Constance C. Ware Jenkins began her professional path with business administration coursework in high school, study which was equivalent to two years of college at the time. Embarking on her business career with NGC, she subsequently joined the airline industry as an office secretary before being offered a job at the Raytheon Technologies Corporation. After three years as the assistant to the vice president of marketing at Raytheon, she was hired by Pitney Bowes Inc. and went on to serve as the assistant to the executive director of government and postal service relations for seven years. During this time, Ms. Jenkins’ duties included liaising with the postmaster general and various congressmen at Capitol Hill and helping to make decisions in the director’s absence.
While she accomplished much over the course of her 25 years in business, Ms. Jenkins found the most gratifying aspect of her career to be her professional growth and how she moved up the ranks from a more-or-less invisible secretary to an accomplished assistant and support staff member. She first realized that she had made it as a respected professional in the industry when she was greeted by name by a congressman as she was entering the Cannon House Office in Washington, D.C. That recognition truly felt like the icing on the cake of her career, and it was further enforced when the president of Pitney Bowes asked if she was interested in working for him following his retirement from the company. Ms. Jenkins’ ultimately declined, but she was incredibly proud to have been considered for the position.
Continuing to educate herself throughout her career, Ms. Jenkins began taking classes on landscaping and interior design. Through these efforts, she began working with model homes, and, while shopping for a particular model, the salesman she was speaking to offered her a job with his company, kickstarting her career in the real estate industry. This first position saw her selling new homes in the greater Virginia area, both in and out of state, but she eventually left the new home building scene to pursue her real estate license, leading to a successful 23-year career as a realtor in the state of Virginia. Today, Ms. Jenkins remains active through various community efforts, including serving as the president of her homeowners’ association, volunteering with her church and local charities, and donating to animal rescue groups.
Ms. Jenkins has been a staunch community activist throughout her entire life. Her greatest civic achievements came when she helped to deliver goods after severe flooding in West Virginia in both 1985 and 2000. Through the assistance of Bill Marriott of Marriott International, Jack Anderson of the Washington Post, and an editor of Overdrive Magazine, she was able to acquire a specialized truck and arrange for the delivery of furniture and other goods to people in need of aid following the 1985 flood. Ms. Jenkins recalls these memories in her memoir, “Untold Stories of the West Virginia of 1985,” which was published by Headline Books in 2015.
Living by the motto, “Nothing is impossible to a willing heart,” Ms. Jenkins attributes much of her success to her drive, determination, and the people who have supported her throughout her career. She is particularly grateful to the strong women role models she had growing up on both sides of her family; her first husband, who served in the military and was a great humanitarian; and her father, who always told her that you can’t just live in a community, you have to give back. In all of her endeavors, Ms. Jenkins has made a name for herself as an independent person who always sought advice from her superiors and adhered closely to all necessary requirements.
Proud of her professional growth, Ms. Jenkins has received a number of honors and accolades for her excellence. During her time with Pitney Bowes, she received numerous letters of commendation, including one from President Ford for her help during the staff transition when he left office. She was also notably recognized by her peers in the real estate industry with an award for her success. On a community level, Ms. Jenkins cites her greatest triumphs as helping to build a community pathway in 1996 and, more recently, saving 166 townhouses from being torn down for traffic management and helping to resolve the transportation issues in a less destructive way.