Alumni Directory

David Chiavacci

Director, Consolidations
Axalta Coating Systems

School Information

School: Temple University

College Major: Business

 Years at College Works: 2008 to 2010

Career Information

Working For: Axalta Coating Systems

Title: Director, Consolidations

Industry: Manufacturing

Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:

I took my love for paints to a much grander scale after College Works Painting. I work for one of the largest coatings companies in the world, with revenues exceeding $4 billion. I’m one of the many people in charge of making sure we’re reporting the correct financials for our bond holders. Each month in our closing process, I work hand in hand with our upper management team to make adjustments, and calculations to our financials. I dive deeper into the numbers to forecast our revenues for future state and look back at our previous financials to do analytical reviews. At the end of the month, I help in the process of reporting our final financial statements to our respective investors.

What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?

I earned my Green Belt in Six Sigma which is normally a tool used for process and quality improvement in the manufacturing side of the business. I was able to use this skill in accounting by improving a hedging process that we use for currency exposure. By making the process more automated, I was able to lower the risk of exposure to volatile currency fluctuation that saved the company money.

College Works Career Impact

In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?

College Works Painting has meant that I have a new family that I can count on for support, advice, and good times.

How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?

I can say emphatically yes. I can speak directly to the improved communication skills that I received over the years of working with clients. So when the time comes to do presentations or just talk to senior management in the halls, you can easily express yourself and stay cool as cucumber.

What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?

I wouldn’t say favorite, but the most I learned from was Mr. Denning. He was a project manager for a big construction company in the area and was a stickler for perfection. He taught me that setting expectations is everything in production. But he also taught me to not overlook the little details in everyday work that I still use today.

What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?

In addition to the improved communication skills, College Works Painting helped with collaborating with others. Between working with your employees and clients, you need to know how to deal with different personalities. College Works Painting taught me how to talk to each personality type which I still use today in the collaborative work space that I work in now.

Advice

What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?

Take the road less traveled. You’re going to have to step out of your comfort zone sooner or later to actually grow as a person. This internship helps you do just that and more.

Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?

Stay levelheaded. College Works Painting has a lot of peaks and valleys. If you’re able to stay self-composed through the highs of a big sale and the lows of a two week sales drought, you’ll be more consistent in your day to day operations. This will then trickle down to your employees creating a stress free work environment.

What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?

At the end of the day, employers are looking for leadership skills. I was hired for my job the fall of my senior year without any direct internship in accounting. Employers know they can teach you the skills for your respective field but it’s hard to teach you how to lead others. You must show them this skill set before being hired. This is because there’s not a lot of opportunity to be put in leadership positions in entry level jobs, especially accounting. My employer saw that I already possess the leadership skills that I gained from managing my own employees and my own interns in College Works Painting. They knew I wasn’t going to be another run of the mill hire. That I can actually lead in the future because I have done it in the past.