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Page 14 • Thursday, March 13, 2003 Features The Pendulum Elon alum now manages large business territory Photo Submitted George Hamrick graduated from Elon last May. In February, he was promoted to territory manager for Black and Decker Inc. Kathleen Frey Features Editor This is the first installment in a series profiling Elon alumni and their current positions in the workplace. Less than one year out of col lege, George Hamrick manages corporate contracts totalling $5.1 million. Hamrick, 22, moved from Boston, Mass., to Greenville, S.C., in February to begin his new job for Black and Decker Inc. as a territory manager. The Elon grad began working for Black and Decker, a multi purpose corporation which manu factures everything from power tools to hedge trimmers, as a field marketing representative. Now he is in charge of manag ing power tool contracts in 14 Home Depot stores scattered from Augusta, Ga., to Asheville, N.C. He said he is pleased with the recent promotion to a job position that is one step above a retail spe cialist and one below district manager. “1 can see a dollar amount that I’m affecting [in the corpora tion],” Hamrick said. “And I’m only eight months out college.” In May Hamrick will go to the company’s corporate headquar ters in Towson, Md., to receive additional training. As territory manager, he said, his main objective is to convince stores to carry Black and Decker prod ucts and ensure the sale of them. “If I walk out of a store and haven’t placed an order, then I’m not doing my job,” said Hamrick. As a business major with a concentration in management, Hamrick became interested in Black and Decker after seeing an ad in the career center announcing an interview opportunity. By the end of the three interview rounds, Hamrick discovered he had a job. For six months Hamrick worked with four team members in the Boston suburbs visiting area construction companies and promoting Dewalt power tools— which Black and Decker also manufactures. Hamrick said he enjoyed the low-pressure job environment of interacting with others. Now Hamrick reports to work around 6 a.m. and spends most of the day driving to the stores in his business territory. “Our motto is we’re going to work hard but we’re going to play hard,” he said. He attended a sales confer ence in Sawgrass, Fla., with other business associates in July. He said the company reminds him of Elon with its friendly environment. Hamrick attributes his profes sional success outside the class room to skills he gained at Elon. During his senior year he partici pated in the Entrepreneurial Leadership Experience. His group recorded, produced and sold a CD through a company they named Elon ImproVibes. “The personal interaction between students and professors and with other students will be truly beneficial once you get out in the real world,” Hamrick said. “Being able to communicate with people has proved to be the most valuable thing I learned while at Elon.” Hamrick also stressed the importance of learn ing leadership skills through group projects in class and utiliz ing these skills in the workplace. “You have to take initiative and say, ‘Hey team, we got to get this done,’” said Hamrick. Hamrick said he anticipated more promotions in the future, and hoped to become a marketing coordinator in Atlanta, Charlotte or Baltimore. “Promote the heck out of yourself Be confident in who you are and your abilities and employers will see that. And don't give up—don’t ever give up.” Contact Kathleen Frey at pendu- lum@elon.edu or 278-7247. LIFE ELON Series SGA - We Work For YOU! Come Hear the Acoustic Rock of PETE CONGDON at Cantina Roble Thursday, March 13th Beginning at 9:30pm FREE LIVE MUSIC DONTMISS OUT! SGA & Student Life present Elon’s 1st Community Bike Program! Please return to the RED bike racks at Danieley Commons or McMichael. PICK UP YOUR NOMINATION PACKETS IN THE SGA OFFICE TODAY! RESPECT the bikes - they are already YOURS. RELAX
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