When Garden Spot High School 2020 graduate Sabrina Dickson first headed to college, she did not know what she wanted to do with her life. After changing her major several times and considering taking a gap year, Dickson landed at Smoker Door Sales in Kinzer, where her title of experience and engagement coordinator covers a variety of duties.

"This just kind of happened through work experience," said Dickson. "I realized all I want to do is build relationship in a career that has an outward mindset, and this is it."

Dickson handles both human resources and marketing for Smoker Door, but her position also focuses on coordinating company connections with local organizations such as The Factory, where Smoker Door is a sponsor in the BIG Shots fundraiser, in which Smoker employees participate, and Solanco Neighborhood Ministries, for which Smoker employees put together Christmas tree kits for area families. "We also host food drives and personal care item drives," pointed out Dickson.

In her role, Dickson also works with Pequea Valley School District (PVSD) and Linville Hill Christian School to arrange three to six job shadows and internships per semester. Dickson's job involves supplying employee volunteers to move furniture in the local emergency shelter or set up chairs and tables for bingo events. "It's a very widespread position," Dickson noted.

The position of experience and engagement coordinator was created to help implement the core values of Smoker, which include valuing people over profits; generosity; and developing leaders. The missional approach of the company includes living out core values in all aspects of work and serving the community. "(The final core value is) 'we make our moms proud,'" explained Dickson. "That's kind of a catch-all for good character," she noted, adding that owner Jeff Smoker often says, "We're in the business of selling garage doors, but we do that as a means to give back to our community."

Before Dickson filled the position, no one at Smoker Door was coordinating the efforts to live out the core values from a single vantage point. "They needed someone who had the time to prioritize ways for us to make an impact," said Dickson. "To live out the vision outside of financial donations, (we needed) to put feet on the ground getting employees out there and building relationships."

One of the outreaches Dickson enjoys most is the mentorship program she and a few other employees take part in through PVSD. The Smoker team members meet with Pequea Valley High School (PVHS) juniors to help them prepare for interviews and provide career advice. Out of that involvement grew the idea of granting an annual scholarship to a PVHS senior. In 2024, the first Smoker Door Sales Character Scholarships were given to Mariah Kauffman and Kylee Worrell. "Because we pride ourselves on core values and character, I thought there should be a scholarship that was character based," explained Dickson, who also wanted the scholarship to be of the same dollar amount as many academically based awards. Applicants were asked to answer questions such as "How have you been generous?" and "How have you developed leaders and valued people over yourself?" "We had so many great stories to choose from we gave out two ($1,000 scholarships)," explained Dickson, who noted that the funds awarded may be used at any institution of higher learning. "(The scholarship was) given to two people who have shown exemplary leadership qualities, have gone above and beyond to help others, and taken the initiative to lead and inspire," Dickson added.

While much of the community outreach initiated by Smoker Door Sales is done in the local area, Dickson said that the team does not restrict giving to Pequea Valley. "I send people to Water Street (Mission) to volunteer in the food outreach center."

Internally, Dickson and a co-worker partner to organize a leadership development program with employees. "We read books on leadership and have discussions," she noted.

Dickson is excited to continue finding creative ways to fulfill Smoker's mission. "Our culture is not just a policy or program but a way of life that influences everything we do," she stated. "It's so cool." She finds the job fulfilling as well as exciting. According to Dickson, her favorite part of the job is coordinating community outreach. "That is so rewarding to me," she stated. "That is a blessing. It's the Lord (at work)."