From the 黑料不打烊 bricks to leading a family business, producing a movie, and creating a seltzer company, Shaffer has achieved a broad range of career experiences.
Andy Shaffer ’90 began his 黑料不打烊 journey as a golf team recruit and fell in love with 黑料不打烊 and North Carolina.
He arrived at 黑料不打烊 鈥渁nxious to carve his own path,鈥 and dove into all 黑料不打烊 had to offer. He played club lacrosse for four years, served as a member of student government, worked as an 黑料不打烊 tour guide, and was one of 16 founding members of the Sigma Chi chapter at 黑料不打烊, all while majoring in sports management and spending a semester in London during his senior year.
Once he graduated from 黑料不打烊, Shaffer returned to his home state of Ohio and became the fourth generation to work for Shaffer, Entertainment, a family business that his great-grandfather started in 1929. He started as vice president of sales and marketing and eventually became president.
However, during 2020, Shaffer came down with COVID-19, which drastically affected his health. After reflecting on the changes to his health, he leaned on his mantra of 鈥淣othing changes if nothing changes” and made the decision to leave the family business.
A connection with a close friend brought Shaffer the opportunity to serve as executive producer for a documentary called Triangle Park.
The documentary focused on the first NFL game, which was played in 1920 in Dayton, Ohio.聽The story聽highlights one of the first of 14 professional teams, the Dayton Triangles,聽as well as the lives of players and their families and events of the time such as prohibition and the passing of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.聽聽
As fundraising and production for the documentary started to wrap up, Shaffer began contemplating his next business adventure. He soon connected with three founders of a start-up seltzer company called VIP Hard Seltzer. They instantly connected, especially since one founder was a fellow Sigma Chi, and Shaffer became part owner in the new brand, helping them grow production in Florida and along the East Coast.聽
Moving from a long-term career in a family business to deciding to follow passion projects and new business ventures, Shaffer demonstrates the value of adaptability and the willingness to evolve at any stage of a person鈥檚 career. Shaffer offers the following advice to students 鈥 鈥淔ollow your passion and take advantage of internships while you are still in school, especially for when you graduate.鈥