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Mr. Miller 05/23/2010 8:36:00 PM
Susan - this is at least the second IDENTICAL (copy and paste) response of yours to an article about this subject that I have seen.
In the culture of on-line commentary and news forums, this is known as "Trolling", and considered to be very low class****
With regard to challenging the 'credibility' of my simply recounting my experiences in other articles, along with dozens of others saying precisely the same thing about theirs - keep in mind, many of whom have Never met each other nor collaborated – surely one would at least have to wonder if there wasn’t just a little shred of truth in them****
Any thinking person would be able to discern that my issue wasn't with 'placement numbers', (Although from time to time, I still call the school as a 'potential student' and ask about percentages. You wouldn't Believe what I am told - it's utterly amazing.) My issue was clearly about comparing professional vs. non-professional behaviors in the work place or an educational environment****
And so, Susan, when you move to change the premise of my words by attempting to sway the focus to another subject entirely – then it would appear that it is the integrity of YOUR “cut and paste” commentary which should actually be called into question****
And just to clarify in my own mind, did you actually say that “…. if comments are one-sided then they lose merits.”?****
Can you hear that sound, Susan? Listen closely… It is the sound of every reader laughing loudly out of sympathy, pity and disbelief. And for the record, I was never an “Executive” (again, a very weak way to introduce a false premise which will never gain hold) There was only one “Executive” in that organization – period – and all of the decision making came from that source****
Now, if your experience actually worked for you then I'm very happy for you, and to see someone get value for dollars spent; all the best to you in your future endeavours. But you cannot take away from the experience or commentary of others who have lived it and seen it with their own eyes. And if the computers actually worked when you were in attendance.. I think that's great as well... as it shows at least some level of growth. I don’t want to take away from your experience at all – just please don’t try to whitewash what so many others went through or take away from their recalling of first-hand experiences. On that, we’ll just have to agree to disagree, and to operate in completely separate realities.
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Susan 09/01/2009 5:43:00 AM
I've read all the articles about Mrs. Starkey on Westword. AND all the comments. I've got a feeling that a group of pissed off former Starkey employees and graduates are determined to destroy Mrs. Starkey personally and professionally. Out of 1000 Starkey graduates, this group is relatively small. As a former excecutive of Starkey, Mr. Miller should have known how many happy graduates had rewarding experiences at Starkey and found their jobs. But none was mentioned by Mr. Miller. That makes his comments much less credible. You guys all claimed that Starkey Int'l is a scam. But you even admitted some of the graduates have been placed. Starkey never guaranteed placement after graduation. Did you read the Terms before sending the check? If comments are one-sided, no matter which side, they loss merits. BTW, you all hate Starkey, but you still sign as "Starkey Graduate 07", etc. That means you still take the 8-week training as valuable education. I'm not a Starkey grad. I don't know any of the people envolved in this fiasco. I do want to hear the other side of the story. Any satisfied Starkey graduates, employees or clients? Please write to me: susanandsteve@yahoo.com.
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jill davis 08/06/2008 3:22:00 AM
We are extremely dissatisfied clients of Mrs. Starkey and her school. Mrs. Starkey did not live up to her promises and we suffered a very costly mistake and wasted a lot of our valuable time. We post this to warn people who may be considering using Starkey's services. We urge you to RUN--not walk, but RUN--away and to consider a different domestic placement agency. Mrs. Starkey claims that her school teaches students the fine art of service at the highest level, but we found it to be quite the opposite. Our household was upset by this unprofessional and crude woman who purports to be something she is not. Be very careful. ~Unhappy Customers
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07grad 01/15/2008 12:08:00 PM
I went to the Denver court website and found this link:
http://www.denvergov.org/apps/court/courtresult.asp
I'm not sure how to read this. Looks like maybe a jury trial scheduled to start today?
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former grad 01/11/2008 5:12:00 AM
What is going on with the trial??? Anyone know ?????
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life after starkey 01/03/2008 11:51:00 AM
If there's somebody out there who's passionate about this and has time on his/her hands, it would be be easy to create a group on Google Groups (better functionality than Yahoo Groups) as a Starkey grad support group, then give out the address on Westword and on the domestic service group sites. I'm not working in private service and don't have the time or inclination to do this myself. Best of luck to all defrauded grads! Hopefully 2008 will be a great year for all...and hopefully justice will prevail. **And in response to a posting above, although many of the Starkey employees are as guilty as MLS for perpetuating the fraud and luring new students, there were a few good ones who also suffered and ultimately quit over the bad things going on. There were many victims.
