Sean MacDonald
- Regional Manager
- WhistlePig Wiskey
School Information
School: The Ohio State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2010
Career Information
Working For: WhistlePig Wiskey
Title: Regional Manager
Industry: Food and BeveragesWhat Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?
After traveling the country and opening several new restaurants, I stood out enough that the District Partner from my home area promoted me and had me relocate (paid for by my company) to come and improve her district. She saw my performance in opening restaurants with high standards and deliverables to guests, and wanted me out in Maryland to bring her standards up. My promotion has come after over 2 years of work for the company and working my way up from a busser position to a restaurant manager for one of the few companies growing through the recession and in a very crowded market.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting was a hint of what was to come later on in my professional life.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting made me realize a lot about myself and my time management. Although I didn’t directly impact my job search much since I did it as a sophomore, it did give me the tools to graduate a year early through managing my time better, and knowing what I was capable of once I did start my career.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Surprisingly the thing I took most out of College Works Painting was the production aspect that had me managing my labor, my product, and my relationships on sales already made. In life, there will be weeks with high sales and weeks with low sales. You make your money on budgeting and execution – not just on your sales numbers before costs.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Everyone gets something different out of the College Works Painting internship program – even those who don’t excel in all areas. We’re not all in it to be running painting companies. Use your time to learn as much as possible at every step along the way, because each aspect applies to any industry in the country.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Canoeing on a payroll trip.