Students' Stories
 About eight years ago, my wife and I purchased several antique clocks to complement our home’s décor. We bought the clocks from a reputable clock dealer who also repairs antique clocks, and he introduced us to the fun of collecting quality timepieces. It was a relative, another clock collector, who told us we had to join the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors if we were serious about clocks. After we began to receive the Bulletins and attend regional meetings, we were hooked!!
I had worked in human resources management with a degree in labor relations at Cornell in 1977 and had gotten an MBA in Marketing from Santa Clara University in 1985. In 1995, I became self-employed when I opened a recruiting services company targeting clients in the telecommunications, computer, and consulting industries. In 2000, I sensed a downturn in the business, so I needed to think about some other line of work. I decided to try clock repair at the School of Horology, not really knowing if I had the talent or skill to do it. I enrolled in Roger Chastain’s Clock Repair Program in December 2001 and completed the program in October 2002. As I attended the program, I became very enthusiastic about the subject matter and decided to do it professionally. The School enabled me to create and enter a second career. I am proud to report that my wife and I operate an antique clock shop in suburban Atlanta, GA. We sell antique clocks and offer clock repair services to an affluent and growing market. We successfully completed our first year of operation and the market is very enthusiastic about our services. Business is growing every day. In our area, clock repair is a unique service niche with few competitors and virtually unlimited demand. Most clocks I repair are heirlooms, cherished by their owners because of the sentiment and memories they evoke of loved ones. It’s a thrill to see the customer’s face when they see and hear a repaired clock that was part of their life years earlier, but had sat unused on a shelf. Seeing so many different clocks owned by my customers and sharing what I know about them is fun, satisfying, and exciting! Back to Student Stories | 