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grads 01/02/2008 9:29:00 PM
We should start a support group and maybe a class action or go on TV. This is unreal. So happy she got arrested. Why did it take so long ?
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cammy 01/02/2008 9:25:00 PM
It's great to hear people making comments on that evil woman. Why is she still in business ? So many people deserve a refund she is such a con artist. I hope one day she goes to prison. Anyone who works for her is guilty as well because they clean up her dirty work.
Starkey grad 96
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Class of 98 12/30/2007 3:53:00 AM
I have been reading all the comments about You Know Who...I too, was black listed by her, ridiculed in front of my class mates, and placed in the job from H#$%...and never placed again. Our class was always looked down upon by the "staff" and we were refered to, by them, as Boulder Granola...whatever that means. Our clothes were not "right" our hair was not right ETC, ETC. I want to know if anyone out there, former student, is an attorney ???? Can we get a class action suit going ???? We should at least ALL get our tuition back. She is runing a money scam all the way around. I felt this way from about the second week that we were there, but we were always too afraid to speak up in fear that we would not be placed. In our class of 12, only two were placed. One was placed later, but that is all. My e-mail is my74bug@msn.com if anyone wants to write to me. If there is a class action suit, please let us all know.
Happy New Year to all.
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fomer student 12/27/2007 2:43:00 AM
I LOVE IT ALL!!! most especially the clever and intellectual musings of mr. miller, and the other gent, "SIR" - you guys are so right on!!! what a pathetic excuse for a human being mary louise is . . . and a certification program? rediculous! that old bag is a joke and needs to be taken down to the gutter where she belongs. this is one disgruntled former student who was NEVER placed by that 'institute' and still, after all these years, gets sooo riled up when i hear about the injustices and abuses from her, served on fake silver platters, while that crazy bitch just went on bullying whoever thought she could and kissed the asses of the ones she couldn't or didn't dare. god forbid you ever stand up for yourself, because after all your time and energy and money, if she didn't 'like' you or feel power over you - you were NOT gonna get placed. period. i recall how she used to sit on my lap, in the early weeks of the session i attended, simulating sex whilst she bounced up and down and grunted, during which time she had her hand down and or up my shirt 'tweeking' my nipples and making inquiries as to my sexuality. as if i'd fuck her anyway - GROSS. and that's just ONE of my true stories, darlings!
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charlie 12/13/2007 2:43:00 AM
The Years Tell Much, Which the Days Never Know. As Ralph use to say. Or What Ever You Do Will Come Back to You. Instant Karma Is Gonna Get Ya. Charlie
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Neighbore 12/11/2007 9:01:00 PM
So I keep picking up these westwords that feature my neighbor.... and not knowing any of these people or anything about this organization I decided to research it. I went to the web site and found out that for a 4-week class it cost 13,000 for a certificate. Now to all the students, that are angry because they got ripped off�.. duh�� who in their right mind would pay that much money for a certificate and no garneted of being �placed� in a home? To all the students that paid that much should have gone to a University that teaches hospitality and gotten a degree. A semester at CSU is cheaper than 4-weeks at Starkey. Not knowing anything about this women that everyone is bashing I felt that people are forgetting the issue. No one should ever put his or her hands on any one period. The sad thing is this poor woman went to this school hoping for a better career and for that she was assaulted. No one in an education position should feel that it is expectable to put their hands on any one. For that, I hope that the District Attorney for City of Denver does their job and makes sure that she answers for her consequences. What I am worried about is if she is not held responsible the next time the police are called to the school it will be for a far more serious crime. From what I learned from personal work experience, is if the business atmosphere condones this kind of behavior then it will never stop, and unfortunately for the employee and student at Starkey the only one that can help them are the police and the School Board. I hope that the women that was hurt and the gentlemen a month later, are doing ok and recovering. If I was put in that position I would not no what to do. I respect all the people�s comments and stories but let us remember two people were physically assaulted and we hope for the best for them and their recovery.
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Martin CJ Mongiello 12/08/2007 9:14:00 PM
Dear colleagues and readers,
For those of you whom are reading these postings about the arrest of Ms. Mary Starkey please be reminded that it is not so easy to be investigated and subsequently brought to court, have your trial elavated and then arrested. Her arrest was based on primary documents and testimony from a Medical Doctor as well as other data derived from interviews of students, staff and witnesses.
