Brandon McNeil
- Chief Operating Officer
- UGE
School Information
School: Colorado State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2002 to 2003
Career Information
Working For: UGE
Title: Chief Operating Officer
Industry: Energy
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I’m responsible for overseeing end-to-end product and service delivery, including, manufacturing, site acquisition, engineering, installation, maintenance and service.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Working my way from marketing intern to executive management in 10 years at Ice Energy.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
The combination of the many successes and failures that I experienced throughout my tenure at College Works Painting taught me more then I ever could have learned in a classroom and helped prepare me to understand and manage the many factors that contribute to any company’s success.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
It showed me where I was naturally strong and weak as a sales person and manager. This allowed me to focus early in my career on further developing my strengths and actively training in areas of weakness. College Works Painting allowed me to make these observations far earlier than most young professionals and, as a result, gave me a significant head start in my professional development.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
With the right people, the right tools and the right motivation, you can accomplish much.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Don’t expect your experience to go perfectly, cause it won’t. Instead, look at it as a rare opportunity to learn about yourself and entrepreneurship in a real business environment with very little risk.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
First and foremost, work with integrity. When you are honest, straightforward and do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it, people take notice.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Closing a $5K job my first weekend out.
Last words of wisdom?
Whether you’re dealing with customers, employees, superiors, vendors, investors or any other kind of stakeholder, strive to be honest and genuine. The combination of integrity, ingenuity and hard work forms a firm foundation for success in any field.