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Hawkins works tirelessly in Quincy
A relative newcomer to the Valley, Matthew Hawkins is pleased he made the move to Quincy to become the assistant manager at Les Schwab. Originally from Kansas City, Mo., Hawkins will have three years in the Quincy shop on May 28 and 10 years with the company.
He is married to Brandy, a stay-at-home mom. The two have a 6-year-old named Emily and a 2-year-old named Owen.
When Hawkins was a freshman in high school, his family moved west to Medford, Ore. for his fatherx92s job. Hawkins went on to pursue engineering at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
He was working full time for Safeway and going to school when his pickup needed some work. The college sophomore drove to the nearest Les Schwab for service. The company was hiring and he has been with them ever since.
x93I researched the company and have worked my way up to assistant manager,x94 he said.
Hawkins recently spoke to a group of students at Quincy High School about employment with Les Schwab. He spoke of the companyx92s philosophy and benefit package.
x93I connected with the students when I shared some of my story,x94 he said.
Hawkins told the students of his son who was born with a heart defect and explained that without the benefit package that Les Schwab offers the employees, he and his wife would be in debt one million dollars. Sadly, their baby died after a month in the hospital.
x93I work 12 hour days, six days a week,x94 said Hawkins, who values the time he spends with his family on Sundays.
x93We work our butts off at Les Schwab; they expect a lot from us. As assistant manager, I do everything the others do, including work on tires, assist customers, check vehiclesx92 brakes and shocks, and sell products.x94
Les Schwab is in six states and started in Oregon in 1952,x94 said Hawkins.
Hawkins met his wife through a friend from Safeway.
x93Brandy started to work for Safeway right after I left to work for Les Schwab and a friend of mine introduced us,x94 said Hawkins.
His wife has a bachelorx92s degree in animal sciences from Oregon State University. They have been married for seven years.
Hobbies for Hawkins include fishing with his father on the Rogue River in Oregon and playing with his children.
x93We enjoy taking drives as a family in the pickup,x94 he said.
Eventually Hawkins would like to manage a tire store closer to his family.
x93I enjoy small towns and to know all the people; thatx92s a good feeling. Itx92s worked out really well for us here. Brandy has met a lot of people with kids the same age.x94
Hawkins added that he appreciates all his time and relationships he has made in Quincy and knows that these memories are something he and his wife will take with them when they move for another store.
