SATURDAY STORY - DAN JACKSON #11

 Saturday story - Dan Jackson #11 - Summer after Freshman Year

On Saturday I write fiction (and thank you SE for your wise help!!!).  More anticipation, more conflict. 

Dan Jackson, wunderkind of the DJ Computer Company is finishing his freshman year and has an interesting summer ahead of him.

*****

In early April of his freshman year, his Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) brothers suggested he run for the Student Senate on campus.  In particular, Rolly Wussow was the current President of the Student Senate and pushed Dan to think about running.  Dan went to the Student Senate meeting on Monday, April 8th, 1985.  While there were various discussions about campus events, Dan realized that in the future he would be in many similar meetings - establishing goals, making decisions on DJ Computers, and that it would be a great experience for him to get ready for his future by running for the Student Senate.

He filled out the paperwork and with Rolly was his campaign manager, made posters around campus.  He spoke at a couple of campaign rallies - describing how his entrepreneurship experiences made him a good candidate.

His name recognition was key and in the elections Dan was the top vote winner in the general senate seats by a wide margin.  He was given a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order and was inducted at the last meeting of the Student Senate on Monday May 4, 1985.

And, Linda Watson, his girlfriend was also elected to the Student Senate.  

It was common that members of Greek organizations were on the Student Senate.  They seemed to be involved in student life, stayed on campus on weekends, were in other organizations, and became leaders.

*****

After asking his dad, Will Jackson, for advice, he took the summer job at DJ Computers.  

*****

But the summer was a wild ride for Daniel Jackson.

*****

Beth Jackson had final tests on Friday, May 17th, 1985.  She left the University of Illinois at about 3:00 p.m. and made it to Purdue University about 5:00.  It actually was good timing as Hawkins Hall was almost empty, so she didn’t have to wait in a long line of parents picking up their students. 

Dan was packed and ready to go home.  Linda had gone home yesterday with a promise of visiting each other sometime in the summer.  She was going to work in the engineering department of the City of Huntington Indiana (where her father worked).  

The ride home was largely uneventful.  Dan and Beth talked about running for Student Senate. Beth was somewhat surprised that her geeky son was now getting involved.  He talked about SigEp, about Linda, about working in the advanced circuitry lab, Karl (his roommate), and about being back home for the summer.  

Beth knew a little of what Dan’s summer might be, but didn’t spill the news to Dan.  Uncle Steve had invited the family for a barbeque on Saturday afternoon.  Steve had told some of his plans to Beth and it was going to be an interesting summer - if Daniel agreed.

*****

Getting home and unpacking went well.  Home sweet home - but like a baby bird leaving the nest, it wasn’t quite the same anymore.

*****

Dan unpacked and after a small meal for dinner went for a run.  He had some favorite runs - from his parents' house to Sugar Creek, to Tipton Park, and Eagle View Park.  He ran freely, and not as fast as he did a few years ago, but longer.  This wasn’t his high school cross-country course, it was Dan Jackson stretching his legs, and running.  As he ran, it was like the past year and Purdue University fell away from him.  It grew dark, but he knew where he was and could find his way home.

After two hours of running, he did make it home, took a shower and settled into his bed.  

All was right with the world as he quickly fell asleep.

*****

On Saturday morning, when it warmed up a little, Dan got the mower out and mowed the yard.  It just seemed right.  Beth asked him to go to Lowe’s and get some mulch for the trees and flower beds and some impatiens.  Coming home, he immediately put the mulch around the yard.  

About two o’clock, Will, Beth, and Dan headed to Steve Jackson’s house for a barbeque.  Abby and Ada were Uncle Steve’s and Aunt Leah’s twin granddaughters and they eagerly sought out for Cousin Dan to play with them.  Abby was the bossy one of the two and was telling Cousin Dan what to do at their tea party (and Dan loved playing house and tea party with them).

Walt and Nancy Bunting and their son and daughter showed up for the barbecue.  Walt Bunting was the director of marketing at DJ Computers and had done the media showcase for Dan that aired during the NCAA basketball tournaments (both men and women) and had been very successful for DJ Computers.  

