Meet… Andy Schonert! Andy is a Business Development Specialist with Standard Electric. He works out of our Milwaukee, WI location. Get to know Andy!
What is your role at Standard Electric and what do you specialize in?
I’m a Business Development Specialist (BDS) for our enclosure lines in Wisconsin.
How did you become interested in Engineering?
I’m not an engineer by trade or education. I went to school for business management, so in sales, engineering was always a part of the product development lifecycle in my career. I have met some of the most talented engineers here at Standard Electric though and appreciate them sharing their knowledge with me.
What attracted you to this industry?
After college I started working for a rep firm that handled residential electric products like Square D breakers, Southwire, Leviton, Lutron, and Ideal. Since then, I’ve worked in power distribution supplies, both AC and DC battery related products at Quick Cable Corporation and now Standard Electric. I’ve been in the industry for nearly 25 years now. Too late to turn back!!
What traits do you have that help you succeed in your role?
The willingness to learn everything I can from our associates and our customers. When I started at Standard Electric, there was a whole new world I had to learn. I had limited knowledge of industrial automation after working in the battery world for 10 years before this. Working with PLCs and drives is a lot different than connecting batteries for starting or storing power. It was over my head at the beginning but the knowledge I’ve gained helps me fill the enclosures we sell with our control lines now.
When you're working with clients, how do you help them identify and solve the problems that they're facing?
By listening to the customer. Getting them to talk openly about an application gets me to the point of finding the right solution. We have many things to offer, but not everything the customer needs, so I’d rather provide them with a solid, workable solution that they can expand upon in the future.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned while working at Standard Electric?
The engineering associates at Standard Electric that know the ins and outs of industrial automation are amazing and are always learning. Constantly learning. That is what I appreciate about Standard Electric. Never settling; always willing to adapt. Solution selling and teamwork are critical for success. I appreciate that.
What kinds of things do you like to do outside of work?
I’ve been playing guitar and writing music for about 30 years now. I’ve been fortunate to play music with two of my very good friends that entire time. Our band Shameless Place has been together for 20 years. We just put out a new album of original material and had an album launch party in April. We have some festival shows booked this summer. Come see us! We’re on Facebook and our music is streaming on all of the platforms; Spotify, Apple, YouTube, etc.
My 13-year-old daughter Sofie keeps me busy doing 13-year-old girl things like shopping, and shopping, and oh….more shopping! Working to get her into golf this summer so she doesn’t spend 3 months on an iPad and I spend less time in stores.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
I’d guess the whole guitar playing and singing part surprises most people. Without a singer 20 years ago, someone had to do it, so it was me. In a 3-piece blues/rock band, it’s a group effort.
Band Links: Shameless Place Facebook
Standard Electric Supply Co. is a family-owned distributor, built on delivering outstanding service. For over 100 years, Standard Electric has been the best at what they do; delivering top-quality products, outstanding service, and providing value-added services to customers across the Midwest. Visit standardelectricsupply.com to see how Standard Electric can become the solution to your needs.
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