By Nicole Lemire
Before working in BCArc’s Employment Services, Rob Dunn was the captain of a 200 foot boat that ran supplies to drilling rigs on the Gulf of Mexico, overseeing a crew of 64 employees.
In 1997, Rob was accepted to study psychology at the University of West Florida, and made the move from Massachusetts to Florida. After seeing an ad in the paper, he took a job working on a boat to make money in the months leading up to his first semester of college. However, he ended up loving this job so much that he elected to not attend school and stayed on the boat, a job he would hold for nearly 20 years.
During his time as captain, his favorite part of the job was the excitement and being able to spend time on the water: “I got to see things that nobody else in my generation or many generations to come will ever see. I got to see the Pharaoh’s Comet, Halley’s Comet, tornadoes, lightning hitting the water, just some really crazy stuff,” he said.
Before working in BCArc’s Employment Services, Rob Dunn was the captain of a 200 foot boat that ran supplies to drilling rigs on the Gulf of Mexico, overseeing a crew of 64 employees.
Despite his love of the job, in 2016 he decided to quit due to the lack of time that he got to spend with his family. After this, he began taking more local jobs working on sailboats and dolphin cruises. It wasn’t until the birth of his first grandchild that he decided to move back to Massachusetts.
Rob became inspired to work with individuals with disabilities to better help and understand a family member of his with a disability. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, he was working in home services which he described as being “inconsistent and sporadic,” and realized that he wanted to find a full-time job in the field.
It was his mother who encouraged him to apply to BCArc, as she was formerly an employee and greatly enjoyed her time here.
“My mother said that one of the best places she ever worked was here at BCArc. She said that she loved how she was treated and went home everyday happy and smiling,” he said. “So I was like, okay I’ll give it a shot.”
“My mother said that one of the best places she ever worked was here at BCArc. She said that she loved how she was treated and went home everyday happy and smiling,” he said. “So I was like, okay I’ll give it a shot.”
Rob began working in various day programs, but soon found that he had a passion to teach, and decided to transfer to employment services as a trainer. Now, he works with an individual who does maintenance at BCArc locations, and together they complete tasks such as mowing, doing deliveries, changing oil on equipment, and putting together furniture.
His favorite part of the job is the spontaneity and being able to have fun with the individual that he works with: “Everyday there’s always a surprise. I love it, I come in and I laugh all day. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” he said.
Although sometimes he misses the water, Rob said that he has no regrets about leaving his job as a captain, and finds fulfillment in his new career.
