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P atricia M ills, age 59
is the owner of Eagles Nest, a new shop
EDUCATION: High school and college. Cherokee Nations history course, management skills, customer skills, business communications and many more.
FAMILY: Married 37 years to Donald Lee Mills. Two sons, Donald Lee Mills Jr. and Robert Bowman Mills. Seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter on the way.
CAREER HISTORY: Owner of a commercial cleaning business, elementary-schoolteacher at Colonial Baptist Church and Academy in Stafford, wedding planner and floral designer.
FIRST JOB: At an A&W Root Beer stand in Alabama as a waitress where the girls wore roller skates and roller skated to your car.
WORST JOB: I have always been so thankful for all the jobs I have had. I love working with people.
HOW DID YOU END UP OWNING EAGLES NEST? I created Native American arts and crafts out of my home, when one day my son's childhood friend asked me to sell my products at his store.
WHAT ASPECT OF YOUR BUSINESS IS CHANGING THE MOST? The interest people show. Most of them come in to learn and need help with their genealogy research. I have seen women come in and, while in the shop, say to me they felt so welcome and warm in my shop.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST DIFFICULT SITUATION FACED ON THE JOB? Getting started and trying to figure out a way to let people know I am here in this store.
WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR JOB? The location. We're in a one-level commercial building next to the Stafford County Courthouse. And it is extremely small. I would rather be in a shopping center or a place where there is a flow of customers.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB NOW? The people. Helping people and letting them know that a Native American Indian is in Stafford County. Enlightening people about our culture and telling the truth of the Native American Indian.
WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT THE BUSINESS CLIMATE HERE? It's seasonal. You have your summer, winter and fall shopping seasons.
WHO IS THE MOST PROGRESSIVE BUSINESS LEADER YOU KNOW? WHY? Chief Chad Smith of the Cherokee Nations of Tahlequah, Okla.
Chief Smith has helped the Native American children so much. He makes sure the children in the schools learn our Native American language (Cherokee), he makes sure every child receives help as needed and he has sparked so much interest for all Native Americans through out our lifetime as a great leader and businessman.
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT? Oklahoma and Alabama.
FAVORITE BINGE FOOD? Chocolate.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT? Walking into the men's room by accident.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS BOOK? WHY? "Cherokee Nations History Book," a collection of Cherokee historical facts. You have to do the true research to understand the culture of the Native Americans. A lot of folks take things by word of mouth, but for me, my history teacher, Julia Coats, is a brilliant woman. She has several books I love to read.
WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? I spend time with my family. I love being with my grandchildren. My sons and my daughters-in-law are a blessing to me. They are the best parents [to their children] any mother could ever ask for. I am so blessed to have the family I have.
WHAT IS THE CLOSEST YOU'VE COME TO A BRUSH WITH A CELEBRITY? Michael Jackson in 1993. He was in Washington, D.C., wearing one of his fat suits as a disguise when he fell down in the middle of the street, and I helped him up. His voice gave him away. He did not thank me then, but later that night he appeared on national television and he thanked me.
I also met Sandra Bullock when she was a child. Her brother, Mike Bullock, and I were friends. I can remember her begging her mother so often to let her go to California to try to act. Mike told me she would get her way and she did.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP? Well now, this is a nice [question]. I am 59 years old but I am growing in knowledge. I don't think I'll ever have enough knowledge to quench my thirst.
My answer is to teach.
WHERE DID YOU GROW UP? Alabama.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST CAREER ACHIEVEMENT? To teach. Teaching is my love and being taught. Native American Teaching is a BLESSING to my heart and soul.
WHAT'S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE ANYONE HAS GIVEN YOU? Don't let anyone stop you from reaching your goals.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE OTHERS TRYING TO ENTER THIS FIELD? Stay with what you love doing. If you wake up in the morning and you look forward to going to work, then you are at the right job. If you hate going to work, find another job.
WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS? My career goal is to see to it that the correct information about Native Americans is out there, because there is a lot of wrong information circulating.
--Kafia Hosh
