Craft Talks

Neither followed a set plan, and so were able to roll with life’s punches and go where they had not originally imagined they would.  Shirley, already in possession of a successful craft, that of the travel agent, reacted to the world-wide economic crisis and to simultaneous technological changes, by developing a new line of business, starting her World-wide Shuttle.  Kirk, on the other hand, newly graduated from college, tried several professions, teaching and politics, till he was led into a line which seems to combine all his talents, real estate with a specialty in acquiring lands for public use.

Shirley began by summarizing the rise and fall of the travel agency business.  When the travelling public’s demand found a new outlet, the private computer, or p c, then travel agents were left with a dwindling market for their skills.  Shirley decided to respond by offering what her customers were asking for, a ride to the airport.

From this simple-sounding request, Shirley started a shuttle business as an adjunct to her agency, and now has closed her agency and built the transportation service into not only airport destinations but cruise ship piers, and then  hospitals and clinics for medical and dental needs.

  And there’s more.  Shirley’s loyal clientele has aged and became elderly, over her thirty-five years plus in business.  She has found out lately that they now need vehicles and human power, to haul furniture away when they are downsizing, for example.  Many have become widows and now need “husband” help.  Shirley has the time and the vehicles to “pay back” to the community, such as in taking people to the Downey Symphony performances at night, when many no longer can drive.  She does much of this pro bono, or for love of the community she has come to call home.

So now Shirley is engaged in a people business which gives her great personal satisfaction.  Her brightly painted van which she decorated herself, advertises her services wherever she goes.  She has become useful, not just helpful.    At her age and stage, she is still meeting new people, going new places, having great experiences.

Kirk Cartozian told us how he has always been interested in what he termed “governance.”  At college at Berkeley he was there during a period of political activism and animation.  He began teaching history and political science at Downy High School, and Valentine Flores, the director of Downey Arts VIBE, was an early student.

Then Kirk worked as an intern for the late and much loved Congressman Steve Horn, who was a Republican with decidedly independent leanings.  As Kirk says, Steve “didn’t kowtow to anybody.”  Kirk then ran successfully for Downey City Council, and served from 2001-2009, when he was termed out.

By then he has interested in real estate as it touched on government, such as in entitlement, the use of private property for the public good and eminent domain.   He went to USC for a Masters in Business Administration, where he immersed himself fulltime in the subject, with both professors and fellow students.  He now has a “small but exciting” business in downtown Downey, where he always wanted to be.

He also runs a consulting service, for cities such as Ontario, which is trying to acquire the Ontario Airport from the Los Angeles Airport commission, to develop better usage for it.

When asked, he said he became interested in promoting the arts in Downey because of his mother, who is a retired art professor from Cal State Long Beach.  He has become active in the Downey Art Vibes movement, and their Stay Gallery in Downey where because of his expertise in the matter, he was able to help them to get a share of the City of Downey’s funds for public arts, monies especially earmarked for that and that would otherwise would have gone unused.

So both Kirk and Shirley have found great satisfaction in their work, in careers which at the beginning they never even anticipated or could have described.  Their plans developed according to their needs and were shaped by the push of the economy and the pull of new expectations.