Alumni Profile - Justin West '07
Justin West ’07 is a local business owner of What A Crock Meals to go, which is just celebrating its one-year anniversary. In addition to juggling a successful business—that you may want to check out when your workday gets hectic and you need to get dinner ready—he and his wife also have a new baby on the way. Justin is a fine example of a local entrepreneur who got his start at the College and he has great advice for other future business owners. The company is also hiring and if you have interest, please contact Justin via the links below for more information.
What year did you graduate from Delaware County Community College and with what degree?
"I graduated in 2007 with an Associate of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in management."
Did you pursue further academic goals?
"Not at the time, but I wish I did. My career took off relatively quickly while attending the College. I was working for a mobile wireless company and worked hard to advance within the company. By time I had my associate degree, I had become a marketing director for another large wireless company."
Where are you now?
"I am currently the owner operator of What a Crock Meals to go. Our company was actually the brain child of my wife and I. We are now are coming up on the one year anniversary of the business. The company is growing faster than we could have ever imagined."
What is next for you professionally?
"We are currently making steps to launch our company across the region and hope to be a national brand within the next 18 months."
What is your favorite memory of your time on campus, outside of the classroom?
"The academic guidance I received at the College was invaluable to my career path. There were many opportunities to interact with my professors without being in the classroom. I have to say my favorite courses were economics and interpersonal communication (which was actually more like a Psychology course) which gave me the most to think about afterwards."
Did you have a favorite professor or class during your studies?
"Professor Eartha Holly, one of my English professors, made quite an impact. He truly took an interest in my life and education. He was a huge part of the reason I earned my associate degree."
What advice would you give to current students and alumni to capitalize on the education they received from the College?
"My advice would be to take it all in. Like most people attending school, I often said 'Why do I need to know this, I’ll never need it in the real world.' There is so much of that knowledge I thought I would never need in 'the real world' which wound up guiding me through my career and personal life. Knowledge is truly power and the more you have, the easier your path."
You can learn more about Justin and his company via their websites:
whatacrockmeals.com
facebook.com/what.a.crock.togo
twitter.com/whatacrockmeals
