well. Her most memorable moments, she says, are when she “takes something simple and small and makes it beautiful” for her customers.
And she’s not planning to hang up her toolbelt any time soon.
“They can push me around in a wheelchair,” Judy joked when asked about her plans for the future.
Her store manager, Joanna Gibson, echoed her support of the idea.
“We will do it if it means we get to keep her!”, Gibson added.
Judy’s advice for those just entering the workforce: be strong, keep your focus, and take one day at a time. Because, she added, it will all go by very quick.
While Judy may be Lowe’s longest-tenured associate, she certainly isn’t the only one with some serious years under her belt. Check out some of these fast facts about Lowe’s Top 1,000 associates and what was happening in the world during the years they joined the company:
Interested in becoming part of the Lowe’s family? Find spring job opportunities at a Lowe’s store near you.