You can be assured of the facts that numerous articles have been reviewed published from MSN's the SLATE (Starkey article on - "Jeeves Goes to War"), numerous other lawsuits throughout the years involving Ms. Starkey and other primary and secondary documents.
As a Policeman graduating first in my class with the Department of Defense and continuing my studies at Troy State University in Criminal Law - I can assure all that despite TV mini-series and what have you, it is not so easy to be mistakenly arrested. I participated in several high-level investigations of American officials in the US and Europe at the request of government agents and agencies and did clandestine work for them. Many times, at the complete lack of knowledge of the subject. Also, as a practicing Private Detective, I can tell you the ground work leading up to information building and evidence gathering for hand-off to the Police or authorities can be extensive and very credible.
I was born under the sign of Justice, on August 11 as a LEO III sign, so I am the type of person whom lives inside of honesty and truth to the full effect of my life - as much as I possibly can. I LIKE TO SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE AND KNOW-HOW. Not conjecture and ambiguity. It is for these reasons that I have always been highly sought after as an Estate Manager with a US Government Top Secret clearance. I have no problem with two agents crawling through my life history and interviewing dozens and dozens of humans throughout decades of my lifespan to question them on my religious beliefs, criminal and driving records, medical histories and personality testing, work ethic and leadership skills, managerial methods and more. I was working for a long time in Household Management and Estate Management to the Forbes 400 list, the President of the United States, public personalities of fame and Hollywood, heads of state and Royal families when I then was sent to attend the Starkey Institute by the United States Military.
I think I am a good judge of what is right or wrong when it comes to teaching others about household management and estate management.
-I would, for instance, speak with a Bodyguard about security issues - because I have done the work myself.
-I might, on occasion, talk with a Master Gardener about plantings for the next season - as I have walked in his/her shoes.
-I could discuss items about canapes with the Chef as I am a Certified Executive Chef with the American Culinary Federation.
-I might purchase a Phillips HeartStart AED as I have extensive Emergency Medical Team experience and hold multiple certifications from the American Heart Association. And this is one of the few companies whom has not had thousands of AED's worldwide recalled.
-I regularly review budgets utilizing my skills learned and honed from an MBA degree and as a Master Certified Food Executive from the International Food Service Executives Association.
Ms. Mary Starkey is a Publicity and PR - Marketing machine. Don't be deceived by her appearance on ABC as meaning she personally holds any of the required skills, experience or graduation certificates from universities or other federations to actually do the work. Here lies the interesting part - she has never done the work of a household manager or estate manager and yet, we see the dozens of complaints filed against her in the newspaper blog here (over 40 from students and staff and clients) and tremendously - in the aforementioned story released by Westword. On that story, this comment has been mentioned again and again. I always ask that if others are going to point fingers into faces and tell people how to lead their professional lives - that they become a certified graduate of the area they will instruct on.
The funny thing with certification in the world is also, just because you obtain it once - does not mean you professionally retain it. All major certifying bodies mandate recertification every five years or you lose your credentials. Not that Ms. Starkey has any personal credentials at all, earned through coursework and practicum or essential demonstrative skills testing. In the case of earning such, she would subject herself to various trubunals and examination committees from affiliated associations and federations as well as the Department of Education in the United States and seek to retain certifications. Commonly this process involves the granting of a certification for a specific period of time - and then the individual and school most be re-evaluated and will either lose or retain rights.
As a professional member whom travels the world evaluating colleges and universities doing just this - I can tell you, the US Department of Education and all colleagues in education spend a year or longer preparing for such.
Individual humans whom call themselves professionals do such. No human etains a certification forever except in the rare instances of attaining MASTER level. Which is recognized worldwide. My own Master Certification was studied for over ten years.
If there is one thing I would say about very rich people is that most of them have reasons for seeking justice and honesty in hiring candidates that they could trust to be around their children, their checkbooks and their homes around the world. Let us not forget that most rich people also work very hard in America and invent, create or develop an idea, invention or business. RICH PEOPLE BUST THIER ASSES to get to where they are and they have no intention of slowing down to lose it all.
It is with the knowledge of speaking about the rich, their desires, working in the industry for over 26 years, being a teacher and being a graduate of Starkey myself that I would like to comment on the caliber of teachers and educators at Starkey.
