40 Under 40: Justin Osborne, network guru

Justin A. Osborne

AGE: 30

FAMILY: Wife Ann, son Owen and daughter Ellie

EMPLOYER: Osborne Office Equipment and Fruitland Community Church

POSITION: Network guru and NCAA bracket manager (Osborne Office Equipment); children's minister (Fruitland Community Church)

COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT: Creator of the annual Justin Osborne All American Wifflefest, which benefits the Albert Pujols Family Foundation (yellowbatwhiteball.com); coordinator of various children's programs at Fruitland Community Church (AWANA Kids Club, Harvest Party, Christmas Program, etc.)

HIS TYPICAL DAY:

My day starts and ends with the most important aspect of my life, my family. I awake to a request for chocolate milk from my son Owen, and we head downstairs to enjoy a movie or play on the computer. After a nice breakfast, it is off to get ready for work and talk to my daughter Ellie, whose favorite word to say, as of today, is "Dadda" (she can only say three words so far). After the grueling commute from Jackson, I start my daily routine at Osborne Office Equipment. Since we have a small, family owned business, my day usually consists of many jobs. That is why my "position title" is so obscure. In each day I could be networking a printer, demonstrating a copier, fixing a broken machine, lifting heavy copy paper, delivering supplies, or just talking to customers. This doesn't include my "in-house" duties of maintaining appropriate inventory levels on supplies, ordering equipment, and keeping an accurate QuickBooks system. "Jack of all trades" really applies to my life here at Osborne Office Equipment; unfortunately, "master of none" applies, as well. After work, I head back home to hang with the family. I enjoying making dinner and taking turns with the dishes, like all good husbands should do. I spend my few free hours planning Bible study lessons for my church duties, dominating the local city athletic leagues, hanging out with my awesome wife, and fixing up my old house.

MOST SATISFYING THING ABOUT HIS WORK:

The variety of people, places and things I get to meet, go and do.

HIS WORST HAIRCUT:

In 10th grade I wanted to have somewhat of a bowl haircut. Apparently "Joey" at the salon did not understand what I wanted when I described the line around my head. He shaved a bare line that resembled a lightening bolt on the sides of my head. Beautiful. What made it better was that a good friend showed up with it a day later. We looked at each other, laughed and screamed "Joey!" I'm sure he still works there.

FAVORITE SONG FROM THE '80s:

Anything by Tom Petty. Is he still alive?

BIGGEST FIRST-DAY BLOOPER:

Luckily, I don't make mistakes.

MOST EMBARASSING WORK MOMENT:

I have dropped a few large copiers, shattering them into pieces. I haven't hurt anyone, though.