We're excited to connect with our alumni through our new Darlington Connects series. Today we hear from Will Mizell (’83), vice president of human resources for Waffle House.
"Scattered, smothered, covered, chunked, diced, peppered, capped, topped, country”: these adjectives are well too familiar to Will Mizell ('83), vice president of human resources for Waffle House. Before digging into Will’s current role and responsibilities, I want to outline a bit about his path, from his days at Darlington to present.
Will arrived at Darlington during the fall of 1981 as a junior boarding student from McRae, Ga. Darlington was a known name in the Mizell household, as his older brother, Griff, graduated in 1975. In his two years on campus, Will is confident that the education he received undoubtedly made an impact on his life, and it was his education at Darlington that helped set the course for his future successes.
In our most recent conversation, Will shared that he “lived by the bell. I believe that you get more done when things are scheduled. Darlington conditioned me to be that way.” And “get things done”, he did. Will attended Georgia Tech where he graduated with a degree in Management. Reflecting on his academics at Tech, Will candidly admitted that “I received an A in Calculus - it may have been one of my only A’s. It was one of my easiest classes in college because of how Darlington prepared me.”
During his time at Tech, he was an active member in the ATO fraternity, the genesis of his Waffle House connections. Immediately following undergrad, while simultaneously working, he pursued his MBA at Georgia State. In 1989, his work at Waffle house officially commenced. Over three decades later, Will remains an integral member of the Waffle House team.
In his current role as Vice President of Human Resources, Will is responsible for a variety of tasks. Chiefly, he oversees personnel and personnel compensation packages. He has been an active spokesperson for Waffle House over the years and is frequently quoted in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and a variety of publications throughout the southeast. He remains active within the Tech community, as well, and he is a fervent Tech athletics fan. Will and his wife are the proud parents of two children, both of whom are also Yellow Jackets.
Will is happy to offer insights and advice to anyone interested in a career in the restaurant industry, human resources, and, generally speaking, navigating the current employment climate. With decades of dedicated experience under his belt, we are especially appreciative of Will’s willingness to assist fellow Darlington constituents. Thank you, Will, for your loyalty to Darlington and to Tigers everywhere.
Are you a Darlington alum (or do you know one) with a career or interest that is fascinating and unique? We'd love to spotlight you in a future blog! Please email connect@darlingtonschool.org if you are interested in being featured.
