Moving the Needle to Attract Top Talent

My clients regularly tell me that they’re seeking “A Players” and “Rockstars” to join their teams. Both are overly used (and some would argue dreadful) cliches, but we all know what they’re talking about. They want the best available talent that will have an immediate impact to increase sales, cut costs, improve efficiencies, develop new products, and gain market share. Ideally, they want the “best of the best”.

Is the organization truly ready to bring on the “best of the best”? The “War for talent” dates to 1997. Identifying quality talent is not the hard part. Attracting and getting top talent to engage in a meaningful conversation relative to making a career move is. So how is that accomplished?

Rob will be attending the NAED National Conference in Austin, TX May 21-23. 

Email Rob to meet if you will be attending: RW@egretconsulting.com

For more information on any of these candidates, or to talk about any specific hiring needs you may have, reach out to Rob at rw@egretconsulting.com for Power Distribution, Automation, or Renewables and Colin at cw@egretconsulting.com for Cybersecurity, IT, and Software Programming

President / CEO, Chairman

• Successfully built two new businesses into the US market
• Rebuilt ESS business: Securing core battery suppliers and new alignment of product line
• Built and implemented turnover plan which resulted in 84% sales increase ($15M to$28M) and turning into profit making at the first year($ 1.9M to $1.7M).
• Achieved sales increase with 18% CAGR ($28M to $98M) and profit increase 40% CAGR ($1.7M to $13M) since 2017
• Set up nationwide sales channels
• Acquired and integrated two companies (Panel Builder & ESS entity) for inorganic growth.
• Developed corporate vision and retention plan to enhance teamwork with optimal balance under the multi-cultural environment.
• Designed market penetration plan which resulted in more products (power control products and VFDs/inverters) and reshuffled sales portfolio.

CISO / VP of IT Infrastructure 

• Cut vulnerabilities by 70% monthly and accelerated remediation by 50% with an enterprise-wide vulnerability management program.
• Saved over $1M annually in vendor negotiations for enhanced protection and increased security capabilities.
• Reduced cybersecurity insurance costs by over $500K with formal security metrics and reporting to insurers.
• Improved the overall security posture of the company by implementing proactive risk management practices.
• Led development and implementation of a robust information security program, enhancing enterprise-wide security.
• Established a resilient security framework for business continuity and protection of critical asset
• Led successful IT initiatives like cloud migration and SD-WAN enhancements, driving efficiency and cost savings.
• Provided strategic leadership to foster collaboration and innovation in security and infrastructure.
• Executed 26 projects to mature security systems, including risk assessments and gap identification.
• Developed a formal Incident Response process with executive tabletop exercises for better response and mitigation.
• Integrated security risk assessments into M&A processes, reducing corporate risks significantly.

Senior VP / CRO 

• Developed and lead a global team that delivered 10X growth in Sales Pipeline, 3X growth in bookings, and 2X growth in revenue over and three-year period,
• Consolidated three disparate global sales organizations into one cohesive, high-performance organization,
• Architected and implemented a three-tier go-to-market infrastructure including business development, regional sales centers, and customer service/support operations,
• Responsible for corporate marketing and thought leadership campaigns, product management, new product strategy, and market strategy,
• Implemented Salesforce CRM and Service Cloud (incident management) for quotation and field asset management, pipeline management, presales, order to delivery, and after sales workflow,
• Scaled organization 300% in alignment with sales growth and market opportunities

Site Engineer / Field Engineer / Systems Engineer – Program Manager / Sales Engineer

• Ensure quality of installation, balance of plant and field system tests.
• Plan, develop and drive program schedule to meet deliverables for launching new DC EV charging solutions.
• Manage program budget and resources while communicating status to executive stakeholders.
• Initial beta support for NPI products and services.
• White glove hardware, software, and networking support for mission-critical customers.
• Responsible for a $12M quota for a four-state territory.
• Primarily responsible for driving specification position with engineering consultants. 

