A simple bet. That’s how one store manager started his career at Lowe’s.
Brian Levy, store manager at Lowe’s in Troutman, North Carolina was serving in the U.S. Navy in 1997 when he and a peer decided to get part-time jobs. To spice it up a little, they placed a bet to see who would keep that job the longest. His friend went to work at Publix and Levy decided on Lowe’s.
MILITARY BEGINNINGS
Levy grew up in Bradenton, Florida, a town just south of Tampa. As a senior in high school, his parents had a plan for him: graduation and college. But Levy decided he wasn’t ready for college and came home one day to tell his parents his new plan: join the Navy.
In September of ’93, he left home for basic training and then to Millington, Tennessee for Avionics school. After nine months of training, Levy landed back in Florida. While based in Florida, he served eight years on active-duty working on planes, keeping our Navy planes mission ready. He also deployed to Panama, Puerto Rico and Iceland.
“[For a] Florida boy getting off the plane in Iceland in December after a nice 12-hour flight was very eye-opening to me.”
LANDING AT LOWE’S
But that simple bet right after re-enlisting in 1997 would change his life years later. He joined the brand new store in Jacksonville, Florida in January '98.
“I already liked shopping there, so I said, ‘Well, I'll go get a part-time job there.’ And the whole goal was for me to stay for six months, pay off some bills, and leave the company. But I started to get into it and I started to find something I really enjoyed.”
His first position with Lowe’s was in the garden center and over the next four years, Levy worked nights, weekends and various other jobs throughout the store. Then, in 2001, Brian decided to leave active-duty and continue his career in avionics. He had two jobs lined up and then 9/11 happened. As the world changed, so did his career perspective. With uncertainty in the avionics and both potential jobs frozen, he turned to something familiar - a full-time job with Lowe’s.
His journey with Lowe’s began at a blistering pace, starting as an OPE specialist, becoming a department manager in seasonal, moving to an administrative role and then to assistant store manager, all within several years. As an assistant store manager, he sharpened his retail knowledge opening new stores and interviewing thousands of interviewees until he got his opportunity to train as a store manager and eventually managing his first store in Kingsland, Georgia.
After Kingsland, he moved his family north to Jacksonville, North Carolina, at a store serving a large military community. He worked with the local USO and other organizations to connect with that community. Shortly after, Levy was offered another opportunity to move to Charlotte, North Carolina and work at several different stores. He eventually settled in Troutman, North Carolina, a store close to the Lowe’s corporate office that sees a lot of pilot programs, visits from company leaders and analysts. Last year, Levy and his store were also paid a visit from the Secretary of Labor.
MAKING AN IMPACT
When asked what the most rewarding part of his job is, he said, it’s all about leaving a positive impact.
“Number one, being able to give back to the community and number two, being able to impact associates positively on their career.”
Levy says there are many roles he’s honored to play as a store manager. Roles like being a representative for the brand, being a mentor, a coach, a trainer and a role model. But he’s also proud of being a part of a company that supports our veterans and being a voice for the men, women and families who serve.
And about that bet – he’s at 23 years and counting. That’s 22 years longer than his peer.
To that, Levy smiled and said, “I'm still winning.”