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Southwest: The Magazine's Our Star for May ... Darrin Marks

dkarstens
Explorer B
Darrin_BrandonSullivan Darrin Marks started at Southwest Airlines 19 years ago.  After receiving a warm welcome to the Company and experiencing its legendary Culture, he knew he was at home. Darrin brings his expert knowledge about aircraft structures to his role as a Maintenance Supervisor and works closely with Southwest’s Phoenix-based Mechanics to ensure that planes are ready for takeoff. Always one to put others first, Darrin is often recognized by his peers for his strength as a  Servant Leader. “Darrin leads his Teams with  professionalism, compassion, and humor,” says Mike Everly, Manager of Line Maintenance.  “He exemplifies the characteristics of a great Southwest Employee: a Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart, and Fun-LUVing Attitude.” This year, Darrin was accepted into the Manager in Training program, a high honor for top-performing Southwest Supervisors, Managers, and Team Leaders looking to continue their Leadership growth. “Doing things the Southwest Way is not necessarily always the easy way,” Darrin says. “Delivering positive Leadership, maintaining a strong work ethic, and creating a satisfying work environment takes a little more work, but it’s what has kept our Culture alive and well all these years.” Another staple of Southwest’s Culture is sharing delicious food with Coworkers, and Darrin is known for serving Team Phoenix his specialty: pulled pork. His wife and three children are fans of his culinary skills too, and the family enjoys spending time trying out new recipes. They also use their flight benefits to travel to Southwest’s international destinations, such as the Bahamas or Cancún, to go scuba diving. Whether he’s cooking up a fun event for his Team or overseeing a repair project, Darrin goes above and beyond in all that he does. Thanks for sharing your kindhearted spirit, Darrin!