BW student success at forefront of Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator Program
Joyce DeGirolamo
22 April 2026
Since its launch nearly two years ago, the "Create Your Possible: Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator" program (SWCA) is excelling in preparing BW students for success through mentoring, skill development and professional programming.
BW student Jenna Shepard (pictured seated, second from left) is among a group of panelists at the Sherwin-Williams Partner Roundtable in September.
The program, which is backed by Cleveland-based, global leader Sherwin-Williams in partnership with JobsOhio, offers coaching, scholarships, networking and applied learning experiences to BW students enrolled in specific STEM and business majors.
Danny Poslet, who coordinates the program at BW, believes the enrichment opportunities give students Leader-Ready, Career-Ready and Future-Ready skills. To date, 132 students have participated in the SWCA program since its inception.
Jenna Shepard '26, who is studying business information systems at BW, is among the 50 SWCA students currently in the program.
"I think the program works well as a conduit of networking," said Shepard. "There is very clear communication about opportunities both on campus and within Greater Cleveland. We learn about available jobs and internships, networking events and other updates. Danny has been a great resource for things like resume reviews, internship opportunities and early career advice.
"I was able to meet and network with many Northeast Ohio companies I was unaware of previously," she noted. "The program also worked to build my confidence in myself and my professional capabilities."
The Medina, Ohio, resident went on to tout the financial incentive. "A generous scholarship, which is included with membership in the SWCA program, made it possible for me to have the financial ability to focus on my studies and even take part in study abroad opportunities. Plus, I achieved a major goal I wouldn't have been able to without the support: graduating without debt."
Morgan Sposit '24 (left) and Jordan Geisberger '24 (right) are the first two full-time hires to emerge from BW's Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator program. To date, 79 students from the BW program have secured employment, internships and co-ops, with 11 of them being at Sherwin-Williams.
Networking to build career contacts
Since starting SWCA, Shepard can see growth in herself. "Recently, I attended the Sherwin-Williams partner 'Amplifying Student Voices' roundtable, where I spoke with other young professionals to an audience that included professionals from JobsOhio, Sherwin-Williams, Team NEO, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, and other Northeast Ohio companies.
"Talking in front of a crowd with such diverse, professional backgrounds would have terrified me a year ago. My ability to speak candidly about my experiences and relate to the other panelists is a testament to the growth of my professional skills and confidence," she admitted with pride.
Among other important networking opportunities, Shepard cited her participation in a Cleveland Career Trek experience, which took her and other SWCA students to local companies to network with alumni and local professionals.
Pivotal for opening doors
Her career development opportunities are paying off for Shepard. "As a direct result of my involvement in SWCA, I had the privilege of interning last summer at Sherwin-Williams' headquarters in Cleveland with the Enterprise Service Management team. This experience brought with it many opportunities for growth."
As she looks ahead to graduation in May and the launch of her career, Shepard is excited for what lies ahead. She will be joining KeyBank in Cleveland as a data analyst in a rotational program.
"I truly believe the Sherwin-Williams Career Accelerator program has been pivotal for ‘getting my foot in the door' of the professional world," she emphasized.
