John Werkema

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT JOHN WERKEMA

I used to milk cows before school in a town with a population no larger than what could fill a Detroit bus.true story. Country life was challenging, but it taught me how to work hard, the value of community, and what grit truly means. It gave me the confidence to venture off and pursue my passion for human connection and desire to make everything just a little more efficient. Fast forward more years than I would ever put on a dating profile, and I now live in a big-ish city where I am enjoying the journey on my unique career path. It\'s a path where I continue to develop what I call my management iron triangle-Project Management- As a child, I would always wear my Crayola\'s down past the paper, writing detailed strategies for my goals (yeah, I was that kid). I was constantly asking myself,\"What is my intention, how long is it going to take, and who do I need to help me?\" As an adult, I now know that I was actually defining scope, schedule, and resources. Over the years, I have been able to hone that analytical mind into a deadline-crushing workhorse. My goal on every project is to optimize benefits, control costs, and keep all the pieces moving towards the finish line-Marketing- In a small town, you tell your neighbors when you find a way to get rid of an angry yellow jacket\'s nest; it\'s just what you do. This spirit of community is where my love for connecting people to solutions and brands developed. I am a firm believer in value-driven marketing and that building an engaging consumer experience will always trump a run-of-the-mill branded koozie attack-Operations- On more than one occasion, my less-than-linear work history has brought me into the world of operations. I am grateful for this, as it has proven to be a valuable counterweight to my PM skills. In the setting of processes, I find it very relevant to have acumen as both a builder and a driver. For my teams, my management style would be described as service-focused. I believe in giving my teams the guidance and resources they need to arrive at solutions independently. To me, empowerment seems to be the sensible next step after sourcing and training. In closing, it may seem like I have three different professional paths. The truth is that all my experience and skills are like tributaries feeding into a common set of goals: to build stronger brands, make businesses more efficient, and develop high-performing teams. My parents always told me to be well-rounded; I guess I took that to heart, and I definitely don\'t miss milking cows.