Paul Wolf

Details

Assistant Manager (Hawthorn), Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa,
Age: 25
Education: B.S. in management information systems from Iowa State University
Years at organization: 2

Why Selected?

According to Tatiana Twedt, Hawthorn manager, Paul has transformed dining services at Iowa State by:

• DESIGNING a digital menu board system that was cost-effective and more visually appealing

• LEARNING menu board software to further develop the menu medium without outside help

• WORKING with a student manager to design and implement a custom stand-alone order number display system

• TRAINING employees to be successful in their jobs by creating visual aids to explain duties and procedures in detail 

Get to know

Q. What has been your proudest accomplishment?

The design and implementation of a proprietary digital menu system that provides automated menu display. I worked on this project in conjunction with my regular duties, collaborating with my team at work, while writing and testing JavaScripts at home. I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to undertake and see this project through from inception to ongoing support with the content updates. It has been a great experience.

Q. What would you say you excel at over more seasoned colleagues?

I think I am very adaptable to any situation I come across: technical, mechanical and logical. Coming from an IT background, and with foodservice increasingly incorporating IT systems into the mix, I find myself troubleshooting equipment before anyone needs to call support.

Q. What's the best career advice you've been given?

Follow my intuition and be confident in what I do.

Q. What's been the biggest challenge you've had to overcome?

Creating the digital menu system and teaching myself some of the technical skills to pull it off.

Q. What's been your most rewarding moment?

When IT professionals comment on the digital menus and they are surprised that I am behind them.

Q. What would you like to accomplish in your career in the next two years?

I am looking to earn a master’s degree to continue to grow, challenge myself and gain more responsibility.

Q. What's been your funniest on-the-job disaster?

We nearly had to evacuate the building after we accidentally powered off the hood exhaust fans above a heavily loaded charbroiler. They wouldn’t start back up right away and the air quickly filled with smoke.

Q. What can you look back at now and laugh at?

We had to open a newly renovated facility in five days after construction problems had delayed the opening. I spent long hours cleaning construction debris, installing equipment, training new staff and trying to get our new cloud-based POS working. Opening day went better than imagined, so that justifies a laugh.