When I attended in 2002 I flew in from Brussels, Belgium, the capitol of the European Union. The Headmaster was Mr. Allan Miller and he provided the most worthwile curriculum and teaching any student of this industry could dream of. Having worked at the White House and Camp David as well lived in Japan and Europe doing this job, Mr. Miller TAUGHT ME A FEW THINGS. He was hands down the finest Director of Education one could ever imagine. Mr. Charles Anderson was our Master Sommelier from the British Court of Sommeliers and never was there a more gentlemanly teacher in the world of cigars, beers, wines, cellars, spirits and more - than this distinguished Master. Ms. Gail Hamilton and Ms. Helen Penton were in charge of placement and did wonderful things in gentle nd realistic placements. They followed Ms. Penton's model of personality pairing for ultimate matches that resulted in well remunerated candidates. Students just graduating were put into small roles as household managers and experienced workers graduating were placed in similar roles to that level of excellence they had delivered upon already. First year students were never thrust into waiting months for a position nor were they ever thrust into estates they did not qualify for. The Starkey seal of approval was hands down the best in the industry! And, my friends, everyone knew it.
Mr. David Beckwith was the institutes Executive Chef and he developed and copyrighted his, "flavor profile," methodology of cooking. While I had once been the Executive Chef to the President of the United States - I have to tell you - Chef Beckwith not only was an expert but he cooked delicious meals. His classes and instruction were second to none - right along with anytime, the Drector of Education stepped into the classroom, Mr. Allan Miller.
I returned to service in Europe a thrice times better Estate Manager than I had ever been. However, no thanks to Ms. Starkey - for the few interactions I had with her had always been scary. One quickly learned to keep their mouth shut when she instructed in the classroom for she promoted and endorsed a FEAR-BASED organization.
Students and staff all knew that their input mattered little and would be dismissed, spoken to harshly or run down into the ground. If it took running someone into the ground with abusive behavior and violence - Ms. Starkey was up for the job.
The dicotomy of the world class, excellent school I graduated from versus someone whom chewed with her mouth open sickened me asit has many others. Naturally, it was difficult to look at. Any typical person would say so. The villainous manner of her outbursts and tirades with full, master control megalomania rooted in diatribes overcame many and obviously broke numerous down to tears, intestinal disorders and illness requiring hospitalization. Otherwise, we would now not be looking at testimony from a licensed, Medical Doctor. Apparently some rogues in society would seek to defame an MD as well as student graduates and instuctors. Would these same rogues see American society debased to the very core of fuedelism again? Is it okay to put you hands onto other human beings and physically hurt them? Is it okay to be caustic and curse at the top of your lungs using f&%# and other curse words to your staff? Is it professional to threaten people and belittle them?
Let me tell you once and for all, it is not okay to do so in America and people engaging in these acts will be arrested and imprisoned. If Ms. Starkey is ultimately found liable for criminal acts after her recent arrest - she will be punished.
It is a shame what has become of the school that I proudly graduated from and hold to this day to be a stellar education. Regretably, all of these people I mentioned have long ago left the school and formed up together. It is also a shame that students graduating after these instructors left are so bitterly complaining about the school, the heat, the food, the curriculum and the placement service. What a terrible waste of something that used to be great. What a shame.
I can honestly say that to this day when I see candidates resumes whom have the Starkey School on them up to the time Mr. Allan Miller was the Director, Ms. Penton and Hamilton were there, Mr. Anderson and Chef Beckwith taught - I know they received an excellent, certified education. This, for myself, is roughly up until the end of 2002. I don't know how long they stayed on thereafter (Mr. Miller was there several years all together).
I did allow myself to be placed once to help out a family in California and was screwed by Ms. Starkey, personally. She failed to abide by ethical rules of conduct and business demeanor. Things in a Washington or Jeffersonian ideal I evidently assumed were standard for good business. She likes to make money off of the US Military candidates but has no idea about our ideals, honor, courage or commitment. No idea whatsoever. She then offered me to teach at her academy - no thank you. Please never, ever, never call or write to me again, do not fax me and do not email me and do not have anyone call or communicate with me on earth for as long as I shall live.
