Finally, in 2008 Marwan and his family would make their way to Orlando, FL where relatives would help guide them on their new journey. By then he had already earned a degree in electrical engineering but wanted to further his studies to improve his skills. Meanwhile, he needed to find a job to help his family survive.
At the time, the unemployment rate was 10% and the labor market was dire, but he persisted and eventually found a part-time job as a cashier at a Dunkin Donuts operated by Areas. “I was making $7.50 an hour which was barely enough to pay for gas,” recalls Marwan. “We just had to take it day by day.”
Within a year, he became a full-time employee and was eventually promoted to manager. His outstanding performance would eventually grab the attention of Areas’ senior management team. One day, the vice president of operations came to the store where Marwan worked. At first, he thought it would be a fault-finding visit and didn’t realize that day would change his career forever.
“He found out I had a degree in engineering and happened to have construction plans with him. He asked if I could read them. I not only read them but was able to show him the depth of my skills and knowledge,” says Marwan.
Shortly thereafter, Marwan became a construction manager and helped to build and renovate the Florida Turnpike plaza locations.
Today, Marwan is the Director of Design and Construction, working on projects across the entire Areas system. “It didn’t happen overnight; I worked hard for it and had the right talent. Areas kept giving me opportunities to reach the next level, and I never disappointed them,” says Marwan.