Krista Lorang
- Sales Manager and Administrative Assistant
- Roch Hard Landscape Supply
School Information
School: Minnesota State University, Mankato
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2015 to 2016
Career Information
Working For: Roch Hard Landscape Supply
Title: Sales Manager and Administrative Assistant
Industry: Manufacturing, Sales
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I sell to the landscape materials to landscape companies who do commercial landscape jobs. I also am in charge of billing for the company.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?I now have a full time job that I love!
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting has forever changed my life for the better professionally and personally!
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I was getting an interview for every job I applied for because of the experiences I was able to add to my resume from College Works Painting. Today, I use many of the different skills I learned when in the program. Some of those skills involve sales, time management, communication, and marketing.
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 am so grateful that my clients were willing to give me a chance!
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Nothing happens overnight. You need to put in the time and the effort and eventually things will start falling into place.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I made so many friendships that will last for ever! My DM Cody and I become so close that I was a bridesmaid in his wedding this past summer. College Works Painting friends become more like family. They will be there for whatever you need. Me and my family needed financial help after I was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. My Northstar College Works Painting family created a YouCaring page to help raise money for my medical expenses. College Works Painting across the country all came together to help me and my family. They were all also so supportive during my journey as well. With the help of my College Works Painting family, I am happy to say I am officially cancer free. I am forever grateful for my College Works Painting family.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
“Ask your DM questions! There is no such thing as perfect results, but there is such thing as perfect effort. If you are willing to give perfect effort and ask your DM questions, you will be successful in this program.”
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?
I was a business major, so for me it was an easy decision. I knew running my own business as a college student would jump off the page on my resume when employers where reading it. The business would is competitive. There are a lot of candidates and not many positions open, so you need to make sure that you have something on your resume that will jump off the page when employers are looking at your resume and interviewing you.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Always act confident, otherwise you are allowing the customer to start to question the things you say if they sense hesitation. If you don not know something, ask questions or do your research.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Making it to Cancun was by far my favorite memory I have of my College Works Painting experience. It was also the place where I decided I was going to be a DM that upcoming year!