Sean Armstrong

Details

Marketing Manager (Chartwells), Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL
Age: 27
Education: B.S in Marketing, St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, Pa.
Years at organization: 2

Why Selected?

According to Tracey De Jager, resident district manager for Chartwells at Florida Atlantic, Sean has made a difference by:

Get to know

Q. What has been your proudest accomplishment?

I feel that we’re trying to get ahead of the curve when it comes to reaching our student base through social media and videos. It’s getting students on their smart phones or social media platforms. At FAU Dining [we’re] on the cusp of doing something really special.

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

I think it’s the ability to leave my comfort zone. I’m definitely not afraid to get in front of people and have some fun. For example, during our orientation, some of our managers will get in front of a crowd and go over the basics [of dining meal plans, etc.]. This year, we decided to step it up a notch by creating a news video before orientation. We pretended we were news anchors, and it made learning about dining at FAU more fun. If the students are hearing presentation after presentation during orientation, at least they will walk away remembering ours.

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

From a professor at St. Joseph’s University, as well as my current district manager, Greg Moran. Both said, “Don’t be afraid to be tenacious. Don’t be afraid to speak your mind and stand up for yourself.”

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

Trying to target a wide variety of students who have different cravings. Making sure that everyone is happy. That’s a challenge for a lot of our colleagues and competitors, but we do a lot of focus groups.

Q. What's been your most rewarding moment?

We won the Be A Star Award [an internal Compass award program] for Captain Flex. Many students will forget to use their Flex Bucks, and they lose value in the meal plan. That’s why we decided to create a mascot named Captain Flex. He runs around and gives students “Flex Deals” [coupons] to remind them to use this part of their meal plan.

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

In our marketing department, we have an industrial size printer with large toner cartridges. At one point, the cartridges began malfunctioning during an incredibly busy time. So I attempted to play handy man by removing the yellow toner and shaking it to earn one last use. Unfortunately, my dress pants took on a new color of yellow as the toner spewed all over the floor. The clean-up process was unforgettable, but now we can look back and laugh.