Creating Smart Workers--David's Leadership

"Making smart choices is not something that comes easy.  In fact, many of them will often involve disappointing someone else.  Yet, without making smart choices we will often not evolve and progress from where we are."

I just had my fortieth birthday and it was a fantastic opportunity to see that I am surrounded by those that have known me, supported me and helped me to grow.  In fact, two of my best friends were there whom I have known for 25 and 22 years respectively.  Seeing my boys reminded me of the #1 rule we had growing up—Work Hard.  Play Hard.  Although we had different interests, we supported one another and more importantly pushed one another to do our best in school.  This not only meant getting good grades, but also challenging ourselves to take those classes that were difficult and while not always getting the best grades in those classes, we stretched ourselves and proved that we were up to a challenge.  That same attitude also encouraged us to play hard—whether it was competitive sports, intramural or plain old pick-up games, we always had the attitude if it’s worth spending your time, then give it your all.

I currently run Concessions Management Group (“CMG”), a social enterprise that employs “at-risk” youth to work and manage concessions at different stadiums including the Washington Nationals, DC United, USC Trojans and CAL Bears employing almost 100 young people.  As a social enterprise, we differentiate ourselves from our competitors by purposefully hiring our staff from low-income communities.  Our typical employee is 18-24 years old, has either never worked before or has had very limited work experience and is looking for an opportunity to learn, grow and better themselves through employment.  We have purposefully set up our business this way because we believe that even though many young people do make the smart decision—stay in school, look for a job—they oftentimes do not get an opportunity that supports that decision.  At CMG, we are trying to support those young people making smart decisions by providing our youth employees the opportunities to show and prove that they can continuously make smart decisions within a work environment.

An entreprenurial 'Smart Guy'

David

David is a native New Yorker who currently resides in California with his family.  David earned a BA from Wesleyan University and his MBA from Columbia University's prestigious Columbia Business School.  For more information about Concessions Management Group (CMG), contact David at:  dderryck@concessionsmgmt.com