Derrick Gastinger, a Texas A&M University student was recruited by College Works in February after an extensive and competitive elimination process. He rallied for the highly lucrative Tarrant County Branch Operator position since he was born in Arlington and raised in Mansfield until 2005. College Works only accepts 70 applicants from the top universities.
Gastinger graduated with honors from Early High School in 2009. He is the son of Rick & Laura Hullum of Early and J. Gastinger of Blanket. Gastinger is a junior in the School of Architecture at Texas A&M in College Station.
College Works Painting, founded in 1993, is one of the largest exterior residential painting contractors in the country, with branches in 19 states. Students receive hands-on leadership and management training and learn skills that will help them hit the ground running upon graduation.
Gastinger’s role as branch operator of the Fort Worth area include giving sales presentations and preparing bids for potential clients between February and May. Marketing, intensive training, interviewing, hiring, firing and purchasing are his sole responsibility. The management experience was the goal but sales are becoming very competitive.
Among other ambitious college students who are Branch Operators; Gastinger has made his way to #1 in sales in Texas and #9 in the nation. Production will begin in May after Gastinger completes his final exams and packs up his dorm room to move to Fort Worth. CollegeWorks requires 20 hour commitment per week during the spring semester in addition to hours commuting to and from College Station. Gastinger’s demanding production is scheduled May through August will average 80 hour work weeks. CollegeWorks manages accounting, licensing and bonding, and uses contests and scholarship awards as sales incentives.
Several lessons are there for the taking for Gastinger with College Works. He is learning the things you can’t gain in a classroom such as communication skills with clients, compromise and working outside one’s comfort zone. These benefits won’t show up on his GPA but the will definately be evident in his work performance.
Gastinger is grateful for the opportunity where his success is determined by his efforts and determination. Next year he will fulfill his internship requirements for Construction Science degree. He will graduate May, 2013.