Yours truly,
Sir Martin CJ Mongiello, MBA
CEC, MCFE, CHM, CPFM
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07grad 12/08/2007 3:01:00 PM
I can't say much about MLS' son other than the fact that he and his mother teamed up to argue with one of my classmates, in full view of students and visiting relatives, right after our graduation ceremony this year. They were yelling at her for submitting an honest, respectfully and professionally-written critique of the program per the school's official online critique process. I didn't think the son was involved officially with the school, so we were all shocked to see him taking part in arguing with a student who was only guilty of telling the truth. Whether he's a "victim" or not I can't judge.
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A Miller 12/07/2007 6:56:00 PM
You know, I think it's in really poor taste to try and drag Chris Starkey into this. And while I can't speak for anyone else, in my entire time with the company I never found him to be anything but polite, gracious and very respectful. I think he is simply a victim in all of this and would probably rather continue to remain behind the scenes, if possible.
Not every one dresses like an old guard butler: And given his profession at the time, (An extremely talented singer and and one hell of a producer, by the way) it's understandable that his professional attire would reflect that.
As much frustration and emotion as there would naturally be surrounding all of this, I think it's important to keep the focus where it belongs and to not become distracted.
Just sayin,
Mr. Miller
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observer 12/02/2007 3:42:00 PM
Is Starkey's son a pimp? Did you ever see him in that black & white striped suit, rushing through the mansion barking into his cell phone all the time, typically with a cute, skinny, scantily-clad young lady in pursuit? That was just another weird thing going on in that CRAZY "mansion" all the time. Or Ms. Day, the "executive housekeeper" whose only job seemed to be to consume food in the kitchen while yelling at the students, spraying food out of her mouth all over the place, her shirt always stained with food drippings. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE! Nobody could make this up. Truth is stranger than fiction.
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A Miller 11/30/2007 7:02:00 PM
Qualis vir, talis oratio - The way a man talks reveals his character
Mr. French,
Thank you for your timely, insightful, classy, non-emotional, well thought-out and clever response.
First of all, my agenda is not hidden, but very clear: To help in any way that I can to expose potential fraud perpetrated in my profession whenever I can.
To answer your question � Yes, I did receive a paycheck from the aforementioned company, but I received a paycheck for the simple reason that I EARNED a paycheck. Those were NOT monies distributed to me out of the goodness of anyone�s heart or out of charity, but were monies which were EARNED by me for many hours way above and beyond the call of duty for the sake of �The Vision�.
Those dollars were paid to me for the years of experience, skill and teaching ability I brought to the table. Incidentally, paid for nearly three years service to her company � She could have terminated my employ at any time, but did not.
(And for the record, based on then-current market conditions I, in good faith, offered my services to that company at roughly a thirty thousand dollar annual discount.)
If the point you are trying make in response to my comment ��.she knows nothing of what real household managers do on a day to day basis�� with your own mention of the company being featured in prominent national publications and t.v. shows, is that I�m a bit �off� in my thinking, then let me just offer this to you:
Marge Schott.
Ms. Schott was the well-known owner of the National League�s Cincinnati Reds baseball franchise. She herself never picked up a bat or played for the team. She understood her limits. In fact, plenty of today�s successful business people are successful for that very reason. They own the business, but allow others with the skill and expertise to run them to do so.
What Ms. Schott did was to hire experts in that field (coaches) to manage her interests for her.
This is important for you to understand: Because someone OWNS the company does not automatically entitle them to the notion of credibility any more than owning the musical instrument makes one de facto virtuoso.
Believe me when I tell you Mr. French that if you are an employee of that company then you Do have a right to be, and more so than anyone, �pissed off� � And as far as crying anyone a river � I ran out of tears for that imploding catastrophe years ago.
Best of luck to you in your quest to develop a Marketable Skill� You will certainly need it.
Warm Regards,
Mr. Miller
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starkey07grad 11/30/2007 1:53:00 PM
The truth is out. The liars can keep lying as much as they want, so why break a sweat arguing with these idiots who are as guilty as she is? Thank God that a person like me--honest, hard-working and looking for a great new career--will find all these articles and comments about Starkey BEFORE they pay a fortune to wade through eight weeks of fluff for non-existent "six figure" job opportunities. What a joke. What a scam. I feel a fool for not quitting at the end of week 1. Only the promise of a great job kept me motivated to stay despite the bad treatment, the useless lessons, the horrifying food and the dilapidated, freezing cold "mansion" placed gloriously in the middle of a slum.
