A Lifetime in Durham
Bonnie Conner was born at Duke Hospital in 1959
Name: Bonnie ConnerPosition: Logistics coordinator, Duke University PressYears at Duke: 3
What I do at Duke: I’m responsible for the supplies, equipment, furniture and just about everything to do with the facilities here. I make sure staff have a comfortable environment in which to work and have everything they need. I also work with budgeting for operational and payroll budgets.
Read MoreIf I had $5 million, I would: Travel to my heart’s content to anywhere that has sand, water and warm, gentle breezes.
My first ever job: When I was 17, I worked at a daycare center in Durham at a church. My parents told me I needed a part-time job, so I started looking around. I went there after school and worked with elementary school-aged kids. Most of them were kindergarten to fourth grade. I coordinated events and played with them until their parents picked them up.
My dream job: I’d love to coordinate fun events for people of all ages, particularly for children and elderly. I love planning events with food and games. We could play summertime games with races or something like that.
If someone wanted to start a conversation with me they should ask me about: My grandchildren because they are my sunshine. I think you appreciate grandchildren so much because you know how quickly your children grew up so you want to absorb as much as you can to enjoy the time when they’re little and cute. I have five grandchildren that range from 19 months to 13-years old. They fill my heart.
The best advice I ever received: To be happy wherever you are because you’re in charge of your happiness. Wherever you are in life, that’s where you’re supposed to be. My parents taught me about that.
What I love about Duke: The men’s basketball team – I’ve been a fan for 40 years. I love the values they instill in players and of course, they’re usually winners and winning is fun. The most memorable time as a fan was the back-to-back championships with Bobby Hurley, Christian Laettner and Brian Davis. I think Hurley was one of the most inspirational players I’ve seen because he was so scrappy and such a fighter.
When I’m not at work, I like to: I enjoy camping at Kerr Lake and going to quiet beaches like Oak Island.
Something most people don’t know about me: I really wish I could sing professionally. I enjoy singing in the car and shower, so maybe I secretly want to be a performer. I think I sing country music the best; it goes well with my accent. Another thing might be that I was born in Duke Hospital in 1959 and been in this area my whole life.
An interesting/memorable day at work for me: My first day in September 2011 because we had a tornado warning right in the middle of my training and had to run into the stairwell for safety for a period of time.