128 Years of Family Serving Family: Mary Chainus, Joint Base Lewis-McChord
One in a series honoring the Exchange’s 128 years of family serving family.
Who she is: Mary Chainus, Freshens Food Service Foreman, Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Years with the Exchange: 30 years, retiring Dec. 1.
Military connections: Her husband, retired Master Sgt. John Chainus, served in the Air Force for 24 years. Chainus’ son and brother each served four years in the Army, as well.
Exchange connections: Her daughter, Jessica Duguay, has been with the Exchange for 22 years and is currently a safety business analyst at HQ. Her son-in-law, Jason, is a fraud and risk agent at HQ. Her Army Veteran son, Shane Moore, works for the Department of Homeland Security.
Where she’s worked: Bitburg AFB, Langley AFB and JB Lewis-McChord.
What she did at first: Chainus started as a food associate at Anthony’s Pizza at Bitburg AFB, Germany. “What I remember most is the teamwork was so awesome. We all worked together. No one went home until everything was done.”
What she’s done since: After Anthony’s, Chainus worked on the retail side of things for about 10 years, working in customer service, stockroom and cashier positions, before moving to food operations.
Memorable moments: “My time working at the McChord BXtra has to be my favorite position. Working in the stockroom with my warehouse manager at the time, Paula McKinney, stands out the most. She provided such a welcoming working environment. Her knowledge and can-do attitude set the framework for my learning and growth as I made my path through the Exchange. I was inspired and appreciative that Paula was right there with us organizing and stocking.
“I’ve had so many great managers—Sandra Howard, Jennifer Faloon—who took the time to explain things to me and gave me the confidence that I could do the job.”
Best part of working for the Exchange: “The customers! It’s been an honor to serve the men and women of armed forces and their dependents. The Exchange has felt like family to me and has given me the sense of security in these times of uncertainty.”
Retirement plans: Chainus is looking forward to traveling to many places she’s always wanted to see, like Niagara Falls. She also looks forward to visiting family. “Because for me, family is first.”
Family serving family: “Family serving family exudes selflessness, resilience, honor and camaraderie. The military family fights to keep us safe every day. It’s an honor to have been a part of this community, where our goal is keeping up morale and providing families with a sense of home, family and togetherness.”