Dan had two hamburgers with melted American Cheese, some of Nancy Bunting’s coleslaw, and a slice of Aunt Leah’s apple pie with homemade ice cream.  Americana at its best thought Dan.

After they cleaned up the food, Steve, Will, Beth, Wally cornered Dan on Uncle Steve’s screened in porch.  

Steve Jackson started the conversation.

“Dan, you, of course, are the founder and namesake of DJ Computers.  Our ad campaign this year was amazing.  Our sales jumped over 40%, our profits rose about 25%, our name recognition rose, our product quality is good.

We’d like to have you continue to be the face of DJ Computers.  This summer, we are working with every Big Ten University and setting up a DJ Computer Store within the university bookstore.  We have a new initiative with Purdue, Illinois, and Northwestern Universities to have computer labs set up with DJ Computers.

We think we can get a solid lead in academic institutions and that, eventually, as the students graduate, they will want DJ Computers both in their homes and at work.  We want you to be involved with this project.  Basically, we’d like you to work in our new technology lab on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and then we’ll whisk you off to some campus to open their DJ Computer Store, and possibly to help cut a ribbon for new computer labs.  

You are kind of the ‘All American Boy’ done well - entrepreneur, innovator, college student.  We want to use you to make your company even stronger.

I’d expect something like this - and I’ll use Purdue as my example.  On Thursday we’ll have you on campus for the new computer lab.  We’d make sure you get a photo op and time to talk about our computers.  I want you to keep innovating so that’s why I want you in the technology lab early in the week, and then I’d like you to be promoting our computers on Thursday and Friday.  And, if the week is too busy, you can cut back, say ‘no’, whatever.

I’ve planned this with your folks.  I think your Mom is teaching a physical science course in the first summer session, and has worked out a schedule at the University of Illinois to teach only Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.  Then on Thursday and Friday, your Mom and Wally, or it might be somebody else from marketing, will be out on campuses.  She has agreed to this if it works out.

I know in the past you’ve gotten more shares of stock and this would be more stock and a good salary for the summer.  We’ve tried to work out a plan to be fair to you - something you’d like and something you’d be good at that helps us keep growing.  

What do you think?  I’m not expecting an answer now, but what might be your questions?

Dan had partially expected this.  He knew that the March Madness tournament promotion had been a great success.  And, from his Introduction to Business class in the fall, he knew that marketing products and services kept the business going.  

Dan didn’t have many thoughts yet.

He asked, “Could I do some sightseeing on my campus visits?  I’m not sure what I’m asking, but see the university and the area.  This would be business travel, but maybe take a long weekend here and there.  Maybe if we’re at Northwestern, we could take in a White Sox, or a Cubs baseball game.  Maybe at the University of Michigan we could go sailing on Lake St. Claire.  Maybe go to Cedar Point Amusement Park.”

Steve laughed and turned to Beth Jackson, “This isn’t quite the son who wanted to keep the low profile as he went off to Purdue.”

Beth, Will, and Dan joined in the laughter.  Yes, Dan Jackson was growing up.

The group spent about twenty minutes more talking about this before Abby and Ada “needed” cousin Dan for the next tea party.

*****

The party broke up about 7 p.m. with more cake and ice cream.  As they left, Steve said “Any more questions Dan?”

Dan said, “Not yet.  I’m going to run tonight - that seems to be my best thinking time.  But, I’m definitely leaning your direction!!!”  He gave his uncle a hug.

*****

Back in the car with his parents, Dan asked them, “What are the pros and cons of this?  I won’t be learning as many new things.  But, I’ll be making DJ Computers better and more successful.  What do you think?”

Dad started first.  “Son, this is your decision.  When I was 19 years old and on my first summer after my freshman year at college, I worked at a swimming pool.  Yes, I got a great tan, made a little money, but not much, and it was okay.  But, doing some traveling, finding some fun things to do might be interesting.”

Beth added, “Unlike your lazy dad, who did have a great tan” (and added parenthetically) “Just kidding - summer jobs are just that, summer jobs”, “I worked in a summer camp as a camp counselor in sciences.  I had nature field trips, and little chemistry and physics lessons.  But for you, Dad, you’ll never be nineteen again.  When you get to be 48, like I am now, you may wish you had some fun in your summer.”

