Constructing success; Spears senior builds business empire during college career

Monday, November 28, 2022

Media Contact:
Stephen Howard | Manager of Communications | 405-744-4363 | [email protected]

You can be arduous pressed to seek out an Oklahoma State University scholar that isn’t
busy, however Friday, Sept. 30, was an particularly hectic day for Spears School of Business
senior Elian Trujillo.

Trujillo, who will graduate from Oklahoma State University in December, had a packed
college schedule, together with a troublesome check in Dr. Alexis Smith Washington’s managing
variety within the office class. He additionally needed to shut on a home for his rising
actual property and building companies, and the opposite social gathering was pushing him to signal
the paperwork and current a cashier’s test that day.

He usually conducts business in his hometown of Oklahoma City, however the courtyard of the Business Building was going to should do. Trujillo and the opposite social gathering coordinated with a closing
firm that was capable of meet him on campus. He obtained the deal accomplished after which he handed
the check.

“I did pretty good,” Trujillo mentioned with a smile. “I prioritize my college above all the things.
I nonetheless love my companies, however I’ve to prioritize college.”

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It’s all in a day’s work for Trujillo, 22, who has owned RT&E Construction since 2019. While carrying a full load at OSU, he additionally expanded into actual property
and has managed to begin portray and transforming firms as properly.

Many Spears Business college students uncover their entrepreneurial spirit at school or at
a Riata Center occasion, but it surely emerged early and instinctively for Trujillo. He was
12 when he began mowing lawns round his neighborhood, and he ended up with so many
purchasers that he needed to connect a trailer to his bike to get all his gear to the
20-plus lawns he mowed every week.

“I was making pretty decent money for a 12-year-old,” Trujillo mentioned. “At that point,
I didn’t understand I used to be being an entrepreneur. I didn’t understand that I used to be growing
gross sales expertise and constructing a product and a business. It all got here naturally to me, and
it was very easy to get yards.”

With nothing to spend his earnings on, Trujillo invested the cash again into his business.
He purchased new and higher gear and was capable of broaden his garden empire to round
80 yards over the subsequent six years.

Business was booming for Trujillo, however his household had all the time emphasised schooling.
He heeded their recommendation, and at 18 he bought his garden business to a pal and moved
70 miles north to Stillwater. He would develop into the primary member of his household to attend
college, however the entrepreneurial itch stayed with him.

Trujillo picked up shifts at O’Reilly Auto Parts in Stillwater to pay the payments, however
sooner or later an older pal and mentor took him to an actual property occasion that sparked an
concept. One of the classes was about working with contractors, and the speaker talked about
how robust it was to seek out dependable staff in his space.

A lightbulb went off in Trujllio’s head. He knew the labor aspect of house building
and he know easy methods to run a business. He may very well be the dependable contractor that native
actual property brokers wanted. Within two months he began RT&E Construction.

“I have a fire in me,” he mentioned. “When I get motivation there’s no stopping me.”

Things began slowly at RT&E, however he trusted the business mannequin he developed mowing
lawns in OKC. To discover work, Trujillo would rise up early and drive round to building
websites or the native {hardware} shops to promote his companies and community with the
crews. Next factor , his cellphone began ringing with job alternatives.

While the returns have been small at first, Trujillo as soon as once more invested closely again into
his business and his staff. He began promoting on social media and acquired
higher gear, however he additionally invested in issues like higher-end insurance coverage that appealed
to his staff and helped them stay loyal in a crowded job market.

Slowly however absolutely, RT&E’s jobs went from transforming rental homes and getting residences
prepared for brand new tenants to new house building and intensive gigs in high-end neighborhoods.
Work at RT&E obtained so regular that he needed to stop his job at O’Reilly. Still, schooling
was his precedence, solely now he was capable of pay money when the bursar invoice got here due.

“If I have been to mentor anybody trying to begin a business, I might say that you’ve got
to study to interrupt out of your shell,” Trujillo mentioned. “We all have quite a lot of insecurities,
however it’s a must to dive in and never assume twice. These kinds of issues will actually assist
you develop. They did for me.”

Traction within the building world meant more money in his checking account, and he as soon as
once more determined to speculate again into his business within the type of an actual property firm.
Now he might afford to buy houses with the actual property firm, use RT&E to repair
them up, after which put them again available on the market. As of November 2022, Trujillo had simply
wrapped up his fifteenth house buy.

“I have a really big vision,” Trujillo mentioned. “I stay life within the current. I attempt not
to assume an excessive amount of concerning the previous, however I take into account my future after I’m considering within the
current.” 

Most folks go to college with a purpose to study a craft, however Trujillo got here to grasp his.
He will stroll throughout the commencement stage in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Dec. 17 with bachelor’s
diploma in administration with a minor in entrepreneurship. Unlike most of his fellow graduates,
he’ll even have a résumé filled with profitable companies.

A grasp’s diploma is on his bucket checklist, however Trujillo is just not positive what’s up subsequent
for him. Regardless, he is aware of that his story is much from over even when this chapter
is ending.

“It’s been hard to balance everything going on, but I love school,” Trujillo mentioned.
“I don’t come from a high-end neighborhood. Not lots of people go to college. So,
I like inspiring folks to make a change, and displaying them that the one factor limiting
them is their very own thoughts. I by no means thought getting so far was potential for me,
however right here I’m.”