Steve Espinoza
- Project Manager
- CertaPro Painters
School Information
School: Marquette University
College Major: Business
Years at College Works: 2021
Career Information
Working For: CertaPro Painters
Title: Project Manager
Industry: Consumer Services
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I manage 15 crews of painters and carpenters. I make their schedules and choose which jobs they complete. I handle a job from the point an estimate is landed until the job is completed. I communicate with clients when there are issues and check on job sites for safety and quality control.
What Has Been Your Proudest Accomplishment Post-CWP?Producing 2.5 million dollars in work on my own. Not many company owners do that on their own and I did with just my branch.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting gave me the ability to challenge myself so much that no position is too great for me. I fully believe I can take on any position with the right training and become a rockstar in that role.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
College Works Painting made me realize I didn’t want to sit in an office all day. I quit my office job to pursue a project manager position and because of the skillset I learned in College Works Painting I was a highly sought after candidate. Now less than two years into my role and only 3 years after graduation I am training for a General Manager position.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Never give up. No matter where your sales are at trust yourself and your abilities to come out on top by the end of the year.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I am still friends with the people in my groups. We shared many fun and hysterical moments in the trips we took because of College Works Painting. I know I’ll always have those connections if I ever need help in my career.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
Great skills, great relationships, even better experiences.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Never quit. Just take a step back and remember the vision.
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?
College Works Painting gives you skills no other internships will. You come out with great communication, sales and management skills. Even if you only do it for one summer not many internships can help you develop that much.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
Communication is the key to keeping clients and coworkers happy. You can never communicate too much.
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Going camping was great because we cruised down the river and drank all day like fish. We got to go to the casino and win big money the same weekend.
Last words of wisdom?
If you know how to sell yourself anything is possible.