Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Meeks.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started out in the beauty industry almost 20 years ago. When my youngest son was a baby, I decided to go to school to get my license. My family was dependent on my income so quitting work to go to school was not an option. I worked a full-time job during the day and went to school at night. I did this for a year and a half with the support of my ex-husband. He took care of the boys in the evening until I got home. This was a huge sacrifice for all but so worth it in the end. My goal was to ultimately work for myself so that I could have the flexibility to work around the boy’s schedules. In the beginning, I worked for a corporate salon. I eventually took a leap of faith and stepped out on my own. I did this for many years. I was there to encourage my boys each morning to have a great day and pick them up in the afternoons which was important to me. As a working mom, I think we all struggle to find work-life balance.
About seven years ago, I found myself in an even more challenging position. I was a single mom. I had been married for 22 years and had to figure life out completely on my own for the first time ever! I made a lot of mistakes during this process but by the grace of God stepped into the beautiful life I was created to live!
My first big change was to find a job with benefits. I was self-employed and my ex-husband had always carried our benefits. I went back into a corporate salon. I worked super hard because to have benefits with the salon I was working for at the time, you had to achieve a certain level of performance to qualify. I did that within the first year and quickly moved up in the ranks.
In 2017 a horrific tragedy struck my family when my youngest brother was killed in a motorcycle accident while sitting at a red light. I found out very quickly the company I was working for at the time was all about the bottom line. Due to a tremendous amount of grief, I struggled to keep up with the level of performance I had set for myself. I decided it was time to explore my options and that is when I found my salon home.
I went in for an interview at The Salon by Instyle inside JCPenney at Stonebriar Mall in Frisco, I immediately connected with the Salon Manager, Lisa Evans, and she offered me a job on the spot.
Lisa brought me into her salon family and I felt so at home. At a time when I was struggling just to get out of bed each day and keep putting one foot in front of the other she offered a level of support and encouragement that kept me going.
As I worked through the healing process and endured the two years long process of court proceedings that ultimately resulted in the driver that hit my brother being charged with manslaughter Lisa encouraged me to consider allowing her to mentor me for a Salon Manager position.
After working for the company for nine months, I was offered a Salon Manager position at The Salon by Instyle inside JCPenney at Ridgmar Mall in Fort Worth. I had only been to Fort Worth once in my life up until that point. When I rolled up for my interview with the General Manager there were cowboys wrangling cattle in the parking lot of the mall! I remember think what in the world have I gotten myself into,
I have now been the Salon Manager here for three years in December. We have had many ups and downs but I love my JCP family! I led the DFW district in sales this past year in spite of the impacts of Covid.
I am truly blessed to work for a company that embraces who I am and what I bring to the table. Through the years, my passion has shifted. I no longer work behind the chair. JCPenney has given me a platform to pursue my passion for empowering others regardless of where their journey has taken or where they are going. I get the privilege of partnering with a diverse group of men and women of all backgrounds and ethnicities to help them overcome life’s obstacles and encourage them to be the very best they can be every day! The obstacles I have overcome in my life have helped shape me into the servant leader I am today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Salon Manager
Helping others to grow their business.
Most proud of being #1 in the DFW district last year for JCP.
My ability to persevere during tough times sets me apart from others. I thrive in dysfunction.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is just playing outside in the summers with my three brothers from sun up until sundown. No cares in the world! Those were the good old days!
Contact Info:
- Email: mmeeks7@jcp.com
- Website: JCP.COM
- Instagram: salonbyinstyleridgmar
- Facebook: The Salon by Instyle @ Ridgmar
