Pete Torrey has a lot to celebrate this Father's Day.
Until a few weeks ago, the 43-year-old Traverse City father of two was unemployed. When he lost his job seven months ago, he also learned that his mother had breast cancer.
It was a roller coaster of a winter, looking for work at the same time countless others are, then worrying about his mom.
But a few weeks ago, Torrey started a new job as operations manager at Bloxsom Roofing and Siding in Traverse City.
Looking back, Torrey said the process of moving forward after becoming unemployed turned out to be an unexpected time of discovery and growth --- not only for himself, but for his family.
Not that it was easy. His wife had to take an extra part-time job to help make ends meet as he focused on "aggressively pursuing a new direction." When his kids learned he was unemployed, he said, "you could see that there was definitely uncertainty in their faces and their eyes."
"I felt guilty, because I am the provider," he said. "It's such a huge thing, it's where our identity is."
An unemployment support group at his church was a source of ideas, leads and strength. Torrey also studied programs from a Chip Ingram ministry series on finding your calling and identifying your talents.
And he resolved to move in a direction with more stability. The job he lost last year was in finance with a car dealership; before that, he'd worked in mortgages.
Getting involved with the state's Northwest Michigan Works! center, he sought professional advice on revamping his resume and became qualified for on-the-job training that is helping him get acclimated in his new job.
"Pete maintained professionalism when it came to promptly following up on leads and communicating with employers," said Michelle Socha, a business liaison at Northwest Michigan Works!. "There is a lot of competition out there and timeliness is key."
Meanwhile, the man who applied for more than 87 jobs in seven months is just plain grateful -- and not just for a paycheck. His mother has come through surgery and chemo with flying colors. He and his family planned to spend today with his parents.
"It was a painful process but at the same time there was a lot of joy that came out of it," he said.
His advice to others? Be persistent. Follow up. Don't wait for people to call you back -- you call first. And stay positive.
"We think we're in control and when you realize you don't have that security of that job, you look around and you realize what's really important and that's the relationships that you have in your life. That's where I'm at."
Kathy Gibbons can be reached at gibbonskath@yahoo.com or visit www.whateverittakesonline.net.
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