MCC Alum Brian Driskill: From Tuition Guarantee to leading hospitality at Mississippi’s oldest restaurant
At 35, Meridian Community College alum Brian Driskill is making his mark in the hospitality and food industry and turning a passion for service into a career as the banquet and catering manager for Mississippi's oldest restaurant, Weidmann's.
Growing up in Lauderdale County, Driskill saw MCC as a pathway to an affordable education, especially with Tuition Guarantee. With its signature Tuition Guarantee Program, the MCC Foundation underwrites any part of the tuition not covered by financial aid for graduates of Lauderdale County high schools and homeschooled grads.
While the College had yet to offer the culinary arts program it has today, MCC's Hotel and Restaurant Management Technology track was close enough to give Driskill the skills he needed to succeed. Working alongside and catering with Mark Chandler, then program coordinator, was one of Driskill's favorite MCC memories. "Mark was a great mentor," Driskill said.
The skills he gained from MCC gave him the tools he needed as Driskill started his career as the front desk manager at the Holiday Inn Express, and shortly after, he took the helm as general manager at the age of 21. But he didn't stop there; Driskill helped open a new hotel in Winona and completed a multi-million-dollar renovation in Meridian.
Other ventures were calling him – this time with Weidmann's and starting a real estate career.
He offers advice to those considering a college education. "Follow your passion; if the program you're interested in is not offered, find the closest option. Most of all, don't feel like you can't change your mind about your career path. Not everyone knows exactly what they want to do out of college, so use that time to find out what you're interested in, which you can see yourself doing long term."
Driskill added, "It's not wasted time in college; it's a time of learning about your future career and yourself."
Driskill has been married for 10 years to his wife, Constance, an MCC alum who is also one of the first graduates of Mississippi State University Meridian's Criminology program. Together, they have an eight-year-old daughter, Leighton, who, at 10 months old, faced severe health challenges, including multiple open-heart surgeries and a complete heart block. Her journey has had its challenges, but she's thriving, and her spirit continues to inspire the Driskills daily.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu/alumni.