Teresa West
I met Ben in 1980 when I started my first real office job at Triangle Pacific. I was 24 years old and was so happy to get this job. Ben was my boss and from the beginning he was awesome. He made sure you understood your assignments and helped you with any questions you had. The most important thing he did for me was to anchor in the life lessons that my father had taught me. I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma and my father gave me directions of life to follow but at only 24, I wondered if they were actually important. He would tell me, " If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right" and " If you start something, you finish it". Then I started working at TriPac and Ben would basically teach me the same things, just in different words. Ben was from New York, not a small town in Oklahoma and I suddenly realized that my father and Ben were both leading me in the same direction. I was able to thank my father for the life lessons, and I continue to follow those lessons today. They also taught me self-control, responsibility and compassion. Thank you Ben for all you did to help me grow up in the correct direction.
Ben also taught me how to play bocce ball which we would all play at lunch outside in the parking lot creating a team bond for customer service.
And, most important, Ben informed me that I didn't have to take down my Christmas decorations until the 12th Night after Christmas!
Ben was not only my boss, but he was also my mentor and my dear friend. Ben, you will be missed.
