Daniel Poutz

Alum Credits Tri-C for His Success

As a successful business manager in one of the region’s largest, most successful supermarket chains, Danny Poutz gives much of the credit to Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®). The alumnus of Tri-C’s Class of 2015 recently won the Progressive Grocer’s 2024 GenNext Award, which recognizes innovative leaders in the grocery industry under the age of 40.

“Tri-C was the perfect fit for my situation,” Poutz said. “I was responsible for paying my way through school, so affordability was a major factor. I also was career-focused very early after graduating from Brunswick High School in 2011. I had been working at Giant Eagle since 2009 and had discovered a path to a rewarding career within the grocery business. The flexibility of Tri-C allowed me to simultaneously build the foundation of my career at Giant Eagle. I am very thankful to work for a company that believed in and supported me from day one.”

The Brunswick resident earned his Associate of Arts degree at Tri-C with coursework focused on business, then transferred to Cleveland State University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership with a Business Management track.  

“I have nothing but great memories of my time at Tri-C. I had the opportunity to attend classes with my now wife, sister and best friends. I look back with fond memories of the daily grind of going to school, then going to work, and vice versa. That type of routine helped prepare me for my career,” he said.

Poutz is a senior store leader at Giant Eagle and a certified trainer for the Akron/Canton region, where he onboards new store leaders and oversees all team leader training. He is the chair of the Store Leader Council, an appointed group charged to act as change agents for the company. He began working at the supermarket at age 16 and advanced through multiple roles as he completed his education. Becoming store leader in 2018 was a major challenge.

“The store leader position is a fast-paced, challenging and demanding role. However, there are none more rewarding,” he said. “Being responsible for 200 team members and 20,000 guests per week is energizing and gives a true purpose to the work we do. For a time, I was the youngest store leader in the company, being promoted at 26.”

The football fan quipped that it felt like being a head coach in the NFL.

“Tri-C helped prepare me for life challenges by helping me manage my time. I learned the importance of a plan to accomplish goals,” Poutz said. “I am so thankful for the opportunities Tri-C afforded to me, and I hope my toddler son one day starts his journey at Tri-C. It is a great steppingstone for a successful future.”