Philip Roetman
- Assistant Operations Manager
- CyRide
School Information
School: Iowa State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2020
Career Information
Working For: CyRide
Title: Assistant Operations Manager
Industry: Transportation
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
Dispatch buses, schedule drivers (daily, weekly, monthly), schedule in service training for new drivers, coordinate maintenance, train drivers in service, train drivers for specialized transit vehicles, train new dispatchers, communicate with supervisors and drivers, coordinate transit service while operating a mobile vehicle, use a 2-way radio system, take phone calls from community members, assist community members with travel and general questions of our city
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?I continue to paint the exterior of houses, with my crew, every summer for some extra money outside of my full time job. I have painted for family, friends, neighbors, and other people I have met along the way.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
It gave me an opportunity to run my own business and gain experience in the world of business ownership.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
It gave me the confidence that I can run my own business. It also showed me that I learn the most through personally experiencing the successes and failures that come with owning a business.
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 don’t remember a specific client but I appreciated all of my clients because they were great to work with. They were honest, showed their gratitude, and were always appreciative of the work my crew and I did.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
I must be honest and communicate effectively with my employees, my customers, my supervisors, and most importantly myself.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I’ve kept in touch with some of the other interns in my state and shared stories of our time post College Works Painting.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Business ownership can be fun along the journey
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Give your business all you can. You will only be as successful as the amount of effort you put in and who you choose to listen to.
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?
If you want to learn more about business ownership or just business in general, this is a great internship. You get to see the ins and outs firsthand without a lot of the risk of a startup. You receive mentorship, skills training, and have a system that has proven to be successful so use that to your advantage.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
You can only become as successful as those you are surrounding yourself with.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Friday/Weekend trips with the interns in my region. We had a great time together with paintball, golf, go karting, and more!
Last words of wisdom?
Work hard, appreciate every chance you get to learn and grow, be honest, and as always: have fun.