Hidden Gems: Meet Clark Eckel of Render|Worckx

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clark Eckel. 

Hi Clark, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, architecture was something I was interested in. I was not always fascinated, just interested. Growing older, working the automotive finance industry, I realized I was spending so much time at work and less and less with family and doing the things I enjoy. I decided to call it quits on a nearly 10-year career and take a year off work. I had just bought a house, but timing was not that bad either. Skiing 76 days that year, continuing my DJ career, I remembered why I live in Colorado; since birth actually. I had to get back outside racing bikes, skiing, fishing, camping. 

I returned to school following this year, 2009, and registered at CU Denver for Spring semester 2010. DJ’ing 4 nights a week as a club DJ in Denver and around the US, I knew this was not going to be my lifelong career either. I had planned to study mechanical engineering, as that is the way my brain worked. After 2 years, I decided I needed to switch to something more visually appealing: GIS (geographic information systems). Mapping was great, I enjoyed it. Following my 5.5 years in school, I got a job at a major energy company in Colorado doing just that, mapping. I spent almost 2 years there and realized once again that I was not enjoying the overall work. I noticed too many inefficiencies of the workplace. There was so much repetition and redundant work that it became something I had to solve to be happy professionally happy again. 

Alongside college and energy company times I was racing bicycles professionally for Team Novo Nordisk, a Danish professional team. As a type 1 diabetic of 27 years, racing had always been a challenge. But, with an endocrinologist for a father (also type 1) and a pro for a coach and brother (also type1 1), I knew I would be able to overcome the challenges of racing at the higher levels. Once my contract came to an end, I moved to a subsidiary team under the same umbrella and still race today. 

Returning back to the energy company days, I decided that I missed playing with all the architectural CAD I was playing with in school. So, I began playing around again. A family member in the architectural industry noticed my work and motivated me to work more on this as there was a need. So, I did. I decided to start a business and work on the side while I gained business outside of my main source of income. Once I hit the level of income needed to leave my energy company job, I left and pursued the 6-month-old business full time. RenderWorckx, Ltd., my small architectural firm in Denver and Summit County, was now my project. Working in CAD, I took as many jobs as I could. The company began to grow. 

Now nearly 6 years later, my business has tripled and my client base has grown as well. I am eternally grateful for the clients I have now, some have become close colleagues and even friends. I currently have an office in Breckenridge, Colorado, thanks to client now in my third year of working with them. The rest of the client base is mostly Colorado-based, with a few national as well. After nearly six years, I have learned much from those with more experience, gained some experience, and have found a career that I enjoy. I have always had a couple of rules I try to abide by in life. 1. Maximize the enjoyment of life, at almost any cost. 2. Manage your time so you do not work to live. 3. If you enjoy 70% of your job, you can deal with the other 30%. 

I look forward to the indefinite time ahead in this architectural career. It has given me much to be grateful for. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, the road has had many speed bumps. There is always something to learn. I attempt to maintain some humility, to know that there is always a best way to solve an issue and that the job is not complete until the client says it is. A few of the struggles have included: managing time so that I can get away from work both physically and mentally, managing the workload, and learning to set aside finances to maintain a business regardless of incoming projects. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Render|Worckx, Ltd.?
RenderWorckx, Ltd. is a small architectural firm focused on providing architectural CAD drawings, design, and rendering services. With only a couple of CAD operators employed under the umbrella, the firm is solely focused on maintaining the current client base and taking on the client base for the future that fits our views of ethics and stability. 

What sets myself and us apart is we believe that time away from work is as important as the time spent at work making money. We must take care of ourselves so that we can be productive and focused while at work. 

I am most proud of some of the projects I have been involved in. These homes are tho9roughly some of the nicest in the country, and being a part of those design processes is extremely rewarding. 

We provide a personal and dedicated touch to help our clients realize their goals. We strive to provide the best work at a reasonable cost with highest level of work. We are also people, not robots. We have lives outside of work and we strive to carry that happiness through to our livelihoods at the office. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Moving to the mountains as a small child while my mother was still with us. She would have had a wonderful time watching our lives develop. 

Contact Info:

• Email: clark@renderworckx.com
• Website: www.renderworckx.com
• Instagram: @sprintermaximus
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/renderworckx/
• SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/clockel