Switchgear Specialist

• Analyze and interpret blueprints to perform take-offs of the electrical distribution system to furnish Electrical Contractors with accurate design builds.
• Review and implement electrical specifications, unique to each job, and ensure proper application of each requirement.
• Utilize computer-aided design software platforms to virtually design LV and MV Switchboards, Panelboards, XFMRs, and Motor Control Centers, to provide detailed bills of material and layouts.
• Ensure proper NEC codes are applied in the quotation process to eliminate the potential rejection of design by AHJ/EOR.
• Interpreting and applying recommended/required addenda derived from Arc-Flash/Short-Circuit/Coordination Study data to ensure electrical distribution system is Selectively Coordinated (if required).
• Facilitate reviews of Switchgear design with Electrical Contractors, EORs, Project Managers, and Field Foreman, to ensure build accuracy.
• Provide cross-business support directly with manufacture and end-user/EOR to expedite production and reduce/eliminate delays.
• Receival and processing of contractor purchase orders to input/convert bills of material into manufacturer’s ordering system.
• Maintenance of detailed records for job accounts containing purchase orders, change orders, addenda, and submittals.

Commercial Director / E-Mobility

• Led a team and managed $80M in eMobility infrastructure sales.
• Secured key corporate national agreements
• Coached the Strategic Accounts team for the national EV Charging network engagement.
• Managed a team for M&A integration in a $1B portfolio.

Managing Director

• Advisor to CEOs of small-cap and mid-cap companies in Renewables, Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, IT Hardware. Provided strategic advice on activities ranging from optimization of capital structure, fundraising, restructuring, and operational expansions
• Pioneer private equity and project debt banker in Renewables, Powertech, Cleantech, Sustainability, ESG evangelist since 1999
• Managed all phases of private equity and private debt deal processes from origination to structuring to due diligence to distribution for institutional investors and family offices including hands-on operational experience and business development.
• Co-chair Commitment Committee with broker-dealer principals, various legal parties, brokers, analysts, and investment bankers.
• Process-oriented leader running operations for a company of 6 FTE, 10 contractors, and 20 Vendors such as data providers, CRMs, outsourced HR legal, compliance, accounting, tech support, web design, printing, and a myriad of institutional investors.
• Established multi-system Salesforce CRM reporting to drive project management accountability, empowerment, and adoption. 

Rob

Western Regional Sales Manager – CA – 5066

Business Development Manager – Power Distribution Products – Remote – 5169

Regional Sales Manager – NJ or Remote (East Coast) – 5170

Civil-Structural Engineer (Transmission Line / Substation Structures) – AL – 5172

Colin

Outside Sales – CO - 5036

Switchgear/Transformers Quotations – Tampa, FL – 5146

Applications Engineer – NY / NJ Area – 5171

DOE Eases Requirements in Final Transformer Efficiency Standards Amid Supply Chain Strain: https://www.powermag.com/doe-eases-requirements-in-final-transformer-efficiency-standards-amid-supply-chain-strain/?oly_enc_id=1249D5894712F7U

EV charging lots will never replace gas stations: Blink CTO Harjinder Bhade on the infrastructure we actually need: https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/storage/vehicle-to-grid/ev-charging-lots-will-never-replace-gas-stations-the-path-to-the-infrastructure-we-need-with-blink-cto-harjinder-bhade/?

DOE allocates $15 million to establish university-based electric power cybersecurity centers: https://industrialcyber.co/utilities-energy-power-water-waste/doe-allocates-15-million-to-establish-university-based-electric-power-cybersecurity-centers/

NIST updates cybersecurity framework: https://www.controlglobal.com/industry-news/news/33038620/nist-updates-cybersecurity-framework

Robotic Automation and Industry’s Changing Future: https://www.automationworld.com/factory/robotics/article/55017938/robotic-automation-and-industrys-changing-future

How IoT Sensors and AI are Revolutionizing Smart Buildings:https://www.buildings.com/smart-buildings/iot/article/55010925/how-iot-sensors-and-ai-are-revolutionizing-smart-buildings