Wild Land Firefighter Voted “Toughest Job in America”

WorkingPerson.com announces winner: Day could include a two hour hike carrying 70 pounds of chain saw and gear; twelve hours of fighting wild fires; then haul it all out again

What is the toughest job in America? The Working Person’s Store and Wolverine Boots Shoes Apparel and Gear today announced the winner of the “Toughest Jobs in America” competition. America has voted and the winner is: Matthew Brown, a Fire Engine Captain and ten year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service based in the Coconino National Forest, near Flagstaff, Arizona.

“This is very demanding work”, said Mr. Brown. “Our day generally starts with 90 minutes of PT (physical training). Then we might hike for up to two hours carrying a chain saw plus another 45 pounds of fire fighting gear, and that’s just to get to the fire. We work a twelve hour shift. Then we pack it all up and walk back out the same way we went in.”

Visitors to the WorkingPerson.com website were able to vote for more than a dozen finalists, including a mother of five, a DoD heavy truck driver, an electrician, a tower climber, a freight railroad conductor, a naval engineer and a sign hanger.

“From the factory floor to the oil rig to a national forest we recognize and honor the people doing the work that keeps America running,” said Eric Deniger, CEO of Working Person’s Store. “Matthew will receive any work wear of his choice valued at $1,000 courtesy of WorkingPerson.com and Wolverine, our co-sponsor of this national event.”

“We’re proud to partner with the Working Person’s Store in sponsoring the Toughest Jobs in America competition,” said John Estes, National Sales Manager of Wolverine. “Wolverine has a long history of providing working people with sturdy, high-performance footwear and apparel that helps them get the job done. It’s an honor for us to recognize their hard work, and the contribution they make to our country’s prosperity and security.”

The WorkingPerson.com web site was recently picked for Internet Retailer magazine’s “Hot 100 Best Web Sites” award, and was one of Inc. magazine’s top 25 retailers from the 2008 “Inc. 500” list of the fastest growing privately held companies in America.

About the Working Person’s Store:

Since 1995, The Working Person’s Store has grown into a leading multi-channel resource for quality work apparel, footwear and safety-gear by leading brands including Carhartt, Dickies, Wolverine World Wide, Carolina Shoe, Timberland PRO, Bates Shoes and Boots, Dr. Martens Shoes, and over a hundred other quality brands. The Lakeville, Indiana based company was recently named the third fastest growing e-retailer in America, and was the fastest growing online retailer specific to the apparel category. Details at www.WorkingPerson.com – Dedicated to the Working Person.

About Wolverine:

Wolverine Boots, Shoes, Apparel and Gear, is part of the Wolverine Footwear Group, a division of Wolverine World Wide Inc. (NYSE: WWW), manufacturers and marketers of branded and licensed footwear and performance leathers. Wolverine offers a wide range of footwear, apparel and gear in the work, outdoor sport and rugged casual categories. Patented footwear technology systems for guaranteed comfort and performance include Wolverine MultiShoxTM, Wolverine DuraShocksTM, Wolverine CompressorTM, Wolverine DuraShocksTM SR, Wolverine and the patent-pending Wolverine Contour Welt™.

Contact Information

Eric Deniger

Chief Executive Officer

The Working Person’s Store

Contact via E-mail