VandalStore manager prioritizes inclusivity, welcoming environment
Jesus Zamora was in a pinch.
While on a trip to Seattle last semester to tour Boeing with the Hispanic Business Student Association, four of his peers had their backpacks stolen — losing their laptops, textbooks and other valuables.
Brenda Ely | Argonaut
VandalStore General Manager Scott McDonald talks to a student about textbooks Feb. 17 at the bookstore.
“When the University of Idaho vehicle we had rented was broken into, our spirits were down and we didn’t expect anything good to come of it,” said Zamora, a junior and former vice president of Sigma Lambda Beta.
However, with the help of an anonymous donor and Scott McDonald, the general manager of the VandalStore, their bad situation took a positive turn.
After hearing the news, the College of Business and an anonymous donor — ready to donate all necessary funds to replace the stolen textbooks — contacted McDonald.
“We are so very appreciative of our anonymous donor, we cannot give enough thanks to that individual,” Zamora said. “We also are thankful for Scott McDonald … He served as the mediator between the donor and our association.”
Zamora said with the funds provided by the mysterious donor, McDonald dropped all his other work to hunt down the textbooks that needed to be replaced.
McDonald said he was happy to help, and he aims to make the VandalStore a place to help students succeed.
“Every day at the store, something unique like that generous donation, happens,” McDonald said. “We really try to do all we can to help students out … and that wouldn’t be possible without people like our anonymous donor.”
McDonald said while anonymous donations don’t come every day, he and VandalStore employees strive to help students in smaller ways, such as scrambling to order the necessary textbooks or helping them track down materials assigned by professors late in the semester.
McDonald first began working for the university in 2011, when he was asked to open the Starbucks attached to the VandalStore. He has a diverse background in management and has managed a number of different businesses, including Target, U.S. Bank and Starbucks.
“I have managing experience and I also ran my own public relations firm for 18 years,” McDonald said. “After opening the Starbucks, I had the opportunity to become the general manager of the VandalStore and all of its branches, and I couldn’t turn that down.”
In addition to managing the VandalStore and associated structures, McDonald, who completed his undergraduate degree at Washington State University, is currently enrolled in UI’s Executive MBS program.
McDonald said he appreciates the friendly, inclusive atmosphere of Moscow and he hopes to create a similar environment within the VandalStore.
“I just love this school,” McDonald said. “The quality of life is much better in Moscow and the community is close knit … It’s very much a culture we’re trying to replicate here at the VandalStore.”
McDonald said a big part of the process involves quality costumer service.
“We encourage our employees to go above and beyond and get to know customers,” McDonald said. “We work to make any experience at the VandalStore more than just another transaction.”
McDonald said when things like the anonymous act of kindness directed toward Sigma Lambda Beta happen, he sees them as a reflection of the kind of environment UI consistently maintains. .
“I don’t think something like this would happen at a larger school,” McDonald said. “The University of Idaho community has a lot of compassion and we’re all able to work together to make great things happen.”
Corrin Bond can be reached at [email protected]