When Brian Robinson began his career at MFA Oil, the home office building was a little more than a year old. Robinson, who has worked for the company for 24 years, started out as a credit coordinator and was promoted to area credit manager in July 1997, the position he still holds today.
Though his career mirrors that of many others—one of success, promotion and the opportunity to do rewarding work—Robinson experiences obstacles the typical employee does not.
Robinson was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at age 12. The disease, inherited through genetics, gradually deteriorates one’s vision by destroying the eye’s cones and rods. The peripheral and night visions are the first to go, and eventually, central vision fades. Most suffer some form of color blindness as well.
Robinson lost his vision approximately seven years ago, but he didn’t let that stop him from working. The state of Missouri’s Rehabilitation Services for the Blind came to MFA Oil and provided Robinson the training and resources he needed to continue performing his job well.
“I don’t consider myself any different,” Robinson says. “I just experience challenges most people don’t have to deal with.”
One of the tools Robinson uses to overcome the hurdles caused by his loss of sight is a software program known as Jaws. It reads whatever is on his computer screen to him through a headset. While the software is a tremendous help, Jaws is not without its drawbacks. Jaws requires Robinson to memorize keyboard shortcuts. Whenever the program updates, Robinson has to relearn it, sometimes taking extra time at home to memorize the keyboard commands.
“I find these challenges to be defining,” Robinson says. “It makes me work harder. I set high goals for myself.”
Jaws can also scan documents and read them aloud for Robinson.
“I can do anything someone with vision can do,” Robinson says. “It just may take me a little longer to read handwritten notes.”
In addition to supervising a team, Robinson considers providing excellent customer service his top priority.
Talking on the phone with customers can be difficult as Robinson listens to audio from his computer in one ear and audio from the phone in the other, but he uses a simple tactic to stall for time while he processes all of the information: great conversation.
“Brian is an excellent communicator,” Curt Ricks, director of the credit department, says. “He can speak to anyone — attorneys, customers, employees and small business owners — in an effective way. Not everyone can do that, and he does it well.”
Despite the challenges, Robinson says working at MFA Oil has given him a great sense of accomplishment. He credits the continued support he has received from his credit coordinators, the IT department and key individuals in the company, with helping him along the way.
“The company has been nothing but supportive of me,” Robinson says. “One of the things I value and cherish most is working here, and I’m excited about the future of the company.”