Fortitude Gold Corp (FTCO)

[KansasCrude]

Hey JSC good to hear from you. I started with Quaker in St Louis as a retail rep in 79. Called on small chains which at that point there were still some there. Caught a break as Quaker liked to promote from within. Was an Ag-Econ/ Biz major at Missouri State and after testing and reviewing my work history they brought me to Chicago their HQ. Was a transformational break for me. Two years before I was working in a hide house that processed cattle hides from processing plants around MO, OK,AR and KS. tough job and also pretty nasty. I guess in retrospect it was a dues paying kind of job. My bride would make me take off my clothes in the garage of our rental cause they would stink up the house. When the route drivers didn't show I got the cover backup and it was stinky. I still remember going in to pick up food and people would clear out as I stunk from picking up cattle hides that may have been sitting for several days to a week in the heat...pretty freaking RIPE. To say the least it was a humbling experience. Bride and I decided her job was the better one as she was working in a steel foundry in St.Louis. I started looking and was lucky enough to get hired. by Quaker Oats. I worked retail and small chains in Metro St. Louis out to Herman, and south St. Genevive Mo.. Was a good break. Did that for 2 years and then after having a some decent results was given the chance to test. Turned out to be another break. Scores were good enough to interview for a job at HQ in Chicago. Got the job and was another great opportunity. Worked for a couple years and they encouraged me to go back to Grad School. Got lucky and scores were good enough to get into a top Biz School. Northwestern's Kellogg School which was a top 5 biz school. Was really lucky to have that happen. Took me 3 years to complete the program. Again timing, and hard work paid off. Good luck continued to present opportunities and the volatility of the Commodity markets provided the challenges that my education gave me the skills to seize the day.. After a few good years I was starting to get interest from other companies in the food chain. Pizza Hut/ YUM started to court me about coming to KS to work for Pizza Hut. I came and it was great....then after few years they decided to move to Dallas. Didn't want to go back to a big city. Commuted to Dallas and worked for them for a about a year and a half until I decided I was done. They gave me a great increase and made me a V.P. but I didn't want it anymore. Now nearly 30 years later I remain thankful for the opportunities and having the resources to be able to take advantage of. Thankfully been able to make a good living consulting and managing commodities positions What's your story?