Employee Spotlight: Paul Laakso
Our BBP team comprises a diverse group of professionals, from skilled engineers and dedicated customer service representatives to meticulous accounting specialists and tech support superheroes. Beyond their professional roles, each team member brings a unique story, background, and passion.
Through our Employee Spotlight series, we spotlight the incredible individuals who drive BBP’s success. We take you behind the scenes to explore the professional journeys of our team members, learn more about their expertise, and celebrate the distinctive qualities that make BBP an exceptional place to work.
Join us as we continue to discover the faces, stories, and talents that create the dynamic and collaborative environment that defines BBP.
Solving problems and being someone others can count on have been at the center of Paul Laakso’s career. As Sales Manager for Gulf Coast West, Oil & Gas Manager, and Account Manager at BBP, Paul wears several hats, but his approach remains the same: support his team, take care of customers, and find a way to get the job done.
With 15 years in the industry, Paul has built his career around developing relationships and helping others work through challenges. Whether he’s collaborating with a customer, supporting his sales team, or finding the right solution for an application, he enjoys being a dependable resource. His personal mantra, “I’ll figure it out,” reflects the mindset he brings to every challenge.
What makes Paul proud to work at BBP is simple: the culture and the people. He believes in treating others the way he would want to be treated, keeping a smile on his face, and making time to have a little fun along the way. To Paul, life is too short not to enjoy the people you work with and the work you do.
A St. Francisville native, Paul still calls the area home today. He and his wife, Whitney, have been married for 14 years and together for 24. They have two sons, Easton and Beau. Family is an important part of Paul’s life, and when asked who he would most like to have dinner with, his answer was Jesus, his wife, and his two boys.
One thing most people may not know about Paul is that his relationship with Whitney goes all the way back to middle school. In an effort to get her attention, Paul wrote a song and performed it on stage for her. Considering they’ve now been together for more than two decades, it’s safe to say the plan worked.
One of Paul’s favorite sayings is “So what?” It started as something one of his son’s baseball coaches would say and eventually became a phrase used around their household. While simple, Paul sees a bigger lesson behind it. Mistakes happen, challenges come up, and sometimes things don’t go as planned. The important part is learning from it and moving forward.
Looking back, Paul says he wouldn’t change anything about his journey. He has no regrets and believes the experiences along the way have helped shape where he is today.
For prospective BBP employees, Paul encourages people to make themselves valuable to others, work hard, and have fun along the way. He believes the opportunities are there for those who are willing to put in the effort and take advantage of them.
With his experience, leadership, and determination to always “figure it out,” Paul continues to be a trusted resource for his customers, his team, and BBP.
