6 minute read
Investing in the Future
LM&M Speaks with Daniel Guajardo of Crawford Electric Supply
Daniel Guajardo is an Emerging Profession (STEP) Associate at Crawford Electric Supply, a subsidiary of Sonepar. A Texas A&M graduate with a background in finance, Daniel shares with LM&M how he found his way into the world of electrical distribution, and how hands-on training and executive mentorship, as part of Sonepar’s Training and Emerging Professionals (STEP) Program and Sonepar’s Lighting Academy, are shaping his early career.
LM&M: Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you end up with Crawford Electric Supply?
Daniel: I am from Weslaco, Texas, located in the Rio Grande Valley. I went to school at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where I got my Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. I ended up at Crawford Electric Supply out of pure good fortune. I met a recruiter at a career fair while I was trying to practice my personal pitch for the big companies like JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and Vanguard.
I ended up enjoying my conversation with the recruiter, and she told me about the Sonepar Training and Emerging Professionals (STEP) program and all that it entailed – a year long rotational program that would teach me the basics and everything I needed to know about electrical distribution.
The only thing was – I had no idea electrical distribution even existed. So there I went, researching everything I could to prepare me for my interview process. I then went on to have two phone interviews and an in-person interview with the executive leadership team in Houston, Texas, at their corporate office. I performed well in the interviews and greatly enjoyed talking with all the great people that were a part of that process.
The STEP program is a rotational one. Can you walk us through the roles you've rotated through so far?
The program is composed of five rotations known as “modules” followed by an optional sixth module. The order in which we go through them are: Warehouse, Corporate Relations, Counter/Inside Sales, Quotes/ Project Management, and Marketing/Digital Solutions. The program concludes with the optional Outside Sales module.
Each module is designed to teach us from the ground up. We are tasked with recurring projects, presentations, shadowing, e-learnings, group calls with industry leaders, and much more.
What have been some of the most valuable lessons or skills you’ve gained during these rotations?
Throughout the program I have gotten the opportunity to travel to different branches in Crawford’s network, and I think the relationships I have built with different people at all the branches are priceless. Crawford is full of amazing people, from the warehouse to the executive team. Learning about them, their stories, and the work they do is something that I have the honor of carrying in my backpack of experiences for the rest of my career.
How does the STEP program support your professional growth outside of the day-to-day responsibilities (e.g., mentoring, leadership access)?
Every STEP associate is given a mentor on the executive team. I had the honor of being the mentee of Jenny Conway, the Vice President of Marketing for Crawford Electric Supply. Jenny challenged me and guided me through the program better than any other. Her mentorship shaped me into the professional I am at Crawford, and she deserves the upmost praise for her excellent work.
While in the program, I also had the opportunity to meet regularly with other leaders, such as Richard Landry (VP of Industrial Sales), Martin Martinez (VP of Sales), Mark Ganucheau (VP of Finance), and Mike Dumas (President). Everyone is very determined to aid the next generation, and they are willing to set aside their valuable time to share their experiences and learned lessons.
Not every fresh college graduate has the opportunity to freely speak to the executives of any company, let alone a $2 billion company!
You’re also participating in the Sonepar Lighting Academy. What kind of topics or skills are being emphasized in this training?
The Sonepar Lighting Academy, which is led by Bob Preston and Marc Hodges, allows associates in Sonepar to learn the basics of lighting. This ranges from lighting vocabulary to different types of fixtures and their applications, the benefits of different lighting warmth for attentiveness and relaxation, controls, and the savings that can be found by switching to LED. The course is designed to help anyone, no matter their experience, understand the basics of lighting and the opportunities it holds.
You mentioned that the Academy opened your eyes to the opportunities within the lighting industry. Can you elaborate on that?
Throughout my life, I never looked at lighting as more than just bulbs and light switches…until I began the Sonepar Lighting Academy. I was introduced to the use of controls and lighting design. Lighting will continue to get more intricate and complex, and there’s so much value in knowing your way around lighting controls and design. Lighting is definitely going to be around as long as we are!
How has the lighting-specific training complemented your experience in the STEP program?
I was first introduced to the Sonepar Lighting Academy when Bob Preston gave my STEP cohort a one-day lighting master class that gave us a sneak peek of some concepts and ideas we’d learn during the Lighting Academy. I was intrigued and decided to join this year’s class.
Having exposure to the lighting side of our business is a great experience, especially this early in my career. I think it helps round me out and gives me some credibility, especially since I qualify to take NALMCO’s Certified Apprentice Lighting Technician (CALT) exam after the program and get a proper certification under my belt.
How would you describe the culture at Sonepar and how it supports learning and development?
When it comes to learning and development, I think Sonepar should be the goal that all companies aspire to. I have not only received opportunities to learn from the STEP program curriculum but also from those around the office, whether it's organized training or the ability to ask anybody a question about anything.
There are so many opportunities that are provided for self growth. One of my favorite aspects is that you can feel how everyone wants to help. There is no such thing as a “dumb” question, and I will always be helped or I will be directed to someone who will help me.
