Ben Fouts was running his own home construction company when an FVTC job posting kept catching his eye. He finally decided to go for it and now, two years later, is a full-time faculty member in the Residential Building Construction program.

And while he loved having his own business, he’s found that working with students is even more rewarding. “I love seeing the students grow in their skills and seeing the confidence that comes along with that,” Ben says. “I hope that when students leave, they look back and say, ‘I really liked him as an instructor.’ I hope I can bring that to my teaching to help them learn and enjoy coming to class.”

Get to know Ben, what he loves about teaching and his advice for students.

What classes do you teach?

I teach the basic and intermediate project-based classes in our program, so that includes framing, exterior finish, interior closure and interior finish.

What brought you to Fox Valley Tech?

When I was running my home construction and remodeling company, I saw an ad for this job, and it piqued my interest, but at the time I thought I was good where I was at. About two or three years after that, I saw the ad posted again, and this time I thought, ‘I think I want to go for it.’ It’s caught my interest twice. So I applied.

What do you enjoy most about the classes you teach?

What I enjoy most is seeing the students grow in their skills and seeing the confidence that comes along with that. When a student gets to a point that they’re comfortable with me giving them a task or even asking them how they might handle something, they run it by me, and I think it might be a great idea… that’s fantastic. It’s a lot about problem-solving. We have a set standard that we teach, but you may get to a position where that doesn’t work and we have to do some problem-solving, and I love seeing the students that have grown enough that they know what we’re trying to do and what we may have to do to get the same end-result.

What’s one piece of advice you have for students?

I think the most common advice that we give – and goes a long way but seems very simple – is being to the job site on time, even early, to walk around. Remember where you left off. Remember what you’re going to be doing and getting your head in the game before the job starts. It works well in the classroom because we have a start time, we want to get moving. But that directly translates to the job site. People are depending on you to be there to help. If you’re 15-20 minutes late, they’re trying to do something without you. It’s slowing things down. And employers have that challenge as well.

What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever received?

I think some of the best advice I received when I was starting my company was to always respond and be there for a client, a customer or your employer. The unanswered texts, unanswered emails or unreturned phone calls have a big impact. Always follow up and follow through with things. It helps you excel if you start your own company or as an employee of a company. I think by taking those simple steps, you probably put yourself in the top 25% of the field.

What skill are you currently working on?

I’m trying my best to improve my teaching skills. Two years ago, I was working construction, bidding jobs. So teaching is new for me. I enjoy the classes that the Tech offers to help me strengthen my teaching skills, and I always apply for additional training as well, so that I can grow as an instructor. I hope that I can be an instructor that when students leave, they look back and say, ‘I really liked him as an instructor.’ I hope I can bring that to my teaching to help them learn and enjoy coming to class.

What’s one thing about you that might surprise your students?

I am a bit of a nerd. So maybe like several of them, I’m into video games, fantasy and fictional movies, and even dabble in a little bit of playing Dungeons & Dragons.

What do you like to do outside of the classroom?

I am married with two kids who are in college, so we recently became empty nesters. My wife and I have recently started leaning into camping. Getting out to see some of the sites that nature has to provide is very awe-inspiring. At our age though, we laugh at the fact that we’re going out tent camping instead of in a camper or a motor home.

What was your first job?

My first job was working at a pizza place in the Fox River Mall. It’s no longer there. Did not really enjoy that.

What was your best job?

This is probably my favorite job that I’ve had so far. I really did enjoy having my construction company but working with students and helping them strengthen their skills and helping them get into their career, I have found even more rewarding than what I was doing with my company.

Lightning Round

Vacation: beach or mountains?
Mountains

Winter or summer?
Summer

City or country?
That’s a tough one. I’m going to say city.

Fiction or nonfiction?
Fiction

Messy or clean desk?
Clean desk… that can get messy at times.

Cat person or dog person?
Dog person

Morning person or night owl?
I’m more of a night owl.

What’s your go to comfort food?
Ooh, I’m going to go with Cool Ranch Doritos.

The last TV show you binge watched?
The Rings of Power. I watched that myself, and then I got my daughter to watch it with me again.