Tom Ackmann
- President and Owner
- Platinum Decking LLC
School Information
School: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
College Major: Engineering
Years at College Works: 2012-2020
Career Information
Working For: Platinum Decking LLC
Title: President and Owner
Industry: Home Improvement
Brief Description of Duties / Responsibilities:
I own and run a company that builds Decks and Patios.
College Works Career Impact
In one sentence, what has CW meant to you?
College Works Painting taught me everything I needed to know to be successful and I would not be where I am in life without it.
How did your CW experience impact your career? Immediately after graduation? Now?
I thought I wanted to run my own business someday and College Works Painting gave me the tools to be able to do it for my entire career.
What was the greatest lesson you learned from your CW experience?
Management. It is the single hardest skill to learn and it is also the most valuable and hardest skill to master.
How have the friendships and networks you built during CW affected you?
I remember at 1st training in 2007 when the vp at the time mentioned that I would meet some of my best friends in the program and I literally laughed out loud thinking to myself I am not here to meet friends. Well that VP ended up being the officiant at my wedding. Some of the best people I know came from College Works Painting.
If you had to come up with a one line slogan for CW, what would it be?
You guys already have good ones. I like Work Hard Play Hard Have Fun.
Advice
What advice do you have for potential CW participants? Current CW participants?
Most people do it for the money and the money is great but you should truly do it for the experience. If I could go back in time I would pay to do the internship.
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?
There is no such thing as a real world internship for a freshman or sophomore. Its not even a question. There are real internships for juniors but don’t expect to get one unless you crushed it as a freshman or sophomore. It is really simply do College Works Painting if you want to be the best you can be in ANY FIELD.
What’s your best advice for someone interested in entering your career field?
I started off in tax accounting for Deloitte Tax, which I did really enjoy, but found myself back at the university. The best thing you can do in general is continue to create and build connections. I have had a few different jobs since graduation and none of them I had to apply for. I just talked with the people I had built relationships with prior who happened to be leading the institutions and was able to secure a job. Having the business savvy from College Works Painting was a great jumpstart as well!
What’s your favorite memory from CW?
Top gun Vegas my rookie dm year with Jay Reid in Las Vegas. I truly felt like I had made it. He bought a half dozen bottles of Silver Oak wine and we sat in the the board room and I had never felt cooler in my entire life.
Last words of wisdom?
If you have a chance to be a part of College Works Painting do not tip toe into it throw yourself at it and regardless of what happens it will be the greatest thing you ever do on your professional journey.