Husband Makes a Big Gesture in Helping His Wife Find Employment

Tim Bean

9/1/2012

Holly and Brandon Stuard

It is no big secret out there that times are tough.  To further illustrate this we, here in America, have endured several years of higher than what the experts would call “normal” levels of unemployment, with the official number hovering right around the 8% mark.  I do not say this to point fingers at one political party or another, it is quite simply, a fact.  There are literally millions of people out there, who have lost their jobs, and I am willing to bet that many of us know at least one of those people; I myself have more than one friend who have succumbed to, and become an unfortunate member of this group of people.

Knowing the statistics, and knowing some of our friends and loved ones are in this unfortunate situation causes many, if not all, of us to wonder, wish, and hope that our friends, neighbors, and loved ones succeed in finding positions in the work force that offer similar income, and benefits that they enjoyed at their previous employer – if not better.  I also know that many, and again, if not all of us would like to be able to do something ourselves to help those friends, neighbors and loved ones.  Unfortunately though, because times are tough, as well as other reasons, few of us are in a position to help as much as we would otherwise like to. There are those who are willing, and able to go that extra mile in assisting however they can, even if it means thinking a bit outside of the box.  Brandon Stuard is one of those people.

Brandon’s wife, Holly Stuard, lost her job at the University of Toledo about a year ago, due to budget cuts.  Her story is not entirely unique in that respect, but it is what her husband decided to do that is more than a little unique.  Brandon saw his wife’s growing frustration at finding promising positions, sending her resume’ to those employers, and then hearing the continuing chirping of crickets instead of the phone ringing.  He undoubtedly is and was hurting not just because of the financial impact the loss of Holly’s job had on their family, but I am sure he was hurting emotionally too, having to see the discouragement and frustration grow in his wife.  He knew he had to do something, anything, to try and assist Holly in her search for gainful employment, and that something had to be big.

Brandon Stuard took it upon himself, without Holly’s knowledge, or approval, to place an advertisement that highlight’s Holly’s credentials and contact information, but this was no little ad in the local newspaper, this was an ad on a highway billboard.  He did this without his wife’s approval because he knew that her modesty would not have allowed her to let him do something like this, with her telling a local Fox affiliate, “I think I definitely would have said no. I would have thought it would have been too embarrassing to have my face up on a billboard but, now I’m having fun with it and hopefully a good opportunity will come out of it…”  In the end isn’t that all any one of us want, whether we are employed, or not, an opportunity?  So, I say bravo to Brandon Stuard, and wish nothing but the best for he and of course his wife Holly; may an opportunity present itself to her.  I don’t just wish this for them, but everyone of us, and especially those whom I know who are in need of new opportunities.