David Williams, General Manager of Economy Hotel Forest Park, has seen what the dim side of an economic recession looks like.

He moved to Georgia (GA) in 2016 hoping for better prospects after the recession in the north led to him being laid off by his former employer.

He was told he had a new job lined up for him in GA, and all he needed to do was move. Once he relocated, he was advised the position was no longer available.

For the next three months, Williams would get up every day at 7am and keep applying for jobs. On average, he attended three interviews per week; however no job offers came in.

"It becomes quite discouraging. You try to stay hopeful and put out your best, yet no one is calling back. "

Finally, after months of not letting up, Williams caught a break and was hired by a credit union in Georgia. Three years later he was hired at Economy Hotel Forest Park as a Front Desk Supervisor. The resilience he learned during his period of unemployment became an asset; so much so that he was promoted to Assistant General Manager at Glenwood two years later, then promoted again to General Manager of Forest Park in May of this year.

Area Manager Roger Sawant is very proud to have Williams on his team. "David knows that customer service and revenue are our top priorities, and balances them well." said Sawant.

Williams believes that it was his dark days of unemployment that now helps him empathize with the hotels' clientele. "I understand why they're angry or depressed. They can't do what they want to do. They've made mistakes and can't move forward because the system works against them in many ways," said Williams. "I always tell them to hang in there; they've got a better day coming."