Amanda (Hogue) Hackwell

Personal Information

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School: University of Oregon

Major: Psychology & Accounting

Years at College Works: 2000 to 2005

Career Information

Company You Work For Now: Litiha Motors

Title: Corporate Accounting Manage & Faculty

Industry: Automotive

Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities

Manage accounting functions, contract negotiations, procurement, travel administration, and vendor management. Faculty - Teach business and accounting classes for our local college.

What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?

There have been many, but overall I realized that I didn't have to start at the bottom and work my way up once I got out of college. I've seen others go through the process of 'working your way up' and it can take several years to prove yourself. This gives you an opportunity for coaching while in college to prove yourself before you ever graduate. I was able to immediately apply and qualify for management jobs. I've never had to start at an entry level salary, which is pretty nice. I also knew that I could successfully open my own business if that is what I chose to do.

CWP Career Impact

In one sentence, what has CWP meant to you?

CWP was a huge milestone that allowed me to come out of my shell, see my potential, and realize that anything is possible if I want it badly enough. Don't accept mediocrity, and be willing to work for what you want.

How did your CWP experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?

It has opened doors for me that would not have been opened before. Management jobs were a given, and not something I hoped to achieve someday. My biggest downfall now is having too many career options to choose from, which is a much better alternative than not having any options.

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 the client's name, but they hired me because they believed in me. My bid wasn't the cheapest, but they believed that I would offer better customer service than any other contractor around, and they fully supported the idea of helping a college student gain valuable life experience. It was my first job of the summer, of course, it didn't go smoothly, but they continued to work with me and helped me get past my first home. I learned from my mistakes and made sure not to make them again. I was very thankful that they were understanding, but I am sure that my forthcoming honesty when things went wrong, and my continued desire to always offer the best and fair service possible, certainly helped.

What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CWP experience?

Don't give up. Even when you least expect it, success is just around the corner.

How has the friendships and networks you built during CWP affected you?

It has been several years since I left CWP, but I still keep in contact with several individuals from the program. You meet a lot of good people working with CWP.

If you had to come up with an one line slogan for CWP, what would it be? :)

Build the foundation to your future.

Advice

What advice do you have for potential CWP participants? Current CWP participants?

Use this opportunity to the fullest. Do not give up, no matter what. I can't even remember how many times I wanted to quit because it was so challenging and difficult. However, this has been the most rewarding experience in my life. I learned I can do anything if I put my mind to it, and that has helped me tremendously in my professional career. Confidence isn't something you wake up with, it's earned through hard work and perseverance.

What's your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?

The skills you learn in CWP can be applied to ANY industry. Industry knowledge is something you can learn. The skills of a hard work ethic, gaining self confidence, obtaining valuable management skills, and understanding sales are all things that you will use in any career. Believe it or not, but sales is a part of every day life. You also gain the confidence to try anything. The biggest downfall I see from friends is the fear to try something new because they are afraid to fail. CWP took that fear away from me. Now my problem is wanting to do too many things, simply because the new adventures sound fun and I know I can.

What's your favorite memory from CWP?

Payroll Fridays and Cancun. I sure miss the annual Cancun trips!

Last words of wisdom

Believe in yourself! Excellence is not an act, but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you do the best - unknown.