Today we’d like to introduce you to Trey Woods.
Hi Trey, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At just 22, Trey Woods was a driven MBA student with a relentless work ethic and a vision larger than any classroom could contain. After school life kicked in. The promising young professional found himself in an all-too-familiar position unemployed, restless, and hunting for opportunities across Houston. Temp agency interviews became routine, and his days were spent handing out resumes in Starbucks cafés around the Galleria area, hoping for a breakthrough.
One afternoon, fate intervened. While leaving a Starbucks, Trey noticed a black Mercedes Benz Maybach pull up. Out stepped the Founder and CEO of ZTWEALTH. Never one to miss an opportunity, Trey approached him, pitched himself, and handed over a resume. Though the CEO passed on offering him a job, he left Trey with a powerful phrase that would forever shape his journey: “I love your gusto.” Those four words ignited a fire. Trey realized then that he didn’t need to wait for a door to open; he could build his own.
As he reflected on his journey. He thought back to his undergrad years at LSU Baton Rouge where he served in ROTC, and to a childhood dream of joining the U.S. Army. The military seemed like the perfect place to gain the kind of discipline, experience, and resilience needed for success. He joined, but tragedy struck Trey sustained a traumatic brain injury that forced him to medically retire from the Army.
While most would have stopped there, Trey Woods doubled down on his vision. Out of adversity he founded LLE HOLDINGS, a minority-owned and SDV-certified (Service-Disabled Veteran) conglomerate company. What started as a dream began to take shape across diverse industries: construction, technology, aerospace, real estate, energy, consulting, transportation, healthcare, and finance.
But the early days weren’t glamorous. They did everything from admin work to cold calling and late-night strategy sessions. With unwavering persistence, he reached out to every contact he had and managed to raise $925,000 from silent investors. That capital became the lifeblood of his expansion, allowing him to secure better contracts and scale his vision.
His breakthrough came in the most unexpected place: a high-limit blackjack table. There, he met Mr. Clark, a seasoned veteran of the government contracting world with over 35 years of experience. That chance meeting became a mentorship and the catalyst for Trey’s entrance into government contracting.
Within a year, his company’s revenues soared. He jumped from $500,000 contracts to $3 million and beyond. In 2021, LLE HOLDINGS was even working on a deal worth over $100 million, though the acquisition ultimately fell through. The setback was crushing, but not career-ending. Trey took the hit, recalibrated, and rebuilt. Four years later, LLE HOLDINGS is valued between $5–10 million, according to multiple valuation resources.
By the 7th year in business, Trey Woods and his team had built a legitimate powerhouse. He appointed Dr. Sterling as CEO of LLE HOLDINGS the now multi-industry conglomerate. Today, LLE HOLDINGS can employ anywhere from 25 to 50 people at any given time and is expanding into retail.
Trey credits his success not just with grit and perseverance but with the belief in the lord. And the support of his parents, family, and his unwavering foundation through every chapter of his journey.
Trey’s story is more than just business growth. It’s about resilience, vision, and staying true to a simple philosophy:
“Treat your people how you would like to be treated; they will treat you better.”
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?
Definitely not a smooth road and honestly, he wouldn’t want it to be. The struggles are what shaped both the business and him as a founder. Early on, one of the biggest challenges was wearing every hat marketing, operations, finance, customer service all while trying to stay focused on the bigger vision. There were sleepless nights, cash flow crunches, and moments when I seriously questioned if I was doing the right thing.
One major hurdle was finding the right team. It took time (and a few hiring mistakes) to build a culture that aligned with the mission. Then there were market shifts what worked one year didn’t always work the next, so we had to learn to adapt quickly, test fast, and let go of ideas we were emotionally attached to.
But every obstacle was a lesson in resilience, creativity, and growth. The road hasn’t been smooth, but that’s exactly what’s made the journey real and worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
He an entrepreneur focused on building purpose-driven businesses that solve real-world problems with innovative, scalable solutions. He specialize in bridging the gap between vision and execution taking an idea from concept to market with clarity, speed, and impact. Whether it’s launching startups, consulting with early-stage founders, or creating digital products, he thrive at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and execution. He known for turning challenges into opportunities and bringing out the best in the people he work with.
What he most proud of is the ability to create something from nothing watching a seed of an idea grow into something that makes a difference in people’s lives. It’s not just about revenue or scale, it’s about the stories from customers and teams who’ve been positively impacted by what they built. Also, being able to build businesses that don’t just chase trends, but create value and longevity that’s what keeps him going.
What sets him apart is his obsession with execution and authenticity. A lot of people have ideas, but he put the work into making them real without compromising on values or vision. He bring a blend of creative thinking and analytical precision, which allows us to see the big picture while executing on the smallest details. And above all, he treat every project like it’s personal because to him, it is.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What really makes him happy is building something from the ground up seeing an idea go from a rough sketch on a napkin to a living, breathing business that solves real problems. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about turning vision into reality, especially when you can create value, provide jobs, and have a positive impact on people’s lives.
Because entrepreneurship is freedom. It’s the freedom to create, to adapt, to take risks and the growth that comes from all the highs and lows. They love challenges, and this journey constantly pushes him to learn, evolve, and become better not just as a business leader, but as a person. That growth and impact that’s his version of happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://WWW.LLENOW.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/0mrtrey0/