So let's add this up. Cost of school, transportation to/from and all of the expensive clothes I bought per Starkey's "suggestion" to look "polished": $19k. Cost of quitting my job and not working for half a year as I struggled in vain to find a private service job on my own, as Starkey's "placement department" was useless: about $40k. Cost of going out to restaurants and buying my own food to augment the lousy meals at the school: about $1k. All told, I blew $60k on this fiasco. Yeah, I'm bitter and pissed. I admit it. But I'm also fair and honest, so I'll sit back and let justice run its course.
Sorry prospective students. There aren't that many high-paying private service jobs out there, and the likelihood of you scoring one with just a Starkey diploma (which may soon be worth less than it is now) and without experience are slim to none. If you really want to break into this job field, where you're basically a glorified slave for some rich person, save your money and just take some low-paying job in the field. Get experience, move up and build your own career. Don't waste money on a charlatan who promised shortcuts. If sounds too good to be true...it probably is. Learn from my mistake. Don't repeat it.
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realist 11/30/2007 1:36:00 PM
People are so funny! As if "being featured in the news and on TV" somehow lends credibility to a dishonest operation. Enron, too, was featured prominently in the news, and we know what happened with that sham of a corporation. Starkey is just another dishonest businessperson who's, thankfully, being exposed. Too bad for her equally dishonest cronies who took part in cheating students and clients, and making the whole sham possible. Too bad they can't join her in jail.
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someone who got out just in ti 11/29/2007 10:08:00 PM
Mr. French,
I think you are Chris Starkey (Mrs. Starkey's son who posted bail). I admire your loyalty toward your mother, all the while thinking of what you must have experienced as a child - horrors!! Whether you are Chris or not, please notice that at least Mr. Miller has the guts to sign his (real) name to his postings! Mr. Miller has never made a secret of the fact that he was formerly under the employ of Mrs. Starkey.
So, let me get this straight. Your position is that if Mr. Allan Miller got a paycheck from Starkey then he's not allowed to comment on Mrs. Starkey and her situation? Since he DID work there for several years, is it possible that his comments should be taken with more weight that those of the "uninformed authorities" who have opinions about Mrs. Starkey based on their perceptions but NO FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE of her and her behavior.
Speaking of knowledge, you do have knowledge, and you've admitted you're "one pissed off employee..." Why the anger towards Mr. Miller? Why the personal attack? It appears that your anger should be directed where it belongs, toward Mrs. Starkey herself for single-handedly destroying what could have been a wonderful school and for giving a black eye to a worthwhile profession. It is high time her bad behavior has come to light. She is reaping what she has sewn.
Regarding Mr. Miller's agenda - I think it's similar to many Starkey Survivors' agendas. People should know the truth about Mrs. Starkey and the school before they plunk down their money and their dreams and make major changes in their lives to attend Starkey. Anyone who wants to attend Starkey should attend. However, prospective students deserve to know the facts, and once they have the facts, they can make an informed decision about whether the school is deserving of their time and efforts.
Good luck to all of the Starkey Survivors out there
P.S. Does anyone know what happened to Mrs. Starkey's husband?? The French gentleman she married in 2003 or 2004? Also, does the military still send enlisted aides to the program?
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Mr. French 11/29/2007 2:19:00 AM
A. Miller,
You have a lot of time on your hands. It seems if anyone has some hidden agenda it's you. Didn't you work for Starkey Intl. in some capacity? Didn't you receive a paycheck from this 13000 sq foot facility, that has been featured in multiple national publications and T.V. shows, that in your words knows nothing about Household Management?
From one pissed off employee to another, go Cry me a River Bitch Boy!
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Starkey Madness 11/28/2007 8:46:00 PM
Wow #4 ignorance is bliss in your case!
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A Miller 11/28/2007 6:52:00 PM
Directly to Comment #4
Again, I am not going to let you get away with your completely ridiculous and UNINFORMED commentary regarding Mrs. Starkey.
YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, as you have NOT lived it day in and day out as those of us in her employ who have been subjected to her particular brand of terror have lived it.
Are you IN THERE?? HELLO??? Did you not read ANY of the commentary in the last article on which you posted your previous and totally asinine remarks? Did NOTHING of what nearly FORTY people, many of whom have never met nor spoken to each other, had to say about her unbelievably inappropriate and outrageous behaviors register with you on ANY level? Is she PAYING you to make these remarks?
As one person remarked.. the first month is great: she smiles at you, she takes you to lunch .. and then it all goes away�.and the yelling starts�..