Dan said, “Okay. Any downsides?”

Beth Jackson laughed, “Yes - travel someplace, live out of a suitcase for a couple of days, come home and do laundry, repeat all summer.  Eat out, gain twenty pounds.  And, have to live in a hotel room with your mother all summer!! 

“Of course, we could get two rooms.  I’m sure DJ Computers can pay the bill.  Maybe you’ll want a week or two off. Maybe you could go to Cedar Point Amusement Park with Linda, maybe you and Dad could go canoeing on the Apple River in Wisconsin.  You’ll be working all the rest of your life, don’t let work tie you down this summer.”

Dan appreciated his mother’s comments.  He really hadn’t had a summer off since he was 13 - before he assembled his first computer.  

Dan asked his father, “Dad what do you think?”

Will Jackson was quick to agree with his wife. “Mom’s right Dan.  You’ll have plenty of time to work through the rest of your life.  Do some fun research projects on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and then travel and visit campuses on Thursday and Friday.  As she suggested, the only real downside is being with your Mom a lot. (and he added “She is a great lady, I’m glad she married me”).

*****

When they got home, Dan called Uncle Steve. “It’s a go.  I’ll do the marketing!!”

They talked a little more before handing up.

Turning to his parents, he smiled, “This is going to be an exciting summer”!!!

(Yes, you could say that Dan - little do you know how exciting)

*****

On Monday, May 20, 1985, Dan came into DJ Computers at 7:40.  He stopped at Uncle Steve’s office, and, of course, Brittany Washington had to hug him.  Brittany got Dan a cup of coffee and he sat next to her and told her about his freshman year at Purdue, making all As and doing well.

Brittany asked, “I’ve heard there is a girlfriend.  Is that true?”

Dan blushed a little and answered slowly, “Well, kinda”.

Brittany said, “I think it might be more than just a kinda girlfriend.  Didn’t she and her mom come to visit over spring break?”

Dan was a little more honest this time, “Yes, her name is Linda Watson, and yes she came for my birthday in March and I gave them a tour”.

Brittany laughed, “Oh you shy boy, you.  You can’t fool an old grandma like me!”.

She buzzed Steve Jackson’s phone.

“Yes Brittany- what’s up”, came his response.

“I have a very important visitor in the lobby.  I’ve been quizzing him about his dating life.”

Steve Jackson must have smiled, even though Dan and Brittany couldn’t see if.  “Yes, send our founder in”.

*****

Steve laid out the plans for the next two weeks.  Dan thought it must be hard on Uncle Steve to treat him as “just” an employee, when he was both the founder of DJ Computers and his nephew.  

Steve said, “I’d like to split your days.  In the morning, I want you to work with Denise Brown in marketing.  Denise is our quality assurance manager, and after me, (or maybe ahead of me), Denise knows everything about our computers, and she is a great person to work with.  Now these are not just learning more about our company, this to get you so familiar on campuses that you can be the voice of DJ Computer.  You might get some doubters, so people who love Apple machines and hate PCs, and you have to smile and tell our story - as only you can.  

Then spend the afternoons with Sam Siner and his group in the skunkworks working on innovations and projects.  I know you get along well with Sam, and he has been asking how soon you would be available.” 

Dan nodded.

Steve continued, “If possible I’ll also have you spend time with Wally Bunting, our executive board, and even walk through all the steps.”

Steve paused, and then continued, “Our March Madness ads went over well.  There are some naysayers that think sending a 19 year old out to be our spokesman is a bad move, but Wally, several others, and myself are sure you are the best person to do this. 

Welcome aboard (and you never really left)!!”

*****

Denise Brown was a jovial Black woman with a twinkle in her eye.  Dan and Denise hit it off immediately.  She wasn’t enamored with working with the founder of the company, and Dan wasn’t so egotistical (yet) to believe he knew it all.  

Denise took Dan through the statistics first.  She covered the return rate.  

