It was another unforgettable day exploring new career paths and making meaningful connections with the Office Depot leadership team! All seven of this year’s Youth of the Year finalists traveled to the Office Depot headquarters in Boca Raton to get a tour of the building, meet with different staff members, and discover how everything comes together to create the company.

The day kicked off with a behind-the-scenes tour of the media studio where Office Depot creates their marketing content. The finalists took in all of the lighting and equipment, learning more about how a large brand conveys their message to the public. After this, the seven finalists were treated to a lunch in the corporate board room with the Office Depot leadership team including President of Office Depot Kevin Moffitt and Chief Executive Officer of the ODP Corporation Craig Gunckel. Each finalist not only had the opportunity to meet with leaders from different departments, but they shared their stories and their goals for the future. Sharing these career goals allowed them to connect specifically with members of the Office Depot teams who currently work in those fields. From marketing to construction, the finalists discovered all of the opportunities available to them at an organization as large as Office Depot.

After lunch, the group headed to the POG Lab, a scale model of an Office Depot retail store located at the headquarters. In the POG Lab, the Office Depot merchandising and marketing teams plan out new campaigns and how they will roll them out in stores across the country. This was the perfect introduction to the final part of the day, where the finalists headed to a real Office Depot store in Boca Raton to embark on a $500 shopping spree!

Thanks to Office Depot’s ongoing generosity, each of the Youth of the Year finalists were able to purchase $500 worth of school and college supplies to set them up for success in the upcoming school year. The finalists were guided through the store by Office Depot staff, picking out everything from computer keyboards to weekly planners and even dorm bedding. All seven finalists left the store feeling grateful and ready to take on their next adventure with confidence!

We are deeply thankful to Kevin Moffitt, Britnye Kurty, Craig Gunckel, and the entire Office Depot team for their dedication to supporting our finalists and the Youth of the Year program overall. The connections and opportunities provided by Office Depot will have a profound impact on these young people as they embark on their future endeavors. Thank you, Office Depot, for believing in Great Futures!

Click the button below to join our Youth of the Year finalists on their Day of Career Exploration at Office Depot!