At age 42 and a long-time employee in the automotive industry, Joe Derrico would seem
to have it made.
But his busy daily routine suggests otherwise: a full day’s work as a Supply Chain Management Analyst at Yanfeng Automotive Interiors in Romulus, a quick meal, then hitting the books in the evening.
“I’m on a mission,” Derrico said. “A year from now I will graduate with my associate degree in Supply Chain Management from Washtenaw Community College.”
Working for a company that emphasizes education to its employees, Derrico initially re-enrolled at Eastern Michigan University, where he had earlier pursued a degree in Criminal Justice. But then he heard about WCC’s credits for Life Experience and thought: “That’s where I need to go. I shouldn’t waste the experience I’ve gained on the job.”
All total, Derrico was awarded 21 credits toward his Supply Chain major for the nearly 20 years he had spent in area automotive and electronic manufacturing jobs.
“I can’t say enough about the help and guidance I received at WCC,” Derrico said. “They helped me put together a portfolio, that included, among other things, letters of recommendation.”
Guiding him through the process was Student Advisor Cristina Buzas. “With his experience in the Supply Chain industry and prior college credits, he is much closer to earning his associate degree,” Buzas said. “I appreciated his professionalism, follow-through and determination to complete his degree.”
A resident of Ypsilanti, Derrico also has high praise for WCC faculty members: Victor Johnson, Interpersonal Communication; Cheryl Byrne, Retail Principles and Practices and Elizabeta Ilich, Principles of Management. “They come to class so prepared and well organized. It’s a joy to be there.”
But it wasn’t all business and management oriented classes that inspired Derrico. It was an elective-- Music Appreciation, Music World-- class he took last year that opened a door to a new experience. Taught by Michelle Urina, Derrico said it was a class he thoroughly enjoyed. “I learned so much about so many different kinds of music that I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to,” he said.
For Joe Derrico, enrolling at WCC is a mission not just to an earned degree but to a personally fulfilling life experience.
Tags: Automotive, Eastern Michigan University, Management, communication, launch Fall 2020, ousearch_News_Launch Magazine, supply chain management