Volunteer Spotlight: Michael Muscarella, A+ Products

After earning an associate’s degree from Brookdale Community College, Michael Muscarella decided to pursue a four-year undergraduate program. He quickly determined it wasn’t the right option for him. Instead, he decided to follow a new career opportunity. In July 2014, a friend introduced him to A+ Products and he has been there ever since.  As a member of the company’s leadership team, Michael is proud to point out that he has enjoyed adding value to the organization while he traveled his own path.

As Director of Sales Operations, Michael juggles a critical role at A+ Products, building and reinforcing smooth communications between the Procurement, Purchasing and Sourcing Department and the Sales Departments worldwide. Along with annual visits to China, his responsibilities include training sales staff in Canada and Mexico as well as meeting vendors at national trade shows and keeping his finger on the pulse of changes in the industry.

Michael’s “Why”

When discussing ‘why’ Michael is so committed to volunteering time for Think Big For Kids, he emphasized how important it is for him to help the young adults in the program by providing them with the tools and resources they need to enter the workplace as an adult or to segue in new directions.

Michael assists the kids with filling out college applications, completing scholarship requests or reviewing information for entering a trade school. He accomplishes this by drawing on his own college experiences and sharing the insights he has gained throughout his career. Most importantly he continuously reminds the students that they do not have to follow a cookie-cutter model, but should instead take advantage of having access to a wide range of options that will lead to a life with purpose.

Michael’s essential lesson: “focus on doing what is right for you”

From Michael’s experience, who you know is as important as what you know.  In today’s busy, technology-driven world, it is easy to be overlooked. This is especially true for young students who have not yet had time to build significant connections in the business community. Throughout his years at A+, Michael has developed many long-standing relationships. These contacts have helped him create opportunities and served as a catalyst to help others get a foot in the door – or at least get the attention of someone who can be of help. He draws on these contacts to assist Think Big students as they embark on their own searches. If he doesn’t have the answers, he knows how to find them.