Belk suit specialist Melvin Odom Jr., left, helps customer Jake Redish.* Name: Melvin Odom, Jr.
* Position: Suit specialist
* Location: Belk at Hamilton Place
* First job: A cook at KFC
* Best part of the job: Odom said what he enjoys most about his work is interacting with people. "That's the whole point of business, period, is to serve people. It's always about the people, bringing the best atmosphere, the best energy, and the best excitement I can bring."
He also enjoys helping customers to improve their wardrobes. "I think there's a statement when somebody is dressed. To a degree, it changes the person, though not in a deceitful way. When you put on clothes and garments, it's symbolic of something, like you put on armor when you go into battle. Clothes equip you and suit the atmosphere. When you're a sharp dressed person, it makes a statement."
* Worst part of the job: The hours. "I don't mind cleaning up behind people or pleasing the customers, but my challenge would be the hours of retail."
* Best advice: "My job has taught me how to treat people. It helps me be more balanced in life, because when the customer is always right, you have to listen to them. It isn't just about you. You aim to please other people, not just yourself. It helps take the focus off of me me me. You walk away with that fulfillment knowing I helped somebody today. I changed somebody's life today."
* How to make a career of it: "I don't suggest going into it to try something out. I don't believe I was hired because I knew all the linens and all the prints and types of dress shirts. I believe I was hired because of my character. Being sharp was my character. When that's who you are, you can flow right into these positions."
* Point of interest: Odom is also a minister with Faith Family Chattanooga, and said that Christian ministry has provided him with business training. "The ministry is a business," he said, "and so I've learned my business not from where most would learn it from, but from the church. I've learned how to treat people. I've learned you treat people fairly and justly, and you don't take more money than what something is worth. Those things that hold a business up -- honesty. I learned all those through the church, so that's where I got my background for business."
-- Contact staff writer Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/hollyleber.