Ben Lalka
- Owner of both companies
- Advanced Window Systems; Rocky Mountain Painting and Contracting
School Information
School: Colorado State University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2008 to 2012
Career Information
Working For: Advanced Window Systems; Rocky Mountain Painting and Contracting
Title: Owner of both companies
Industry: Construction
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I own both companies so everything from sales to marketing to HR.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Starting and managing two successful businesses while traveling to more than 15 countries in the past two years.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting was a life changing experience for me both from the skills I gained and the people I met.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting completely changed my career path in a good way. Through my experience with College Works Painting I found my passion for entrepreneurship and I gained the skills I needed to start my own business after graduating.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Through my experience with College Works Painting I learned how to work and succeed through many different forms of adversity. Something that is extremely important to be able to do in order to run a successful business.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I’m still very close with Eric Barstow who was my District Manager and I thank him all the time for the incredible impact he made in my life.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Everyone, myself included, struggled with something during the College Works Painting Internship whether it be your first year or your fourth year. My advice to anyone doing the program would be to not give up when the going gets rough because that is where you truly learn the most about yourself and business and to me that is the most valuable experience you can gain.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Get as much hands on experience as you possibly can as early as you possibly can. Studying business in school is awesome but nothing is more valuable than gaining actual hands on experience in business and the only way to do that is to get your hands dirty early.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Taking many managers to Cancun over the years as a DM and GM and realizing how much you have actually impacted someone’s life through your hard work.