Monday, March 22, 2010

New Store in Birmingham, MI and a Career Changer...Go BIGGBY!

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Career Transition: Rose and Joseph Glendinning
By Dustin Walsh

Names: Siblings Rose Glendinning, 29, and Joseph Glendinning, 32.

Education: Rose has a bachelor's degree in business economics from Providence College in Providence, R.I. Joseph has a bachelor's degree from Albion College, a law degree from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago.

Last career: Rose Glendinning formerly managed exchange-traded funds for State Street Bank in Boston. Joseph Glendinning was an associate attorney in business, real estate and tax law in Chicago for Amari and Locallo law firm and River North Law Group.

New career: Coffee. The brother and sister opened a Biggby Coffee franchise in Bloomfield Township in 2008, and their second location will open March 22 in downtown Birmingham.

Why they decided to make the switch: Neither of the Glendinnings were satisfied in their jobs.

“I was beginning to feel the rut of working the daily grind,” Rose Glendinning said. “My job was fast-paced and deadline driven. I craved interaction with people and having a feeling that my career would positively impact people's lives.”

Joe said that while practicing as an attorney he helped others achieve their goals, but he desired to achieve his own. “I wasn't super excited to go to work every day,” he said. “I enjoyed my work, but I never felt satisfied with my career choice.”

How they made the transition: “I was very familiar with Biggby growing up in East Lansing,” Joseph Glendinning said. “I remember when they just had one store. Coffee had just hit Michigan. They were happening places.”

The Glendinnings' mother owns and operates three Curves locations in the Lansing area, so becoming a business owner always interested them, he said. And, after attending a franchisee informational session, urged by their mother, the siblings procured a lease space in Bloomfield Township.

Obstacles they overcame: “To be honest, it took a lot of stamina to transition into the role of barista,” Rose Glendinning said. “It's very fast-paced, but my enthusiasm to succeed pulled me through until I had my "barista legs.' ”

“I invested a lot of time, money and effort into my career as a lawyer,” Joseph said. “It wasn't easy to leave it behind for something that was not guaranteed to be a success.”

Advice for others: “I think the best advice is something that my father told me as a boy,” Joseph Glendinning said. “He always told me to find a job that isn't a job, but a passion — something that I could wake up to every morning and couldn't wait to start doing.”

If you have made a similar change in your career or know of someone who has made an interesting career transition, contact Andy Chapelle, managing editor at Crain's Detroit Business, at achapelle@crain.com.


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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS Rose and Joe on your 2nd store! It is a great addition to the BIGGBY COFFEE Family! NM

Anonymous said...

GREAT article Joe and Rose! I visited this store today - what a beautiful store! Birmingham will be rocking tomorrow morning!

TCB
@T_C_B

halfbakedmusings said...

I can't think of people better suited to operate a store in downtown Birmingham than Joe and Rose. I expect both will become local celebrities. Articles in the Birmingham Eccentric,dinners at The Townsend, the latest indie flick at the Birmingham 8. The whole Birmingham, you know, scene.

I'm glad they opening because now I don't have to look at those portraits in the window. Joe and Rose: You both look better in person. Good luck to you both.

Anonymous said...

Good Luck and Congrats on the new opening! What a great time yesterday! Thanks for having me! SD

JD said...

It's a great message--do what you love, what makes you happy, and everything else will fall in line. Congrats Glendinnings!

David Hall said...

Welcome to Birmingham! I've been to your store a couple times so far and love the energy in that place. I also love the chocolate chip muffins. Congrats again!