Amy Alberta (Scraggs)

Let’s see if I can remember back that far……after high school……..

Ok, after high school I went to cosmetology school and became a licensed hairdresser/cosmetologist. After school and during my first real job I realized there were not too many people that wanted the crazy hair-dos I was so well known for. None of my customers wanted mo-hawks, or spikes, no one wanted green hair (come on it was 1989!) I was stuck doing roller set after roller set and wasting my extra super hold aqua net on 70 year old women all day and that got old real fast. Between that and having to deal with walk-ins that hadn’t washed their hair in weeks it didn’t take me long to realize this career was not for me. I continued to do hair and nails here and there for my friends but I never really cared to do much more with it….so I went out to look for something else.

I’m sure you all remember what I looked like back then, the hair, the outfits andI remember so clearly my mom saying “you are never going to get a job looking like that!”Well….the first interview I went on was for a computer software company, it was for the front desk receptionist position (I must admit, I never thought anyone would hire me for their first impression either!)I interviewed with several people and then had to meet with the president of the company. I remember walking into his HUGE office and sitting down (nervous as all get out) with my giant spiked up hairdo and some freaky outfit on (see Molly Ringwald/Pretty in Pink)…he looked at me, smiled and said “I love your hair” and that was that. I got the job and gained a lot of experience in the years I worked there. I will never forget that place for giving me a chance and it made me realize early on that it was ok to just be myself no matter what the situation.

I was always interested in photography and enrolled in classes and programs which led me to one of the best jobs I ever had. For 7 years I worked as a photographer taking school pictures, yep I was the lady handing out the little black combs by day and taking your kids prom pictures at night along with sports on weekends and any other school events you can think of. It was definitely the toughest, yet most rewarding job I have had.Unfortunately, in 2000 a life changing event happened and I had to immediately give up the job I loved (that also offered no insurance) and get a job with benefits. Thanks to a great friend I was hired at Monster.com as an inbound sales rep, hired to answer incoming emails and customer questions…keeping in mind here that I am a photographer and have no computer experience AT ALL….(what’s an email???) Well needless to say I caught on fast and in the 6 years I worked there moved up, changed departments and became a Finance Manager specializing in eCommerce and international credit card fraud. I lost my job (thanks to outsourcing) last year and now work as the Assistant Controller/Accountant for a publishing company. I never thought I would get into Finance and Accounting as much as I have (in fact I think I failed accounting in high school!) but the accountant paycheck vs. the photographers paycheck has kept me in this line of work for close to 8 years now.

I was married for 10 years (hence the different last name) and have been divorced now for 5. I never had any children, unless you, like me, consider cats as your “kids”.

In the 20 years since high school I have gone from “punk rocker” to “biker chick”.
I now have my own Harley and LOVE IT.

I ride as much as possible and really cannot get enough of it. I have traded in the funky hair for a slight addiction to tattoos. (I think my mom would prefer the spiked hair come back instead!) I spend any spare time I have playing golf and skiing in the winter. I’m sure you are all saying “accountant-biker-golfer? WHAT?!” Well some things never change…..I guess in some weird way I am still just as “odd” as I was in high school. Ha!

These pics are from Myrtle Beach Bike Week 2007 - Thats me and my hog - hahaha....and below is me and my boyfriend/fellow biker Al.

Im really looking forward to seeing you all in October.

Amy