Before joining East & Westbrook in August, 2015, Michigan native Ben Warner had little experience in the construction industry, and zero experience in commercial concrete. But what the the 27 year-old did have; however, was all the intangibles that can lead to a lifelong and successful career in just about any industry.
A hard worker by nature, Ben is willing to learn and do just about anything to help on job sites, an attitude that goes a long way in showing his fellow coworkers that he is a valuable asset to the growing team at East & Westbrook.
We had a chance to sit down with Ben to learn more about his background, and why East & Westbrook has been such a good fit for him and his family.
I like to work with my hands. It sounds odd but I like hard work. I grew up on a farm working, so it comes natural to me. Farming, there is never a shortage of things to do. But, I didn’t really have formal training or experience. I have never worked for a concrete company before so I have learned a ton of new things. I actually grew up training show horses. My entire family does it and I sort of broke tradition by switching career paths.
I had a family friend refer me to apply at E&W. From there, I just kept working hard and was willing to learn anything and everything I could.
I really like the company so far. E&W is a company that cares about its employees. It has a family type of feel to it. Everybody works hard and we all look out for each other.
That’s the best part! Day to day things change. One day I could be building forms, and the next day digging footers by hand. All of the projects are interesting to me. Seeing a building go from nothing but dirt to a the finished product is amazing and it makes me want to learn more about everything that goes into it. The longer I am here the more opportunities I have to do more things.
I run/coach the Oldham county youth wrestling program. So, my weekends are usually spent in a gym at a wrestling tournament. My wife, Ryan, coaches volleyball and we have 3 kids (ages 7, 4 and 1). We definitely stay busy as a family. But I also like to go camping in the summertime.
Are you the next East & Westbrook success story? We are looking for skilled and entry-level laborers. A strong work ethic and commitment to learning can take you a long way. Apply Now.