Submitted By: San Bernardino County ROP

“I was enrolled in ROP Retail Trades in high school. I worked for Robinson’s Department Store where I learned customer service and merchandising. Because of my ROP experience I was recognized by the department head and store manager. They selected me for an intern program at the Robinson’s store in downtown Los Angeles. I became an assistant buyer for Robinson’s, and later, a buyer for the Akron Stores. From there, I applied for a position at Rowland Unified School District as a buyer. I found public entity buying very fascinating and different. I went back to school and received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands in Business Management. I worked for Apple Valley Unified and Snowline Joint Unified School Districts in progressively higher management positions within the Purchasing Departments. In 2006 I joined San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools as the Program Manager for Purchasing and Contracts. It all started from an ROP program that gave me a path and direction.”

~Mary Jane Anderson, Program Manager