The Arts and Crafts Center at Columbus Air Force Base is pleased to introduce its new manager, Abby Jenkins. Excited about the new position, the job does come with some familiarity with the surroundings as Abby was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi, and previously worked at the base Child Development Center. She has a love for others and hopes to use her time and position at the Arts and Crafts Center to encourage and inspire
people to come in and explore the vast possibilities the Arts & Crafts Center has to offer in bringing ideas and dreams to fulfillment.
Jenkins began working at Columbus Air Force Base in June of 2021. The Child Care Facility was a starting point in her working career, but after hours she found herself most happy going to the Arts & Crafts Center after hours to help her mother who was the manager at that time. Abby loved the opportunity to watch and learn all the department had to offer. When the opportunity presented itself, she was hired and that is when her love
for crafting soared.
The potential to be artsy and creative was endless! In November of 2021, she started out in the framing department. After mastering that area, she moved over to engraving and perfected her work there. As she moved throughout each area of the Arts and Crafts department, she gained expertise and found her true passion and delight. She learned to listen to the customer’s wants and desires and helped them with the decisions that needed to be made to bring their ideas to life. Because of her creativity, willingness to learn, ability to work with others, and leadership, she was the perfect candidate for a managerial position. In August of 2023, Jenkins was promoted to Manager at the Arts and Crafts Center!
“Anything artsy and crafty, I really enjoy! I love it when customers have an idea of what they want, and I have the freedom to help them achieve their idea of what they have in their minds. Artistic ideas are what I love,” Jenkins states.
Another driving point to Abby’s success and happiness is seeing the positive reaction of the customers when they pick up their purchases.
“When they don’t know exactly what it’s going to look like when the project is done, and then the excitement when they are seeing it for the first time is what I love about working here at A & C!” Jenkins says.
Jenkins also has art exhibition experience. She submitted a proposal to Florida State University, and they were pleased to feature a floating frame created by the Arts and Crafts Center, now displayed in the Art Museum for a short amount of time.
Jenkins said, “The coolest project was putting that together and seeing the hard work come out exactly as I was hoping for.”
As the holiday season approaches, The Arts & Crafts Center will be moving to a new home at the Blaze Commons! Partnered with the 14 FSS Marketing Department, the 14th Force Support Squadron hopes to make the Commons your one-stop production shop for all things in art, design, printing, and crafting!
If you can dream it, 14 FSS can make it.
Let the Arts & Crafts Center and the PrintShop help you with all your decorating and gifting needs this winter!
For more information, call Arts & Crafts at (662) 434-2934, or Marketing at (662) 434-2337.