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?
Funny enough, I’m not an engineer by trade or education! I went to school for business, so engineering was always a means to an end, or part of the product development lifecycle in my career. I have met some of the most talented people here at Standard Electric, and appreciate them sharing their knowledge with me.
WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO THIS INDUSTRY?
It just happened! After college I started working for a rep firm that handled Southwire, Leviton, and Ideal. Since then, I’ve worked in power distribution supplies, both AC and DC battery related products. It’s been a little over 20 years now. Too late to turn back!!
WHAT TRAITS DO YOU HAVE THAT HELP YOU IN YOUR ROLE?
I have been a sponge – learning 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, drives, and motion product is a heck of a lot different than connecting batteries!!
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING WITH CLIENTS, HOW DO YOU HELP THEM IDENTIFY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEMS 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?
Industrial automation is pretty wild. Robotics, AI, IIoT…… they are all wild concepts. The guys at Standard Electric that know this stuff are amazing and always learning. Constantly learning. That is what I appreciate about Standard Electric. Never settling; always willing to adapt.
WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK?
I’ve been playing guitar and writing music for about 30 years now. I still try to play at least an hour a day! I guess that’s my hobby. I do my best to keep my daughter off screens and am working on getting her into golf, so I have a partner this summer.
WHAT IS AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOU THAT MIGHT SURPRISE CO-WORKERS OR FRIENDS?
I’m roughly 75% Danish thanks to my Mom’s family so I’ve started learning the Danish language, which is not easy! A lot of the recognizable English words actually mean something completely different in Dansk. I’ve had a lot of fun with it and continue the Danish tradition of “Hygge” which means to relax; enjoy the little things; and surround yourself with good people and even better food and drink! SKÅL!!!
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.