I know that this is an extreme comparison before I even mention it, but Adolph Hitler was known to be an incredibly charming person in the company of people he wanted to impress... not to mention an unbelievably talented artist (look that up). Just because someone smiles at you and is charming does not mean they have your best interest at heart.
Please, please stop doing this to yourself � you DON�T know what you are talking about. Again, I say to you these are NOT attacks, but RESPONSES to someone whose behaviors in my profession are considered to be beyond vulgar, and inappropriate in the extreme.
And for the last time � the profession is called PRIVATE SERVICE � NOT privite service.
To answer your remark � �What she has managed to create�� is nothing but a complete waste of potential for something which could have served as such a force for good in my profession, incidentally, a profession of which she has no real day to day experience or knowledge. She knows NOTHING of what real household managers go through on a day to day basis � she�s never done it and never will � and further to that would not listen to those who Have been there. She is to Household Management what the National Enquirer is to legitimate news services.
Yes, this is a tough time for her � and it is long overdue. Tough times are what come to people, especially in positions of great responsibility who vent their anger and frustration through physical assault.
Tip: If you don�t want to be arrested � then don�t physically assault people. Council with them, give them a written warning, give them a failing grade, but do NOT put your hands on them. Period.
And just so that there is no mistake about this � as I write this comment to you .. I am NOT smiling.
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Starkey Survivor 11/28/2007 6:45:00 PM
Ms. G, I think you're missing the point of the Starkey problem. While you're kind to defend her, the "attack" against which you're defending her is completely of Mrs. Starkey's own creation. She has mistreated, cheated and disrespected people. Moreover, she's been arrested for physically hurting somebody. Do you not care about the people she's hurt? The only people in the private service industry who respect her are the ones who've never done business with her directly. It's a shame. The harm she'll do to the industry on her way down will make her more famous than anything she did to improve it.
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sherri gardikis 11/28/2007 12:14:00 AM
This is sad to see what is taking place here. When I visited the school I found Mrs. Starkey to be refreshing and honest about the world of privite service. Allot of people come to the school seaking a high salary, 9-5 and no weekends, it is just not like that in this bussiness. What she has managed to create is amazing and I can feel her passion in this profession. This is a tough time for her and not everyone is against her. Everyone has their breaking point and don't always haddle it well. That dosen't give a licence to attack in such a way.
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Mrs R 11/26/2007 2:12:00 AM
It's about time that somebody put a stop to her madness! As Mary's former personal assistant I must say that this does not surprise me in the slightest. She is one of the most difficult people I have ever met, I did not stick around long enough to witness this attack, I left just days before this happened. The first day I worked under her she threw her office phone off of her desk breaking it because a hotel employee could not refund her money after a recent trip, she stated "oops, I broke another phone." She demeaned & manipulated so many of the students along with her employees and clients, I have no idea how she stayed in business for that long! After I left she tried very hard to garnish my wages out of anger because in her world nobody leaves Mary! I must urge people to get away from her as quickly as possible before she takes you down with her!
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Mrs. R 11/26/2007 2:12:00 AM
It's about time that somebody put a stop to her madness! As Mary's former personal assistant I must say that this does not surprise me in the slightest. She is one of the most difficult people I have ever met, I did not stick around long enough to witness this attack, I left just days before this happened. The first day I worked under her she threw her office phone off of her desk breaking it because a hotel employee could not refund her money after a recent trip, she stated "oops, I broke another phone." She demeaned & manipulated so many of the students along with her employees and clients, I have no idea how she stayed in business for that long! After I left she tried very hard to garnish my wages out of anger because in her world nobody leaves Mary! I must urge people to get away from her as quickly as possible before she takes you down with her!
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Mrs. R 11/26/2007 2:11:00 AM
It's about time that somebody put a stop to her madness! As Mary's former personal assistant I must say that this does not surprise me in the slightest. She is one of the most difficult people I have ever met, I did not stick around long enough to witness this attack, I left just days before this happened. The first day I worked under her she threw her office phone off of her desk breaking it because a hotel employee could not refund her money after a recent trip, she stated "oops, I broke another phone." She demeaned & manipulated so many of the students along with her employees and clients, I have no idea how she stayed in business for that long! After I left she tried very hard to garnish my wages out of anger because in her world nobody leaves Mary! I must urge people to get away from her as quickly as possible before she takes you down with her!
