Inluences that have impacted my Style

I'll break this into several posts - As I started writing this I realized there is just too much to cover in a single post: The first series is for people that have had a big impact on my career and my life, The second is for books and/or training that has had a similar impact and finally, I'll cover events that have had a similar impact.

PEOPLE: First, I want to make it clear that nearly all of my colleagues and co-workers have made me better. If you don't see your name on this list, please understand that I can't list absolutely everyone as I'd like to - but I truly believe that every interaction leaves us changed and I have been blessed to be surrounded by incredible coworkers throughout my career!

(Leaders) The first section will cover people that I've reported to - I refer to them as Leaders rather than supervisors or managers, because that's what they did: Lead their teams and organizations to better performance. I'll start with Dale Mauro: Dale was a true leader in every sense of the word - I reported to Dale in my first job out of college and it's funny now as I look back that I realize that Dale was just a few years older than me, but at the time he seemed to have immeasurable experience and wisdom that he shared freely. Dale was gregarious, outspoken, and always seemed happy. I don't recall Dale ever responding in anger! - I in contrast was a fiery young salesperson eager to prove my value and frequently lost my temper with support team members, suppliers, and even customers. If you've worked with me later in my career and are thinking - "that doesn't sound like the Andy I worked with" - well except maybe you Danny Hampton , you've got Dale Mauro to thank. Dale taught me that it's fine to be frustrated but being under control and keeping your "game face" on even with the internal team is important. Sadly, Dale passed away leaving behind a young family while I was still at this first job. I'll forever be thankful for Dale's early influence on my career and the world lost a great man far too young when he passed.

Bob Allemeier (I'm linking his son Michael, because sadly - Bob is no longer with us either Michael Allemeier CMC ). I met Bob at my 3rd job out of school - I skip over my second job as while I learned a lot there, most of it was through experience and not through the influence of mentors. Bob was thoroughly German in his thinking and his style and he brought more process and precision to my game. I have fond memories of working for Bob and I repeat several of his lessons to my teams to this day. I can still hear Bob saying: "You owe your respect to the people who arrived on time, not those that are late" when I kick off a meeting or training on time with several people still missing from the room! The funny thing is it works! Once a group or team realizes that your sessions will start on time, people do their best to be there on time! Joanne Botka , I remember you once commenting on how my training always seemed to start and finish with more precision than others when I was at Parker - Bob Allemeier is the reason why! Bob also really taught me to enter Sales Meetings with a plan and a desired outcome - he was much more structured than I was (or am) but his influence made me a better Salesperson and on top of that I truly enjoyed his company! I stayed in touch with Bob for many years after I left the company we worked at together but eventually lost touch - I was saddened to learn of his passing after the fact as I would have loved to pay my last respects - On Time - Of course!

Steve MacKenzie , Steve taught me more than I think he knows. Steve hired me to open a Vancouver branch of his company Micro Drives Canada Inc. It was an incredible opportunity when I was still only 25 years old! Steve saw my potential and let me start a branch location from scratch! I opened the office and hired a team, kicking things off and replicating the model that had been successful for Steve in the Toronto area headquarters. Steve taught me how to manage without micromanaging - he held me accountable for the results of the branch location without trying to second guess every decision. In the end, a series of negative events led to a cash crunch that ended in the demise of Micro Drives, but I frequently tell people that I learned more in that Cradle to Grave experience in that branch leadership role than I did in my MBA that I completed several years on. Oddly though, people don't respect or understand the value of the "University of Startup" as much as a sheepskin. I've stayed in touch with Steve and enjoy visiting and texting frequently and consider him one of my oldest and closest friends - How's that for a great outcome from a failed business?

Moving along to my first job in the United States, it's where I met John Liou and entered the Industrial Automation field for the first time. John, probably unintentionally, taught me a lot about cross-cultural interaction. It was in this role that I completed my first trips to Asia - traveling with customers to the company's headquarters and occasionally to internal meetings in Taipei as well. I don't think it was John, but I do remember some executives at this company encouraging me to take James F. Berding out for entertainment in Taipei - It was a real balancing act keeping things professional for Jim and John M. Zurborg , and trying to make the company leadership accept that I was doing the right thing by NOT engaging in what they proposed. Many years later and many trips back to APAC - I thank John for his influence and my time under his leadership and for helping me transition from being a "PC Guy" to being an "Automation Guy" - I really don't think I'd be where I am today with the extensive International and Automation experience that I have without my time at Advantech!

I'm going to include James F. Berding , Jay Vierling , Mark Smith , Jim Foley - Founder the Foley Group Consulting , Mike Budai , Jerry Koch , and Mark Cunningham (who oddly I'm not connected to on Linkedin and I can't find!). While I officially reported to Mark Cunningham my next career stop was instrumental in my development and all of the people listed played a part! The CTC organization was the most professional that I'd ever interfaced with in my career! Everyone at CTC was at the top of their game from the development team to product management and marketing and the sales team itself. I came to CTC more mature and seasoned than I was at some of the earlier companies, but I also learned more and continued to develop my style: Jim Foley - I still use and teach methods inspired by your 10 - 10 - 10 system to this day. Jim Berding - I'm not sure you realize how strong a mentor you were to me and how much influence you had on my career - all without ever being a "formal" mentor. Mark Smith - it's great that we still connect from time to time - I also appreciated your mentoring both formal and informal! - Jerry Koch - You were my model when I moved into Product Management - WWJD for me was What Would Jerry Do? and you made me better from afar! Mike Budai - What can I say? I got to collaborate with you in so many different ways in so many different roles over the years - It was always a pleasure! and finally Jay Vierling your decisive action that brought me to CTC after I phoned to let you know that I'd decided to leave my prior employer taught me how to be more decisive in my actions as well!

John Guite , Sadly John is another influencer who is no longer with us! John was thrust into the dual role of Engineering Manager and Marketing Manager at Parker EMN around the time of the Great Recession or Global financial crisis. At the time, I was working remotely from my home office before it was cool!: Supporting the CTC Product Management role. John asked me to take on responsibilities beyond my HMI and SCADA focus. I clearly remember telling John that I wasn't a motion guy - I was an agile software and discrete control guy and him assuring me that he had the confidence that I could add value to the role and that I'd pick up what I needed to know. I also remember him being self-deprecating and saying he wasn't a Marketing guy but he was going to lead that function too. John, thank you for believing in me and my ability to stretch - you helped me expand my own view of my capabilities. Without this nudge from you, I'd never have the stories of the ACR-9600 rollout with Jim Wiley ! (Maybe I should start a series of articles on stories from the field - Or maybe what happened in the field should stay in the field)!

I'll stop here (even though there are still some more recent influencers - they will have to wait until some point in the future!) and will continue the People section with Colleagues and direct reports who have had a strong influence and will finally add a People post on others from Partners and customers.