Kyle Emerick
- 2nd Lieutenant / Platoon Commander
- United States Marine Corps
School Information
School: Washburn University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2017-2019
Career Information
Working For: United States Marine Corps
Title: 2nd Lieutenant / Platoon Commander
Industry: Government
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Manage a platoon of 40 Marines. Plan realistic, challenging, and educational training events. Ensure rules and regulations are being followed.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Being an honor graduate for both military schools I have attended since I commissioned.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
A challenging experience that helped me identify areas of professional improvement.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
It provided me clearing as far as what roles inside a business I want to pursue when I transition to being a civilian. Also, College Works Painting provided me a platform to become comfortable with my management style.
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
I forget their name, but we painted their house in Emporia, KS in 2017. One of my painters had dropped a paint can off a ladder, it broke a window and got paint everywhere. I dreaded going to have that conversation with the homeowner and the 60ish year old man could not have been more kind. Even wrote me a kind reference letter. Taught me that if you handle a mistake professionally you can still maintain a positive relationship with clients.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
The importance of attentiveness to details and maintaining a calendar.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Sean Phelps created a welcoming culture in the Great Plains. I worked out in the mornings with a hand full of them before I moved to the East coast. I went on a trip to the St. Thomas a little way back with College Works Painting friends, deep sea fishing and all. Keep in touch when I can, I feel comfortable any of them would be there for me if I needed.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Painting the future
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
If you are going to quit, do not do it. If you are going to do it, do not quit.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
College is the only time to experience a civilian job until you get out of the military. Take advantage of the opportunity.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Listen to the senior enlisted advisors, be humble, confident, and competent.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
We went to Canada the summer of my intern year and spent the evening at the casino with my DM and a fellow interns. At the end of the night we were up a good amount and we put all our winnings on black at the roulette wheel, landed on the green double 0. Not sure why it is the first memory that came to mind, but brings a smile thinking about the night.
Last words of wisdom?
Do not wish it to be easy, wish it to be worth it.