Drew Port, junior, takes initiative and has become an entrepreneur in the world of realty.

Roar: What exactly is your business?

Port: I do what are called “as-built” drawings which are basically architectural drawings of buildings in their final form. For example, it would be the floor plan of the hallways and rooms of Westminster.

Roar: How did you come up with this idea for a business?

Port: My dad, a commercial real estate agent, originally pitched this idea to me when he saw a need in his business world that was not being filled. No one was creating these for market material. They had to hire certified architects and spend lots of money to obtain a simple drawing. So I took this idea and, with his help, was able to run with it.

Roar: When and how did you start it?

Port: This business was officially started two summers ago in 2011. However, that consisted of me putting together a portfolio. I went around to various places such as my home, my grandfather’s building, and other friends’ homes. I did about ten drawings to put together a portfolio. In the summer of 2012, I went to various real estate agencies throughout St. Louis, doing sales calls and showing people the portfolio.  To start, I had to invest in measuring equipment, a computer, and computer aided design programs. Although it took awhile to pay off my debt to my dad, once I did, I was very happy.

Roar: How many hours do you work each week?

Port:  This business is very unique because my hours can range anywhere from no work in a month to over seven jobs in a week. This is because the real estate market often fluctuates. It is based on the demand of the agencies. If they are selling many buildings and acquiring many listings, there is a need for plans to be created. However, my average time for a single job consists of two to four hours of field measuring and two to four hours of computer drawing. At the beginning, it would take me around six hours to measure a given space. Now, the same space would take me one or two hours. My efficiency has greatly increased, enabling me to maximize profit over effort.

Roar: What is the process of field measuring?

Port:  I go to a building, usually accompanied by a friend that I have hired to help. As my assistant uses a laser measure to calculate dimensions, I will hand draw out the building and write all the dimensions down. This includes everything from electrical boxes to drainage or whatever the client wants in the plan. I can be as detailed or as broad as the client wishes.

Roar: What kind of people or companies hire you?

Port: I usually work in commercial real estate for companies such as, Gateway Commercial, Intelica CRE, Balke Brown, Landmark Realty, Nai Desco, and Sansone Group. However, I have done a handful of residential jobs. It is mainly large companies who are selling buildings and need marketing material or plans for potential changes. Seeing as I am a high schooler with no professional training, I cannot provide architectural drawings that a company could build off of. Therefore, they can only use it for non- implementation reasons.

Roar: How many total jobs have you worked in the past few years?

Port: In total, throughout the three years since the start of this business, I have worked forty-two paid jobs, completing nine in 2012, thirty-two in 2013, and one in 2014.

Roar: Is it uncomfortable to be a teenager working with and for adults?

Port: I find that I am actually more comfortable around adults in a lot of situations. If you carry yourself with maturity and you meet them where they are, they will respect you. I have been in multiple situations, though, where my age has been in question. For instance, I have assumed to be much older. One time, I showed up to a food transportation company had to wait for over an hour to get in. The woman working there would not let me in because she thought I was planning to rob them, and didn’t believe I was there to do architectural drawings.

Roar: Is this kind of work something you would wish to do in the future as a career?

Port: I have not given this too much thought as a career. It is very possible that I could make this into a career. However, my thinking right now is that this is a great opportunity to work when I want to work. I can do as many jobs as I want. I can even do this throughout college if I wish because it is quite enjoyable and relaxing.