She said, “Have you seen the Ford commercials, where ‘Quality is Job One’.  We’re similar to them.  Quality hasn’t always been at the forefront of Ford and hasn’t always been at the forefront of DJ Computers.  Our return and failure rate is about 9%.  Out of every 100 computers we ship we get about nine back.  Now, there might be others that have a problem that don’t return them, but the 9% is those we actually get back.  We pay the shipping for faulty computers to be returned, we ship out a new (and fully tested) computer to the consumer.  Sometimes it is user error, the user managed to mess things up so bad that the computer isn’t functioning. But, most times it is something we did (or didn’t do), like get the memory chips fully inserted, use a faulty motherboard, or have ports that don’t work.  We assemble the machines, and sometimes our components are faulty - but we own up to that.”

Denise went on to compare DJ Computer’s failure rate to Dell Computers 10%, Gateway Computers 11% and others in the field.  

“Our profit margin is about $60.  For every computer we get about $60 over our expenses.  Every computer that gets returned cuts into our profit.  We do try to identify our problem areas and cut down on the failure rate.  Yes, quality has to be improved.”

“Dell’s profit margin is about $120.  So our profit margin keeps us competitive with them, al least in terms of the cost to buy a computer.  Their computers sell for about $800 and we sell the DJ basic model for $725.  Money is money, and consumers are buying our computers based on price.  We want to stay competitive and your trip is part of that competitive edge.

Denise went through pretty much all of the components, where they got the parts, issues with the manufacturers of those parts.  

She added, “We dropped our local producer of chassis (that is our main box).  We liked the company (out of Chicago), but they couldn’t keep their production high enough for us.  They raised their price and we found a company in Birmingham Alabama that has suited us well and saved us about $15 per chassis. Just the way that business works.”

She used an old adage, “They say in business that there are three factors - quality, price, and service but you can’t get all three.  Generally you can get two of the three.  We are price leaders and our service is good, but we need to work on our quality.”

When she paused for a sip of coffee, Dan added, “I took a class called Introduction to Business, and our professor covered that concept”.

Denise answered, “Great.  You have an understanding.”

She went on to the supply-chain issues - getting the right components, with good help, good testing, good shipping, and even good shipping cartons so the computers didn’t have problems in shipping.  She commented on cutting out Midwest Express as a shipping agent because they threw boxes into their trucks with little regard and had a much higher return rate than we suspected because of their rough handling.  She indicated that DJ Computers used about eight shipping companies depending on where the computers are going.  She said shipping to the east coast was generally cheaper with United Parcel Service (UPS), but the United States Post Office worked well with midwestern areas.

Dan felt like he was back in school.  Denise did know more about DJ Computers than he did.  

****

After two hours of Denise’s teaching, they took a break.  Denise told Dan about her background.  She was a fortunate girl, growing up in a good area of South Chicago.  Her dad was a math teacher and later a principal at a Chicago high school.  Her mom had been a nurse at St. Francis Hospital.  She had followed her dad into math and statistics and had a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.  She did teach a class at Illinois Wesleyan University on business statistics.  She said she had thought about becoming a full-time professor but liked her work at DJ Computers.

Her husband worked for McGladrey Accounting and Management and was a CPA. 

She commented, “Someday I want you to come to dinner at our house.  I want you to talk to our son Martin.  He sometimes seems to be going the wrong direction.  He’s a freshman at Bloomington High School and he thinks he is going to be the next Michael Jordan basketball player.  And, you can meet LaTisha, our third grader.  You can get her interested in computing.”

She paused and said, “I have a radical thought.  Can you come on Sunday, come to Shekinah Glory Baptist Church, I’m the choir leader and that will be a real experience for you, then stay for dinner.”

With a twinkle in her eyes, “Son, I think you need to eat some red beans and rice, collard greens, and Southern fried chicken”.  

The old Dan might have said (politely, of course), no; but this Dan Jackson was changed.  Maybe he should see the other side more.  There seemed to be a disconnect between his mouth and his ears, with his mouth winning out. “Sure.”.

His brain was yelling at him.  ‘Did you just say you would go to a Black church, and eat Sunday dinner with a Black family?  What are you? Stupid?’

The rest of the morning was more data and research thrown at him from an excellent teacher.  

Towards noon, she excused herself.  'I have real work to do?’  And that twinkle in her eye was dancing.  “See you tomorrow, Son”.

