So many people ask us, “Why Panama?” or “What is it like working in Panama, Nebraska?” So, we thought we’d answer those questions by telling you what it means/what it’s like to several of us at Transformation Marketing:
Scott Lemon says:
When I get to work each morning, I realize that I’m in someone’s ‘home’. Kids play in front of our building, you see the same people coming and going. And as I’m leaving at the end of the day I see people drive by, the final few blocks from their family and their life. It’s nice.
Lacy Jo Donald says:
I lived in the country growing up, but went to a small school in the small town of Elm Creek, Nebraska. The town had about 800 people in it, and in my graduating class, there were 24 of us. When I graduated, I got out of there and moved to Kearney, Nebraska (about 18 miles away, is all) to go to College. Kearney was a town of about 24,000. When I graduated college, I hung around for about a year, before I picked up and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, which many of you know is about 10 times the size of Kearney. I worked in Lincoln for about half a year before I started working for Transformation Marketing, at which point I ended up moving back out to the country with my husband and am now working in a smaller town than I started in. It’s funny how things work.
David Hefley says:
Working in Panama has its advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, it is quiet and a place you can walk around outside to clear your head when you need to take five (especially after staring at a computer screen for untold hours). On the negative side, I’m used to working near a relatively large metropolitan area and closer to our customers, so a quick run to a coffee shop for a planning session didn’t require a it’s own planning session just to schedule times!
Shannon Filing says:
I know that I have an advantage with working close to my home and kids but there were bigger reasons for us choosing Panama to build Transformation Marketing. We feel that our business is built with talented people and a partnership with our clients to deliver results. I could hire and grow our company with less costly overhead here in Panama over Lincoln locations we looked at. I was concerned that we may have trouble finding key people to drive and work out here but pleased to see that is not the case. When you are lucky enough to work with people as passionate as I do location is not a big factor.
April Kester says:
When I took this job, the Panama portion of the equation was truly the icing on the cake. I only live a few miles from here, so running back and forth isn’t a huge deal AND my kids get on and off their bus just a block away from the office. On top of all that, I LOVE working in a small town. I love the people. I love the atmosphere. I love that my kids can run and play and explore – all within blocks of the office. And, I love knowing that I’m working in a business that’s thriving in a small town and, in turn, helping “Small Town USA” thrive.
Heather Husen says:
I’m from a town of 250, so it’s oddly comforting to spend my days in town with no stoplights. I love going on walks during my lunch hour, and Panama has the most perfectly secluded walking trail. The only way it could get any better is if a Jimmy John’s opened across the street!
James Chramosta says:
I never would have thought I would be working in a small town. Ok, maybe I need to clarify: Living in Nebraska, it was very possible that I would be working in a small town, but I did not expect to be working in such a tiny town as Panama!
I do like it, overall. There are some quirks you have to get used to, but a lot of those quirks end up being benefits. Let me give you some examples.
There are practically no other businesses here, including restaurants. Other than Transformation Marketing, Panama has a butchers shop, a bank and a post office… and that is it. The closest “restaurant” is a gas station, which is about 10 miles away. I think it is funny how my perspective changes out here in Panama. I think if I worked in Lincoln, it might not that big of deal to travel 10 miles to eat at a restaurant. But working out here in Panama, driving 10 miles means I’m going to an entirely different town – that just seems silly to me! The benefit of this quirk is that I usually make my own lunch and bring it to work with me. This means that I am eating healthier and spending less money each day, so it’s actually kind of nice.
Overall, I like working out here. You’d never expect such a quality; forward thinking business would be located in this tiny town.