From banquet attendant to Marriott Award of Excellence
Tim Acton became the first-ever Bridges participant to win the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence and now serves as a lead banquet server at Bethesda North Marriott.
Video length: 1:46
Read the transcript249 words in the transcript for Tim Acton honored at the 2016 Marriott Award of Excellence
My full name is Timothy William Acton. I am the lead banquet server at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. I've worked for Marriott for 10 years.
It's amazing how much he has inspired me to be better. Tim is the kind of person that shows so much love for what he does. Can you get the coffee for the station, please? Thank you. That smile, that smile can be a miracle sometimes. Last year, I was looking for a way how I could help support Marriott Bridges Foundation. They worked with me throughout my senior year, finding a job with Marriott here at this property. I found out that I could donate money, and I thought that would be a good way of giving back.
I still live in Silver Spring, the house I grew up in. Within the next five years, I'll get my own house. I'll get my own condo. My plan is to work my way up through the ranks with this company. I'd like to be an assistant banquet manager or a banquet manager. Tim is all about the guests and his co-workers. He's always thinking about how he can help both. Past two years, my manager selected me to and scored the award of when he's up the stage. It's going to feel interesting being on the other side of it.
I want to be an example someone with a disability could work their way up with a company like
Marriott.
“I could use about 10 more employees just like him.”
Tim Acton went to high school in Silver Spring, Maryland — where he still lives today. His teacher introduced him to the Bridges program during his junior year. Tim wanted to work in hospitality or the airline industry: "I love to travel."
"My disability doesn't have a name and it's extremely hard to describe," Tim says. "I struggle with reading and math, but through Bridges I was able to start my career at Bethesda North Marriott nine years ago as a busboy."
Tim attended every training opportunity Bridges offered. When a position opened at the Bethesda North Marriott and Conference Center, he made the most of it. Within a month he received a pay raise, and shortly after, he moved to full-time with benefits.
His exceptional performance led to promotions and a Bridges Youth Achievement Award. He went on to become the first-ever Bridges participant to win the J. Willard Marriott Award of Excellence — an award given in recognition of exemplary service to the best of the best at Marriott International, the company's highest honor.
Tim is now a lead banquet server. His mentors are lead servers Laura and Ofelia. As Tim describes the role: "I keep everyone on track and make sure our guests are happy." His five-year goal: become a banquet manager and run all the events at the hotel.
Outside of work, Tim follows the stock market and sports — baseball and football. He visits his two sisters in Seattle a few times a year. He gives back to Bridges through monthly payroll deductions.
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