Cammie Bochman: Taco Time

I know this blog post is not about me(Anthony Crosby); however, I’d like to share with you a little fun fact that I promise will tie back in with today’s feature. My first official job ever, at the ripe old age of sixteen, was working at the only Taco Time in the Reno area. The restaurant was in a random Shell gas station on the far Northern outskirts of the biggest little city. But, as you can see on this restaurant location map from the Taco Time website, that franchise is no longer in operation and there are currently no Taco Time locations in that part of Nevada.

 

After about a year of working there, that branch of the fast-food chain was shut down due to teenage hijinks and poor management (a story for another blog). Yes, I was there the last day Reno ever had a Taco Time. So, Elko, we should consider ourselves lucky we have our establishment…especially with employees like Cammie Bochman working there.

 

Now, I had already written a piece on Cammie’s husband Richard, not too long ago, as he recently celebrated his twentieth anniversary working for our local Wal-mart. But I had to circle back around to the Bochman household and talk with Cammie about her story because she has Richard beaten by four years when it comes to working with one company. That’s right, Cammie has been with her employer, Taco Time, for over twenty-four years! Twenty fours years! In the time Cammie has been with Taco Time time she has seen ten iPhones launches, four different presidents in office, the extinction of the West African black rhinoceros, the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in 108 years. Yeah, she’s been there for a little while.

What’s Cammie’s story?

“I have a seizure disorder. And because of this, I was in special-ed all of my life. And people never thought I would make it. All throughout school, this continued. Some people told me I’d be a “vegetable” all of my life…but look at me now!”

 

“I grew up in Utah but I moved to Elko in 1988, when I was around 13 years old. My mom got a job at the mines (Barrick Gold) and my father also worked there. In 1991 I graduated from Carlin High School and then worked at Ruby Mountain Resource Center for a couple of years before finally heading to Taco Time. When I started at Taco Time it was kind of scary but I’ve learned a lot since 1993 (her start date) and I love it. There are some days you just don’t want to go in, but that’s just how jobs are.” And, a couple years later, Cammie married her husband Richard and are going strong after twenty-two years!

But again, twenty-four years is a long time. I had to ask Cammie if she even still liked what she did almost every day. “I love working! I get to meet new people every time I work. Mostly, just people passing through but I love getting to meet new people! Sometimes the money gets a little out of hand, but that’s just part of the job. And I haven’t had a seizure in five years thanks to medicine!”

That’s good stuff! But Cammie’s not rolling up burritos 24/7, what does she like to do on her off time? “Well, I really enjoy Elko…even though we need another bowling alley. But Richard and I like to go bowling, to the movies, out to eat or just hanging out with our two dogs. And we enjoy going to our church every Sunday!”

I wrapped up our conversation by asking two very important questions, and here’s how she brought it home. 1. What do you want people to know about you above anything else? “I’m happy! I’m always cheerful!” 2. What would you say to someone who is growing up with a learning/mental disability and being told he/she won’t be able to measure up and be successful? ” Just be yourself, keep working hard and try your best! That’s what I did growing up with my disability and look at me now!”

 

You don’t really see a lot of people stick it out in one job, with one company for as long as Cammie has; her story is very encouraging. And what she does matters! Here at Anthony Around Town, we’ve talked with business owners, world travelers, and people in the national spotlight (and those people were awesome) but someone working at fast food restaurant is just as valuable to our community…especially with someone with the joy, kindness, and dedication Cammie has. I’m sure she’s made a lot of folk’s day just with her positive presence.

Feel free to leave a comment below! And if you would like to share your story with Anthony Around Town, please email us at anthonyaroundtown@gmail.com We’d love to hear from you!

See you around! Keep enjoying those tacos!

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