Today’s spotlight shines on Shelby Systems’ Education and Production/Media Manager: JOE YORK.

Joe York is Shelby Systems’ longest tenured employee with almost three and a half decades of continual service. In the early days of Shelby (with only a handful of employees), everyone was required to be proficient at many tasks. For several years, Joe trained, wrote documentation, and managed both training and support. Joe has worn many hats over the years.

Later, he launched Shelby’s first Multimedia-Computer-Based Training Program, known as “ShelbyProfessor” (for the v.5 products). Joe also managed our QA team, created the software installers, developed online-help systems, and managed the distribution of Shelby products.

Today, Joe’s primary focus is to provide media related content to aid Shelby’s various departments. This includes: training tutorial videos, marketing demos and promotional videos, artwork and visual content for MPower, online-help, release notes, and anything else to help support the various needs that arise.

Making sure that customers are given the tools they need to grow their ministry through education, production and media is Joe’s top priority. 

Let’s get to know: JOE YORK

Hello, my name is Joe York, and I have been a part of team Shelby for almost 35 years now. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 44 years.  We have two children, Dustin and Lana, and four grandchildren ages 8 to 14.  Wow how time flies! We recently adopted two, yes two, Chorkie brothers.  That’s a Chihuahua and Yorkie mix.  Both are a lot of fun and keep us occupied and entertained.   

Other than getting to spend time with my kids and grandkids, and fishing with close friends, my most recent hobby/project has been completely restoring a 1969 Camaro from the ground up. This has been a 9-year project but it is finally almost complete.  Nothing is more gratifying than to stand back and appreciate something that you have built with your own hands. I can’t wait to get that “big block” on the road and start taking it to some car shows and events.

My wife and I are members of Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, TN.  We love our connection class and spending time with our small group.  It’s like a mini church with around 100 on roll.  When our kids were young, I spent a great deal of time coaching baseball, soccer, and basketball at our previous church.  I asked Jesus to come into my life at the age of sixteen and have been following him ever since.

I attended Memphis State University (currently: University of Memphis) before attending State Technical Institute (currently: Southwest Community College) majoring in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.

January will be my 35th anniversary with Shelby Systems.  Prior to that, I worked for 12 years as a machinist/shop foreman/purchasing agent for a company that manufactured food processing equipment.  Part of my experience in that life included programming CNC Milling Machines and CNC Lathes.  I guess that’s where my attention to detail comes from. 

In the beginning, Shelby Systems was a small “family” owned business with very few employees.  Ernie Hamilton was the founder and Frank Canady was the first employee.  I got to know and spend time with Ernie and his wife Mary Ann through Frank and Denise (my sister-in-law). It took several years before an opportunity became available for me to begin a new career with Shelby.  Working at Shelby has not only been a means to provide for my family, but it has been an opportunity to assist churches by helping them to utilize computers and software technology to further the Kingdom.

Recently, while studying through our company-wide ONELearn program, I have come to appreciate the concept of “agility.”  My biggest takeaway was; “To always expect and embrace change!  Without change, we become stagnant.”  A thriving company must be able to adapt quickly to the fast pace changes we experience in today’s world. 

In closing, it has been a privilege to work with so many great people over the years.  People like Ernie and Mary Ann Hamilton, Frank Canady, and so many others that have contributed to the success of Shelby Systems.  I am truly grateful for their vision, hard work, sacrifice, friendship and influence on my life.

My name is Joe York, and I am a Shelby Systems team member.

Explore:  Shelby Media Content.