A summer job gathering carts at age 18 has turned into a career that has taken Chris Ballay across America doing a job he loves with a company he believes in.

Ballay became the manager of Enid’s Wal-Mart Supercenter last summer. He said he hasn’t regretted one day since deciding to throw his name in the hat for the job. When the Enid store manager position was about to come open, he put his name on a list and hoped for the best.

He said he researched the area and was impressed by Enid’s status as one of the top 50 places in the country to live. Enid also was recognized by Expansion Management magazine as one of the top 20 small metropolitan areas for business recruitment and attraction.

He said Enid’s reputation was “very appealing.”

Ballay said he is excited about being in the area and he thinks northwest Oklahoma has a lot of potential for growth.

“Everyone is very friendly,” Ballay said. “I like it here. I really, really do.”

Ballay said he already has joined a number of civic groups, including Rotary Club, the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce and he’s about to become a member of the United Way board. He also is about to join AMBUCS.

Ballay celebrates his 15th year with Wal-Mart this year. He has been a manager since 2002. He and his wife, Meredith, and son, Skylar, moved to Enid last summer.

Ballay grew up on a farm in southwest Missouri and he said after living in Florida for several years, he is happy to be back in the heartland.

“I missed ... rural America,” Ballay said.

He said working for Wal-Mart has been the best career choice. He said the company has so many great opportunities for its employees.

“I would never work anywhere else,” he said.

He said the company is tops in charitable giving and as the top retailer in the world, there’s no limit to what the company can do.

“We can make a lot of things happen,” Ballay said.

It also works to provide for communities after natural disasters, citing the company’s response to the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005.

Ballay’s goal as manager of the Enid Wal-Mart Supercenter is to make the shopping experience better for local and area residents. He said he welcomes feedback from customers and hopes shoppers give him the opportunity to make things the best they can be.

And the Wal-Mart associates, Ballay said, are knowledgeable and friendly and appreciate the opportunity to help customers and create the best shopping experience.

“It’s great to be a part of the community,” Ballay said.