3 generations, 1 school: How tech education led to family’s rewarding careers

This paid piece is sponsored by Southeast Technical College.

It’s a family tradition. Lindsey Carter, Becky Brunick and Pam Sudbery represent three generations of women at Southeast Technical College. Pam was first, graduating with a one-year diploma in computer operations in 1975. Next, Pam’s daughter, Becky, graduated in 1994 with an accounting degree, and finally, granddaughter Lindsey will start the LPN program this fall.

What drew these women to STC in three different decades? Southeast Tech’s hands-on learning opportunities and short turnaround time to join the workforce.

“My mother was a single mom. She was 18 years old when she had me and needed to get a career and get it quickly,” Becky said.

“At that time, computers were just up-and-coming in the early 1970s. Mom was kind of at the forefront of what was going on at that time. She was a trailblazer for not just me but for women in the technology field.”

At that time, “a mainframe computer took up a whole room,” Pam added. “But it was an emerging career field.”

Becky said she was influenced by her mom.

“She has done very well for herself. She retired from Sanford Health a few years ago, and I was able to see her entire career path.”

When it was Becky’s turn for college, she wanted to stay close to home and spend more time with her mother and grandparents. She also wanted to accelerate her education and get into the workforce quicker, just like her mom.

When Becky graduated with her accounting degree in 1984, she did just that.

An internship in college at Austad’s Golf turned into a full-time position after graduation. From there, Becky worked at LodgeNet — now Sonifi — in accounts receivable and then accounts payable for 16 years.

Today, she is the controller and electronic services manager at Service First Federal Credit Union and has been there for 12 years.

“After Sonifi, I decided to look for my dream accounting job. I wanted to move into something where I could see all aspects of the accounting process,” Becky said.

She said her technical education prepared her well for her career.

“Tech school is more hands-on than a four-year college, and I learn better by doing,” Becky said. “I feel Southeast Tech prepared me better for what I was going to see in the business world, and I was able to put what I learned into practice.”

For Lindsey, like her mother and grandmother, she was drawn to the active learning opportunities at Southeast Tech, having taken a lot of Career and Technical Education classes and attended STC’s Scrub Camp while in high school.

“I learn better when learning hands-on and completing the task myself. It’s my kind of way,” Lindsey said. “Plus, STC gave me an opportunity to graduate with less debt, and I like the idea of getting to work right away, so I can work as an LPN while I get my registered nurse degree and eventually my Bachelor of Nursing.”

Although Lindsey is just beginning her journey, her future is bright based on family history.

“My diploma has served me well, and Becky’s served her well,” Pam said. “I have no doubt it will be the same for Lindsey.”