Samantha D’Amore
- Sales Director
- Critical Mention, Inc.
School Information
School: Penn State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2006 to 2008
Career Information
Working For: Critical Mention, Inc.
Title: Sales Director
Industry: Technology
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
New business development, calling on VP and Directors of PR, Communications and Media Relations of major corporations, across verticals and within a national territory. Responsible for every aspect of the sales process Deliver in-depth presentations to prospective clients to demonstrate capabilities of Critical Mentions core product Responsible for personal quota of $30,000 per month.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Business – Booking a major corporation that other sales people (including my VP) of my company has tried to obtain for the past 8 years and, once I signed them on, they sent me $300 in gift cards (just as a thanks). Personal – Time Management (Thanks Matush and Dengl!) I have a very full life, with family, friends, and work. My 1st year at CWP, I thought I had to work 24/7. My DM, Zack, taught me about time management. And it changed my life. I know have the time management skills to truly Work Hard and PLAY harder!
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
Friendship, Experiences, Integrity, most importantly, My Word Is Law.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
My boss always brags to new guys on the team (I work with mostly guys), and say, Sam can pick up a 28ft ladder, walk around a house, and book a new client on the phone all at the same time! Having my College Works Painting experience on me resume was huge after college. Give me credibility.
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?
The Vladimer’s. They were my 2nd house ever. I remember when I first signed them on, they were discussing their finances with me and budgeting their student loans with the house painting and all their other bills. Then, Mrs. Vladimer stopped and said, Samantha, promise me you will pay all your student loans off before you are 32. If you promise, we will sign with you. That stuck home with me because I am paying all of my college and am now proud to say that I am on my way to pay my loans off within the next 3-4 years (by the time I’m 32).
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Your word is law. And LISTEN! (let people vent)
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Skyler, will be a bridesmaid in my wedding (when I get married in the future). She was my sounding pole in our interns. Outside of College Works Painting, Sky became one of my best friends, surprising me on birthdays, holidays, etc. Always being there fore me. Letting me live with her for several weeks during out first intern year and continued to be a supporter when we became DM’s. Newkirk, Rosales, Foley, Matush, Billy Baroo & Brent are my brothers. I love all them with my whole heart (and are grossed out by them at a lot of times too), and will always be there for them, as they have for me! You are all my family!
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
My Word Is Law
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
This is not a walk in the park. It’s not easy. The hardest thing you will learn… is that you are NOT good at everything… or even much. BUT, if you stick through it, you will learn how you CAN be great at a lot of things. You WILL learn your strengths and weaknesses, and your DM will help you to capitalize on your strengths, and improve on your weaknesses. You must be in this 100% to succeed. And if you do, you will have experiences, memories, friendships that will last a lifetime.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
I was a Political Science major when I started with College Works Painting. I then added Business as a major after my 1st summer with College Works Painting. All and all, you need experience to get a job. An internship where you got someone coffee in your field doesn’t gain you experience. Dealing with clients, employees, etc., does. That’s what College Works Painting gives you. That said, it is NOT easy. You have to truly work hard and be committed to learn and grow. I wanted to quite many times. I hated my DM and VP many times. However, because I stayed I learned so much more and am who I am today because of that. And, I would do it all over again!
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Skydiving for the 1st time! I loved how I was always pushed to the limits!
Last words of wisdom?
At my first DM retreat, we had a speaker that quoted Goethe. His words spoke strong to me. I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I posses tremendous power to make a life joyous or miserable. I can be a tool of torture, or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or deescalated, and a person humanized or dehumanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming. – Goethe Thank you to all my CWP family for helping me become what I am capable of becoming!