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The Sherwin-Williams Company: Meet Dejah Cunningham '18

It would be hard to find a name more synonymous with paint and the city of Cleveland than The Sherwin-Willams Company. For more than 150 years, the company has been an industry leader in the development of technologically advanced paint and coatings as well as a pillar of the Cleveland community, knowing how important it is to give back. Dejah Cunningham ‘18 is one Saint Martin student who is benefitting from Sherwin-Williams commitment to our Corporate Work Study Program.

Each day Dejah enters the corporate headquarters she is reminded of the incredible history of a company founded in 1886 by Henry Sherwin and Edward Williams. It’s easy to see why she beams with pride every time she walks into work. “It gave me a whole new perspective on how the corporate world is,” said the senior. “It gave me an idea of how a fast paced business is run at a younger age rather than after I graduate college, and I appreciate that.”

It’s easy to imagine with a global company like Sherwin-Williams that the day-to-day administrative tasks are immense, and that is where Dejah is extremely helpful to those she works with. She spends time scanning reconciliation files, filing documents, and tackling any new tasks given to her each day. “Dejah has been great, she’s well versed in her daily activities,” said Jason Lemieux, Supervisor of Real Estate Accounting. “She stays on task and her interaction with the team is great.” “Working here has really helped with my time management skills,” Dejah added. “Corporate work study has been big for me. Freshman year I wasn’t ready to go to work and communicate with people because I got nervous speaking in front of others who I never met before. I don’t have that problem any longer, I’m much more comfortable now.”

Dejah will be attending Wright State University in the fall to study Criminal Justice with a minor in business, and she feels her 4 years at Saint Martin have her ready to succeed to and through college. “Saint Martin is an eye opener, it expands your mind and the teachers care about you inside and outside of school to make sure you are successful.”

Sherwin-Williams is one of almost 3,300 corporate job partners in the Cristo Rey Network across the country, and one of over 130 organizations who Saint Martin currently partners with in the Cleveland area. “We’re making a difference in the community,” says Lemieux. “It’s an amazing opportunity for a student to work in a fortune 500 company right here in Cleveland. It yields positive results in our company, in our community and for people who need it most.” Saint Martin is honored to be working with so many great institutions, and we are always looking to partner with more organizations. It’s easy to see how you can get involved with our community. (hyperlink)