Jacob Wilson is our Operations Specialist and the one who gets your accounts up and running. He’s been with MI for two and a half years now. 

What do you love about your job? 
The ability to help clients on a daily basis. I have a passion to serve others and this role allows me to do just that. 

What is your degree in? 
I have a B.S. in Global Studies. 

What is the weirdest or most interesting job you’ve ever had? What made it weird or interesting? 
I worked for a landscaping company one summer and thought I was mainly going to be cutting grass and working on flower beds. Little did I know, I would be put with the crew that mainly did full-size flagstone patios and walkways on top of the regular gardening you might think of. It was a new skill learned, so I can’t be upset about that. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
I really want to get into the mission field by way of disaster relief aid and/or clean water initiatives.  

What has been the hardest part of the COVID-19 pandemic for you? 
Not being able to get together with family and friends as much. 

What is your proudest accomplishment? 
Completing a semester abroad in Thailand, running soccer camps for kids. Thai is by far one of the hardest languages I have tried to learn. 

What is your favorite family recipe/tradition? 
Mexican lasagna or coffee cake. 

Jordan Garnett has been with MI for almost three years and is the Content Manager for the team. 

What do you love about your job? 
I don’t do the same thing every day. Yes, I’m always writing emails and blogs and working on social media posts, but the content is always different. Some of the tasks I get to do are like puzzles that I have to design, build, and then put together. Also, I love going to conferences and meeting people… back when that was a thing that happened. 

What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?  
When I was given this position, I had zero content experience. I was previously a classroom teacher. I knew things about writing and the English language but nothing about marketing and managing social media. To learn more about it, I went to some conferences and I’ve listened to podcasts and attended webinars. I’m constantly looking for opportunities to learn from the experts and expand my own knowledge base. 

What is your degree in? 
Middle Grades Education, specializing in language arts and social studies 

What is the weirdest or most interesting job you’ve ever had? What made it weird or interesting? 
My first job was at a restaurant here in Durham when I was in high school. My title was “phones person” and I did exactly what you would imagine what someone with that title would do. I answered three phones, taking delivery and pick-up orders, and sometimes even personal messages for the employees. I worked closely with the kitchen staff and the delivery drivers, which made the time pass quickly on boring nights. 

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
I’ll be a marketing director, or a Showrunner as one speaker at a conference called it, and running my own content team. 

What has been the hardest part of the COVID-19 pandemic for you? 
We had our first baby in March, just as everything was shutting down, and there are still family members who have not gotten to meet him and that’s rough. Also, I miss hugs. 

What is your proudest accomplishment? 
Surviving, I mean teaching, for 5 years in a middle school. Lots of people do it and stay in it a lot longer, but one of my education professors and the principal I did my student teaching under didn’t think I would make it through the first year, and while my first two years were tough, I hit my stride in year 3 and soared! 
Also, pushing my body to its physical limits by growing and birthing a tiny human is certainly something I am proud of! Plus, he’s pretty cute. 

What is your favorite family recipe/tradition? 
My favorite family tradition is just getting together and eating! My mom makes my favorite slaw! (see part 3 of our Meet the Team series)