Forty Under 40: Ben Woodruff

Ben Woodruff seeks out the most difficult challenge available.

As an Army linebacker, his team faced Navy and won in his senior year. In a previous game, he scored against Navy.

In 2002, the Saint Charles, Missouri, native graduated from West Point with a bachelor’s degree in business.

“I want to accept the hardest challenge that you have,” he said. “I like to be in that situation. It makes you stronger, makes you better.”

After graduation, he served in the military for two years. He wanted to go to Ranger school but couldn’t because he broke his left leg while playing football as a sophomore.

Over the past eight years, he’s worked for Pace Industries and strives to achieve what hasn’t been done before.

 “Our culture is very strong,” he said. “Everybody in the organization tries to grow.”

Over the past three years, he was responsible for $100 million in new business and gives credit to teams in all departments for the success.

When he started at Pace, annual revenue was $360 million, and it’s projected to reach $600 million this year. “I’d like to see a $1 billion organization,” he said.

He previously worked in sales for Cintas Corp. in St. Louis and was ranked fifth in the country out 800 salespeople. He went on to break sales records in his second year and was area market manager when he left the company after working there for five years.

Woodruff is a volunteer for Athletes in Action. He also supports West Point and recently attended a charity golf tournament there.

Woodruff loves the outdoors and enjoys hunting and fishing.