Light Bender

Giovanni Felizzola is originally from Italy and has been designing and creating neon signs since 1967. “You cannot cheat when you are bending glass. If you don’t make the right bend, or if you stretch the glass and make it too thin, it will break.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Cowboy Clown

Rodeo Clown Dusty Barrett was born into his job. At the age of 2, he became part of his grandfather’s clown act. His goal as he entertains between rodeo events: “The best thing by far is being able to make a kid laugh,” he says. The major drawback of his job is being on the road for weeks at a time and away from his family. (David Rogowski, AOL)

Aqua Man

The only way to clean the 3-inch-thick acrylic panels of the Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Md., is to SCUBA dive inside and scrub by hand. William Coffman has done it for 16 years. "It’s a lot cheaper and easier than going to the Caribbean every week." Kids always react when they see him. "I love watching their faces." (David Rogowski, AOL)

BINGO! Caller

A “caller” at BINGO World in Baltimore, for six years, Jason Stull likes the people he works with. “They’re crazy, in a good way,” he said. “The hours can be tough. At the end of the day, all the balls start to look alike. Your mind can wander, so you must concentrate." If players don't win they sometimes blame the caller. "You must have a thick skin.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Pachyderm Pal

Elephant Manager Marie Galloway has been working at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo for almost 20 years. “I’ve known elephants personally. They’re a part of my life and I’m a part of theirs. It’s a very rare opportunity.” She is very close with Ambika, a 58-year-old Asian Elephant. (David Rogowski, AOL)

Puppet Master

Mark Walker saw a Punch & Judy show as a child and never forgot it. Now he performs the traditional hand puppet show throughout the Baltimore, Md., area. During his solo shows, he creates 10 different voices. “Hearing the kids laugh their heads off, that’s part of the reward for me.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Kokopelli Guide

Kokopelli is a mythical, flute-playing figure in the American Southwest that dates back centuries. Velia Chee, a native Navajo, plays a wooden flute as she guides tourists through Antelope Canyon “slots” in Page, Ariz. The sandstone walls have been carved for thousands of years by wind and water. “I love to educate people about the area and Navajo people.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Dino Duster

One of Sam Yartey’s jobs at the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum is to use a feather duster to delicately clean the million-year-old bones in exhibits such as this Allosaurus Fragilis. “I love what I’m doing.” He has been at the museum for 10 years and is originally from West Africa. He trained for six weeks to learn how to handle the bones. (David Rogowski, AOL)

The Poser

Art model Brian McGahren has been posing for artists – in classes, groups and for professionals – since 1999. “It keeps me going to the gym, that’s for sure.” One drawback: “When they don’t have heat.” He dislikes a 9-5 routine and says, “this is something I can do and set my own schedule.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Sewer Saver

Roland Mason, a sewer maintenance worker with Fairfax County, Va., for 10 years, inspects a manhole in need of repair. “No one wants to work in a sewer, but it pays the bills,” he says. Before he enters the sewer, Roland is covers up from head to toe with hardhat, glasses, face mask, jumpsuit, gloves, boots and safety harness. “It’s smelly all the time.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

Stone Shaper

Stone carver Sean Callahan uses a small file to shape an Indiana limestone vault stone into a sculpture at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. “It’s fulfilling work,” he said. “You may be fatigued at the end of the day, but you want to come back and do more. It’s a very meditative act.” (David Rogowski, AOL)

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