Felix Cruz Answers “Why YPS?”
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“The poor and the middle class work for money. The rich make money work for them.”
This is just one of the many quotes from Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, an anecdotal personal finance book, that shaped Felix Cruz’s outlook at an early age.
Cruz was born in Hartford, Conn., but has called Holyoke, Mass., home for years. He graduated from Holyoke High School in 2017 and spent a few summers working for Holyoke Housing Authority as a student. His time in this role inspired Cruz to pursue Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) as a career. He then began an education at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC), where he studied HVAC. However, he had a revolution of the heart after reading Kiyosaki’s book.
“I grew up wanting to be in sales,” explained Cruz. “It’s in my blood. I never thought I’d be selling office furniture, but it turns out that there are many people in need of a reliable chair,” he laughed.
Cruz began at Conklin Office Furniture in Holyoke, Mass., as a shipping and receiving associate. His father, a supervisor at Conklin Office Furniture, helped him find the position. He managed outgoing shipments, streamlined packaging and led transportation coordination.
“I learned this organization inside and out,” explained Cruz. “From shipping and receiving our product here at Conklin to learning how to assemble and install to driving our trucks to Boston and New York.”
After nearly four years of proving himself, Cruz became a sales representative for the group. Within the first six months of his sales role, he sold more than $100,000 worth of preowned and new office furniture. He takes pride in his ability to meet a customer’s unique needs and preferences and goes out of his way to provide each with tailored solutions and assist in deliveries and installations.
Cruz is always seeking avenues to improve his skills as an employee, too; he earned his MassDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle driver’s license, completed a 40-hour realtor course and became an acquisitions specialist with Cedar Buys Houses. He is constantly growing and climbing in his field, lit by a fire first ignited in him by hard-earned life advice shared by Kiyosaki and other authors.
“Conklin’s Business Developer, Tony, introduced me to YPS,” said Cruz. “The reason I keep coming back is because it’s a great environment. I love being surrounded by motivated young professionals and making new friends.
“Networking events are fun, engaging and genuinely helpful. I think every young professional should take an opportunity to attend a Morning Mingle or after work event. Having people in your life that are doing what you want to do and inspire growth will make all the difference in your own success… As Napoleon Hill said in his book, Think and Grow Rich, ‘You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.’”
Felix is just one of the many driven young professionals that amplify the atmosphere at the many networking opportunities on Young Professional Society (YPS) of Greater Springfield’s round-the-year calendar. He and we hope to see you at the next one soon! Check out our social media and website to find what events are coming up next near you.
