Redirected labor

Jennifer Ferrero never envisioned being her own boss. But life took a turn when she lost her corporate communications position at Telect Inc. four years ago. “I didn’t have a goal of owning a business, but it’s been a wonderful surprise and a blessing,” said Ferrero, co-owner of Spokane Web Communications.

Over the past few years, layoffs reshuffled the deck for thousands of area employees. Amid dealing with uncertainty and loss of income, some workers took a gamble and found happiness on career paths less traveled.

After losing her position, Ferrero hatched Spokane Web Communications with Tony DeStefano, a program analyst who was facing a layoff from Telect. Their four-year-old award-winning company, which designs Web sites to suit specific professional needs, has clients that include Central Valley School District and Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority.

Both owners make 150 percent of their former salaries, she said, and enjoy more flexibility to accommodate their families. The business recently moved into an incubator space in Liberty Lake and the owners plan to hire staff this fall.

“Being laid off at Telect was probably the best thing that ever happened to us,” DeStefano said.

Kevin Pockell traveled the world setting up new foreign plants for Telect. After the telecommunications market started collapsing several years ago, he found himself closing the very plants he’d opened.

He connected with WorkSource Spokane – a partnership that includes the Washington state Employment Security Department and provides resources for displaced workers. “I took all the classes just because I hadn’t looked for a job in 30 years,” Pockell said.

After job hunting in the area, Pockell shifted gears and transformed his saltwater aquarium hobby into a retail business. In March 2003, he opened Aquatic Dreams in a suite on north Pines Road. The shop sells and ships live fish and invertebrates, corals and supplies.

Pockell, who once earned $80,000 a year plus bonuses, praised Telect for providing a generous severance package. That money, combined with a portion of his 401(k) account, opened the store and kept his family afloat during the transition.

He used his management skills and a template provided by the Small Business Association, to create a business plan. Volunteers from SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business, , which provides free, expert business counseling, favorably reviewed his financial figures and ideas.

The plan has been a key in predicting retail cycles, Pockell said, adding, “I was able to judge the business so I know every month where the business stands.”

Aquatic Dreams netted $13,800 the first year, he said, adding, “There’s a cut in pay!” Last year, gross sales climbed to $223,000 and his personal income improved.

While Pockell traveled extensively for Telect, today, the 48-year-old father of four works with his wife and son and drives just a few blocks to work.

“Now that I have my own business, I think, ‘How could I ever go back?’ ” Pockell said.

Kristen Maes of Liberty Lake lost her marketing job at Agilent Technologies Inc. four years ago. After working an unsatisfying position at another company and facing a tough employment market, the 36-year-old took her husband’s advice and started a business.

A year ago, she launched Idea Rockets Consulting, a company that provides marketing services for small to mid-sized businesses. Keeping start-up costs low enabled Maes to start making a profit within six months.

“I am so glad I did it. It was a risk and a little bit nerves wracking, but it was great,” she said.

In just a year, Maes is at two-thirds her former corporate salary. Plus, she makes her own schedule, meets clients at coffee shops and enjoys a broader variety of professional experiences.

“If it’s something you really enjoy it doesn’t seem so much like work,” she said.

For Bill McMillan a 57-year-old Spokane Valley resident, losing his corporate paycheck opened the door to a career helping low-income families own homes.

Last year, McMillan was laid off from Telect, where he’d worked as a vice president and program manager. Feeling dismayed and uncertain, he also viewed the sudden shift as “an opportunity to do something different.”

After looking into other high-tech jobs, McMillan applied at Habitat for Humanity-Spokane and discovered the nonprofit’s Christian philosophy was a good fit. “I got the job, and I just love it,” he said.

While he makes “significantly less money,” McMillan likes working with dedicated volunteers and gets a thrill when families are handed the keys to their new homes.

“When we do the dedications and they get the keys, they are so grateful. It’s heartwarming.”