Andrew Rojas
- CO-OWNER
- Lacier Lash
School Information
School: University of Utah
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2003 to 2004
Career Information
Working For: Lacier Lash
Title: CO-OWNER
Industry: Beauty
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
• Fulfill all roles in accounting and finance including Assistant, Bookkeeper, Treasurer, Project Accountant, Accounting Manager, Business Analyst, Financial Analyst, Controller, CFO, Vice President, etc. • Process federal and state tax collection, tax payments, tax forms, monthly/quarterly/annual tax filings and reporting. Process payroll direct deposits and tax compliance. • Process payables, accounting records, reconciliations, asset tracking and depreciation, de minimis safe harbor expenditures, federal business returns, etc. • Prepare reports: Financial, sales projections, sales trends, sales analysis, budgeting, cash flow, and expenditures. • Established internal controls for safeguarding monies, inventory, and equipment. • Maintain all electronic equipment and software, such as QuickBooks, POS registers (iPads for Square), client scheduling software, security cameras, Vivint devices, etc. • Used Adobe Photoshop to create custom ads for advertising online, design logos and business cards, and signage. Used AutoCAD to design blueprints and submit them to the City for approval. • Manage and coordinate major real property improvements and remodeling. Advertise for new clients and customer retention. • Maintain facility and monitor property to secure from vandalism and theft. Modified a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo for plowing snow in the parking lot. • Multitask as needed to accomplish business goals.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Staring my own business and being successful.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting has made me more independent and capable of doing anything.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I immediately found better jobs and opportunities. I now own two duplexes that I rent out and I am a professional business owner which I learned to do at College Works Painting. I also work as an auditor full time.
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?
Mike Ballif, 2003. I learned how to negotiate better with prospective clients.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Carefully planning my business and providing great customer service.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
Getting inspiration from some clients helped me to start my real estate business.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Continuing your success in business.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Find out what you want to get out of College Works Painting, then focus on that objective.
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?
If you want to be your own boss in the future, then College Works Painting is a very good start.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Must enjoy looking through accounting records.
Last words of wisdom?
There are multiple solutions for each problem. Choose one and move forward.