Follett has appointed two new managers to the Guilford bookstore. Matt Davidson will act as store manager beginning Dec. 12, according to Vice President for Finance and Administration Jerry Boothby. Carly Storum will serve as the new textbook manager.”Both Matt and Carly are committed to taking the extra steps with students and faculty to ensure outstanding customer service,” Boothby said. “With their arrival, we are confident that the bookstore is in a position to fully serve the campus community.”
Davidson graduated from Purdue University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in retail management. He minored in organizational leadership strategies and studied international business while abroad in Australia. He currently manages a Follett store in Key West, Fla.
Davidson is the third manager to work at Guilford’s bookstore under Follett. Sheila Hughes served as store manager from 1999-2004, when Matt Walker replaced her.
As store manager, Davidson will oversee store transactions, train store associates on new policies, and implement creative strategies to promote greater student participation in textbook buybacks at the end of each semester.
“The most important (goal) . is customer service,” Boothby said.
Davidson was contacted through e-mail and phone but has not responded.
“I haven’t even met (Davidson) yet,” Storum said. “He’s running another store right now.”
Follett appointed Storum as textbook manager on Nov. 19. Her duties consist mainly of contacting Guilford professors and making sure the textbooks for each semester course will be available to students in the bookstore.
“(Storum) acts as liaison between professors and the bookstore,” Boothby said. “She’s very enthusiastic in trying to work with the faculty.”
“I’ve had some problems with ordering books online in the past,” said senior Will Skalerup. “I hope that hiring someone new right before the beginning of the semester doesn’t cause any communications problems.”
Storum graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in graphic design. For three years, she has been a customer service supervisor and cashier coordinator for Addams University Bookstore, which is also operated by Follett.
Two interim managers, Rachel Pertzsch and Shamone Washington, have been running the bookstore since Walker left in August, according to Boothby.
“Matt (Walker) made some very positive changes to the bookstore,” Boothby said. “I hope that it will continue on a positive streak with the new manager.”
Long-term plans for Follett as the bookstore’s provider have not yet been determined. While its contract with Guilford has expired, the college continues to use Follett as its provider. There is no set deadline at this time to find a replacement.
“First we have to figure out the spring semester,” Boothby said. “(Follett’s) contract ended April 1, but Follett will stay here until we have a chance to make a change.