Everett Sommer
- Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
- Ryan Specialty
School Information
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2006 to 2007
Career Information
Working For: Ryan Specialty
Title: Vice President, Assistant Treasurer
Industry: Accounting
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting allowed me to unlock hidden confidence in myself and understand how to hold myself accountable to life’s challenges.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting impacted my career in an indirect way. It taught me soft skills which is critical for networking and working in a team, as well as an understanding of the relationship between hard work and reward.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Act as if, and you will become.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Coffee if for closers.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
“Take the advice of others, but understand that you are inevitably the one that will determine your own destiny. Also, always have a back-up plan, things will never go exactly the way you imagine it. Also, you can do it!”
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Willingness to work hard. Be able to display problem solving skills. Advanced Microsoft excel and data analysis skills. Networking (soft) skills. Stand out member of audit team or other finance/accounting background.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Watching in disbelief as Tom Ackmanns painters wore birkenstocks all summer.
Last words of wisdom?
Be genuine and people will like you.