*****

Dan found his way to the building 1 cafeteria and found Tim Wasinski eating alone.  Dan knew Tim as one of the early employees at DJ Computers, and Tim waved at Dan to come and sit with him.  Tim was now a manager of a production line and had received promotions and bonuses for the last four years that the company had been in existence.

Tim had a lot to share with Dan, after all it isn’t every day that an employee can talk to the founder of the company and nephew of the CEO.  Tim was enthusiastic about DJ computers but recognized some of the limitations.  The work of assembling computers was pretty mundane.  The pay was good and better than average in Bloomington - even as compared to State Farm Insurance Headquarters just two miles away.

The job was good, and afforded Tim with the money for his passions - his family, camping, hunting, sports, and coaching.  Tim and his wife had two boys ages 12 and 9.  He was a baseball coach and a Pop Warner football coach.  DJ Computers had opportunities to go to Cubs or White Sox games in the summer, Chicago Bears in the fall, and Chicago Bulls in the winter.  Human Resources would rent buses and take groups to the game.  It was a couple of hours to get to Chicago, but that was about right for Tim.  Tim also played right field on the DJ Computers Softball team.  

Tim thought it was getting harder to hire good people.  Some people were the same as when Dan (and Uncle Steve) started the company, but others came and went.  Some people were drunk or high on the job, some lived from paycheck to paycheck.  Tim thought they might get some better employees if there was some free or low rent housing in the area for employees.  The health plan was good.  St. Francis Hospital was generally okay, but for major surgeries a person might have to go to Peoria or Champaign-Urbana.  

The company had been very good for Tim and his family.  They had profit sharing and Tim’s boys would have money to go to college or technical school when they graduated.  Tim’s parents were nearby and Tim appreciated that as they were getting older and needed some extra help with things around their house.  

All in all, Tim Wasinski was a loyal and good employee.  Dan thanked him for eating with him.

*****

Dan went to the skunkworks area and caught up with Sam Siner eating at his desk.  

“What projects do you have for me this summer, Sam”, asked Dan.

Sam, with half-glasses looked up at Dan.  “Well Dan, you are just in time.  We’ve been having troubles with our lunar reentry rocket.  We left a man on the moon a week ago and can’t get him back.  We did leave him with three cases of peanut butter and six cases of beer, so he’s in no trouble, but someday will need to get him back to earth.  Of course, he might not want to come back.  In that case, we have to have regular delivery service of peanut butter and beer.  Oh, he said he is running out of toilet paper and he has missed some episodes of Dallas and wants to know who killed JR.”

Dan rolled his eyes.  Sam was a real techie and loved having fun but could be very serious too.

Sam laughed, “Okay.  Our big project is ARPANET.  This is a government sponsored project that aims to have all computers around the world networked somehow together to share electronic mail, and information.  We are working closely with a protocol called TCP/IP - Transfer Control Protocol/Internetwork Protocol.  If the proponents are right (and they should be), with this language we can share images, data, and information worldwide.  We are using something called HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and something called FTP - File Transfer Protocol.  Have you heard of these?”

Dan had heard of ARPANET from his work at Purdue in Dr. Sanjay Modi’s technology lab.  He understood that a protocol was kind of a hand-shake process.  When you answer the telephone the person receiving the call says something like “Hello”, then the caller says “Hi, this is Sam Siner” - and the communication is established.  

Sam continued, “We can use the existing telephone networks to send this information from point A to point B, and theoretically all around the world.”

Sam paused and said, “So Dan, are you ready to be on the cutting edge of communications?”

Dan grinned, “You betcha”.

Sam answered, “Well, I’m ready for you.  We’ve cleared a desk for you.  Miguel Perez will get you up to speed today.  I understand I’m sharing you to do some marketing work.  So, If I can get forty hours a week out of you and marketing gets forty hours from you, we’ll be just about right!!”

******

Thus ended Dan Jackson’s first day on the job for the summer.

Next week we’ll get Dan and Beth Jackson on the road.  There will be some excitement as 

Dan gets kidnapped. 

And - life on the road isn’t always fun!!!

LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

KAREN ANNE WHITE, APRIL 29, 2023