Brent Miller
- Co-Founder/Midwest Regional Vice President
- Home Genius Exteriors
School Information
School: Penn State University
College Major: Other
Years at College Works: 2005 through 2015
Career Information
Working For: Home Genius Exteriors
Title: Co-Founder/Midwest Regional Vice President
Industry: Home Improvement
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
In control of multiple offices for Home Genius Exteriors.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?I am still friends with so many past College Works Painting people. Relationships are always the top priority. Right now I currently have a lot of past College Works Painting alumni working for me and they are some of my best people as well as best friends.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting was the beginning of knowing what I was truly able to do and what my future possibilities could be.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I was was an intern, DM, SDM, CO-VP, VP, and then Executive VP with College Works painting. I took the program to the absolute highest path you could by getting promoted over all the competition, and now a co-founder of a $160,000,000 yearly revenue business .
What do you want to tell your clients about what it meant to work with them and how it has helped you get to where you are today?
I was an intern a long long time ago, 2004. Yes, you read that correct, 2004. My favorite client was Vernon Dixon. He was a 92 year old customer. I would just sit in his house for 4-5 hours a day letting him tell me all about his life, family, experience and giving advice. He was a great man.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
You are way stronger then you think, and you can overcome way more that you think. The more stress and responsibilities you put on yourself the easier it is in the future.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I still talk to so many College Works Painting friends. Not only was a College Works Painting alum in my wedding I was also asked to officiate the wedding of my own District Manager.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
If you could change your entire life for the better in 5 months College Works Painting is where it is at.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Don’t be scared and do not give up. No matter what happens as long as you finish the program you will talk about this summer for the rest of your life. You will learn so many lessons that will help you in your future. Not just in success and money but in relationships. I learned more in that five months with College Works Painting than I learned in four years at Penn State University. And I tell you what I do not remember 50% of the classes I even took let alone what was learned, but I remember everything about that summer. Every win, loss, struggle, customer, stress, tough conversations, great conversations, etc. and the list goes on and on.
Many college students struggle to choose between an internship specific to their target industry or doing CW. What advice would you give them on this subject if they wanted to enter your career field?
The College Works Painting internship is not just to help you get a job out of college. I know that is what people think. Get an internship as an accountant and it will help you get an accounting job. The College Works Painting internship will help you get promoted in every job you get. It does not matter what industry. I am so proud of my past interns that worked for me. None of them are the low level employee. It just seems like not only did they get the job our of college they wanted, but they were promoted faster than anyone else. The lessons learned here are not taught in a class room.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Lead from the front and never make a future decision on what is best today. Make your decision based on what is best in 5 years from now.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Somehow I convinced eight of my friends from Penn State to drive to my house every Sunday night throughout the entire summer, stay until Friday evening, and paint 8-10 hour days. The best part of that is that we all got to hang out and have fun every night.
Last words of wisdom?
Don’t be scared.