By Kalvin D. Perron
Staff Reporter
BAY MILLS — After working for the Bay Mills Indian Community for 34 years, Rob Bowen, advertising manger for the Bay Mills Resort and Casinos' marketing department, will officially call it quits and retire Feb. 11, at the age of 64.
Bowen moved back to Bay Mills in 1970 and took a job as a carpenter for a home improvement program. He started at the casino in 1990 as a bartender and was eventually promoted to Kings Club Bar Manager. When his wife, Dee Bowen, who was the Kings Club Manager at the time, was offered the marketing director job in 1993, Bowen abandoned his post at Kings Club and followed her to the fledgling marketing department. Bowen recalled his first experience with advertising.
“My first project was a hand-drawn water scene with some birch trees on a piece of paper,” Bowen said. “We made a bunch of photo-copies and turned them into little brochures. We've definitely come a long way since those days.”
Bowen believes he made a smooth transition to advertising manager, the position he now occupies, because of his artistic ability and creativity. Instead of using an artist's normal medium, a paint brush and a canvas, Bowen said he can now design on a computer and change an entire color with only the click of a mouse. His job, he said, was a good way to make a living doing what he loved.
“It's a great job. I can't imagine doing anything else,” he said. “I've always enjoyed being creative, whether I was building something or drawing something. This job allowed me to make a living doing that.”
With all the free time that comes with retirement, Bowen said he plans to spend the majority of it with one of his other great passions — his home. He said he enjoys working on various landscaping and remodeling projects, but currently does not have the time to do so. With six children, 22 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren, Bowen said it is a lot of work balancing his home, work, and hobbies.
“I'm a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather, so all my free time is spent filling those roles” he said. “It's really hard to find time to do the things that I want and enjoy to do. Hopefully, retiring will allow me to do more things.”
Bowen said he enjoyed watching the marketing department expand over the years, as it incorporated more people, equipment and ideas and will miss everyone he works with when he is gone. He hopes to see someone young follow in his footsteps.
“The people I work with are great and I will miss all of them,” he said. “I learned a lot over the years, especially from Virginia [Spence, BMRC marketing director]. She taught me quite a bit and I would like to thank her. There are so many different things going on at any given time, sometimes I don't know how she keeps everything running smoothly.”
There will be a retirement party for Rob Bowen at the Horizons Conference Center Saturday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome.
