My Autobiography, Essay Example

I was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 8, 1970. The only other place I have lived in since then  – and where I presently live – is in Macomb, MI. I attended the Macomb Community College for 2 years, where I completed general business and accounting courses.  I recently received my Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix where I satisfactorily completed all my courses and received my diploma on October 2010.  I live with my wife Lisa and four children: Reno, age 15; Anthony, age 13; Jack, age 11; Joseph, age 8; and Sparky, our Golden Retriever. Lisa is a 3^rd grade elementary school teacher who is dedicated to her family.  My children all have similar interests: sports (particularly football, baseball, and basketball), and a relish for video games. Although no impartial observer, I rate them to be academically gifted.  My wife and I have been happily married for over 18 years, and I have worked for the same number of years in Construction Management. My vocational tasks include: project management; overseeing estimations and preparing bids; securing contracts with contractors; and ensuring project completion.  I view my career as representing a trajectory of upward mobility, and attribute my success to my family, strong upbringing, and work ethic.  The responsibilities that I assume as husband and father and the drive to excel in my life motivate me to be an effective worker. And yet I do not rate myself as tendentious to stress. I strive for thoroughly considered decision-making, am patient with my errors attempting to learn from them, and am conscientious with my performance.  I attempt to dedicate time to my wife and children by going to the movies, eating out, and taking family trips.  My priorities in life are being the best that I can be and instilling character values and belief in my children. In short, I am grateful for my life: A devoted and intelligent family, optimistic career prospects, devoted friends, and hobbies (primarily, politics and music).  I plan to continue my education by achieving my MBA, intend to become Chief Executive Officer of a Fortune 500 Company, and am looking forward to my future.

My Life

My name is Renato (Reno) Torres and I grew up in Detroit, MI.   At the age of 18, I entered Macomb Community College where I excelled in general business and accounting courses and completed the syllabus in 1992.  I chose the Business track because of its diversified work options, and realized that to lead a comfortable successful life one needs to settle for a pragmatic career that promises security and growth.  I am also mathematically inclined, aside from which I am attracted to the business sector due to the opportunities that it affords and the satisfaction of using my talents towards a productive and personality-satisfying end. I recently received my Bachelors of Business Administration through the University of Phoenix, attaining my Diploma on October 2010.

From 1989 to 1992, I worked as Controller for Smith Instrument and Equipment where I was responsible for all accounting functions from accounts receivable, accounts payables, inventory and general ledger control. Smith Instrument was a small business with 35 employees and with a revenue of $10 million located in Warren, MI. Their primary function consisted in supplying gauge instrumentation to the automotive industry.

From 1992 to 1996, I transferred to Sound Engineering where my responsibilities increased.  Sound Engineering was a sound and communication contractor located in Livonia, MI, with 125 employees and a revenue of $25 million. I was placed in control of all accounting functions; negotiated with the union contract on behalf of the owner; hired new employees; negotiated with health care program; negotiated business insurance; and maintained facilities.

Being very young and inexperienced I handle the tasks well and did not let the stress get to me. I thrived in the position, working there from the years 1992 to 1996.

In 1996, I started Boulevard Construction Company, situated in Warren, MI. I was the main Principal of this organization.  The excitement of starting a new business was refreshing.  I often equate it to raising a baby from infancy to young adult hood and watching it mature. As my title of president in this company, I was responsible for several million-dollar developments from Lucido Fine Jewelry to Chesterfield Township Municipal Building.  These were very visible projects that created a true sense of achievement.  Tasks included overseeing estimations and preparing bids; securing contracts with clients and sub-contractors; providing project management; communication with architects and clients regarding the progress of the project; preparing necessary requests for information (RFIs) and review of orders; preparing and reviewing requests for payment; and supervising closeout documentation.  To market the business successfully, I would sponsor and support local schools and municipal parks and recreation events. All of the projects were public bids that required upfront security to bid the work.  The one closing selling factor was past performance and the relationships with architects and engineers.   Problem resolution was important and communication was essential to the successful resolution.

In 2007 to the present, I became Director of Construction of Central Transport. This is a family of transportation companies that ranges from Less than a Truck Load services (LTL) and Truck Load services to logistics. Because of the downturn in the Michigan economy and the lack of available construction work, I was forced to seek employment.    My responsibilities include supervision of construction activities and maintenance of properties throughout the United States. In a more specific sense, I am responsible for bidding and estimating, along with project management of the project, and budgeting.  The challenges excite me and help me in dealing with the stress that comes along with the job. I am a firm believer in effective communication and use it to achieve problem resolution and avoid unnecessary conflict. Time management is crucial in balancing the workload and task must be selected in order of importance.

As professional growth during the years, I have always demonstrated skill in the area of Inventory Control, acquired a facility in business report writing and, over the years, have augmented my expertise in group communication.

In an extra-curricular sense, my foremost activities have been politics and music. I have worked in many political campaigns and understand this process well.  My political tendencies lean to the conservative side.  Candidates who I have been involved with include Joe Toai for Circuit Court Judge (2000; 2002) and Judge Michael Maceroni for District Court Judge (2000; 2004; and 2008). My involvement in those campaigns was fund raising along with working the polls. Related, I have a specialized understanding of the legislative process on both a national and federal level, and am civically inclined.   Music, too, has played an enormous part in my life.  I have performed in choirs and as a soloist for many years, and possess a DJ business for weddings and parties.  My type of music covers a wide spectrum from opera, rhythm, and blues to contemporary rock. In a very peripheral sense I am interested, too, in the history of American television.  I might state that my foremost challenge, right now, lies in weight management – an area of my life that has proved to be particularly frustrating since diverse diets have not delivered their promised success.

My Outlook

I intend to return to school to receive my MBA.  My eventual objective is to become a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company.   My eldest son is close to graduating high school and intends to enter the University of Michigan in the next couple of years with an emphasis in the medical field.

I am a believer in hard work and a loyalist of the credo that whatever you put in life you get back. My life manifests a practical route to success.  I would like to be happy, successful, and prosperous, and I would hope that my family manifests these characteristics likewise. I am working towards that end, grateful for the fact that I have a great family and a wonderful job that assists me in my objectives.

Conclusion

I attribute much of my success to my wife, strong upbringing, and work ethic. My parents have taught me to do the right thing, and have demonstrated responsibility for one’s actions. My hobbies and extra-curricular activities also buoy me.  My work ethic in short can be summed up according to the following three axioms:

1. Learn from your mistakes and realize that no one mistake will ruin your life.
2. Think, think, and think again before crafting significant decision.
3. Strive for excellence.

The ancient Greeks defined happiness as “the full use of your powers along the lines of excellence.” This is the advice that I would leave for my children and to anyone reading my resume.