We didn’t have to look far to find someone who fits the remote worker demographics in Simon Medcalfe’s story for ABD. His report covered the statistics and profiles of remote workers in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). His sister-in-law checked all the boxes.
Gwen Klemann is Gen X with a BA from Emory University and a Master’s degree from Boston University. She works in the Professional and Business Services division, the largest category of remote workers.
Klemann is employed by Walton Isaacson, a major advertising agency based in Los Angeles with offices in New York, Dallas, and Chicago.
“When I lived in LA, the commute was brutal. I discovered my bosses had no boundaries. I was working long hours and weekends. It became a fast track to burnout,” Klemann said.
“I was set to quit but I had the opportunity to move to Augusta near family and my bosses were agreeable to that arrangement.” The company went mostly remote in 2020. Klemann has been telecommuting since 2011. As the Business Systems Analyst & Software Administrator for Walton Isaacson, it’s a great fit for her.
“I’m self-motivated and I see remote work as a bonus for productivity. With a slight adjustment in my schedule, I can manage new programs across various time zones. I’m lucky enough to be able to train other employees online.”
She also connects to fellow employees through Zoom meetings. Some extroverts might miss face-to-face meetings and social interactions. In that case, telecommuting might be a drawback. Some employees might not be disciplined enough to work from home.
If you can make it work for you and your company like Klemann has, it’s a win-win.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means! If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
