Summer Job Became Retail Career

A summer job while she was in college turned into a rewarding career for Omaha native Elizabeth Barton.

Barton initially enrolled in Bellevue University right out of high school, with every intention of pursuing a degree in nursing. In the summer, she got a “temporary” job at Nebraska Furniture Mart. That was 18 years ago. “I loved the company and have been there ever since,” she explained.

In her current position as Director of Customer Relations, Barton manages the company’s Customer Contact Center, which is handles customer relations for all store locations. Five years ago she decided to return to college to complete general education core course requirements she would need for a bachelor’s degree. “I have a 12-year-old daughter. I realized that if I expect her to get an education, I probably should too,” she explained.

Two years ago, with the prerequisites completed, Barton returned to Bellevue University to finish her degree, not in nursing but in a business-related major. She picked up her Bachelor of Science in Business Analysis and Management at Commencement exercises January 25, and was one of five Nebraska Furniture Mart employees to receive degrees during the ceremony. “My degree is a balance of business and technology and was both interesting and challenging at the same time,” said Barton, who completed her studies in a combination of both online and classroom delivery formats, which she selected class-by-class, “…depending on the subject and where I thought I could learn best.”

Her immediate plans are to “give back” some of her time and attention to her husband, Raoul, and daughter, Gabrielle, because “They have been extremely supportive for the past 18 months.”