Best Practices

I am happy to be joined by the engineering mentor, Sol Rosenbaum.  Sol brings home the bacon via his commercial real estate engineering firm. We get that towards the end of the episode, but the bulk of what we'll talk about is his passion project, mentoring young engineers.Entry level roles for up and coming professionals has come up repeatedly on this show and in this episode, we'll look at this idea from the opposite end, specifically the skills, tactics, and strategies that can be useful for engineering students or young professionals as they begin their careers.In this discussion, you'll discover:Sol's journey to becoming a mentor to young engineers...01:30The most important thing for a young engineer job seeker toremember...05:15Communication skills are just as important as your network...07:30Toastmasters a terrific tool to increase public speaking and communication skills...10:05The best ways to begin building your network...12:30Introverts can succeed in building a great network!...16:00Ways for a new job seeker to set themselves apart from the rest...22:10Which certifications and licenses should you pursue?....27:00Recruitment strategies for firms who are looking for quality employees...32:00The unique services Sol provides with his company, SR Engineering...35:30And much more!Resources mentioned:ToastmastersThe Fine Art of Small TalkNever Eat AloneAbout the guest:"The Engineering Mentor" It's about realizing that the skills and credentials that truly matter in having a successful engineering career are not necessarily the ones thateveryone thinks they are.I went to an Ivy League school and have a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering. I have over 17 years experience in the mechanical/energy engineering field. Along the way, I gained several solid licenses/certifications; most notably my PE (Professional Engineer) and CEM(Certified Energy Manager) licensure. So you'd think I have it made, right? Well not exactly. As I have reached greater and greater success in my career, I have come to understand that it is just the foundation. To truly build a successful career, you need other skills that I call one's “peripheral” skills. What are these skills? They are primarily:Developing a network – Do you know that most jobs are attained through connections. Do you have these connections to find a good job? What would you do if you were fired tomorrow?Social/communication skills – Public speaking, writing, making first impressions, interviewing with confidence etc.Continuing education, licensing – Not all licenses are created equal. It's important to know how to determine the valuable ones and not waste your time on secondary ones.Over the years, I have been helped along by many great bosses &supervisors who have been mentors to me.Southpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/

Diana Meneses is the Marketing Director at Donnelly Energy.  She joins our host, Jared Wall, on the show to shares insights into her area of expertise - brand development & marketing.  It's a fun chat between these two long-time energy efficiency industry insiders.  Follow Diana as well as Donnelly Energy at the links below:Diana Meneses on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianameneses/Donnelly Energy: https://www.donnellyenergy.com/Southpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/Southpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/

A great conversation with Adam Weltz, President and CEO of Criterion Labs.  This is a fascinating story about the founding of a business, that business's passing from father to son, and the entrepreneurial realities & challenges that often go underappreciated.Our host, Jared Wall, learns a great deal about what goes into managing the ubiquitous presence of health & safety hazards such as asbestos & lead that are often found in older buildings.  Thanks to the work of Adam and his team, parents of the Philadelphia School District can rest assured that the dangerous materials surrounding their children is meticulously monitored for potential problems.Criterion Labs: https://www.criterionlabs.com/Adam Weltz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-weltz-75240626/Southpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/

Paul Chamberlain is a serial entrepreneur with a fascinating story.  As founder, president & CEO of Linmore LED Labs, he shares the interesting path that led to his current role leading one of the premier LED manufacturing companies in the world.  We delve into the engineering & design components that fuel Linmore's “lowest cost-of-operation” luminaires, their experience acquiring another lighting company, relocating manufacturing lines into the US across international borders, why they are so passionate about manufacturing in America, and what the future holds for the world of LED lighting.Linmore LED LabsLinmore's LinkedIn pagePaul's LinkedIn pageSouthpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/

Scott Fischbuch is an expert in identifying & understanding personality types, and provides consulting services to businesses and individuals to help them overcome personality-based conflicts.  Because this is a topic that I didn't know much about, I ended up just asking a whole bunch of questions and the conversation went in a bunch of very interesting directions - which is exactly how I like it!Southpoint Solutions: https://www.southpointsolutions.com/Southpoint Solutions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southpointsolutions/Jared Wall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jared-wall-792590120/

We're diving into the world of High-Volume Low-Speed industrial fans with Bill Carlson, founder of Go Fan Yourself.This is the fascinating story of a renegade entrepreneur - how he chose the name of his company as an "eff you" to his previous business partner, how he hired a (barely) high school graduate to design his fan blades, how those fan blades became the gold-standard & first-in-class in terms of fan efficiency & efficacy, and how their technologies can even help improve stale air problems in office spaces.  After all that, the episode closes with Bill telling an absolutely HILARIOUS story from his days in the business.  Make sure to listen to the end!https://www.gofanyourself.com/products/

It's always a fun conversation with Chris Polk!  As the show's first two-time guest, Chris returns to expand on his first appearance in which he shared all about how to maximize your profits in the trucking industry.In this episode, Jared and Chris dive deeper into the tax and regulatory side of trucking, some things you may not know, and then have some fun talking about what they would do to make the roads in the US a whole lot better.Chris's previous appearance: Best Practices, Ep. 6Blue Ribbon Logisitical Solutions

Driving along the road watching the power lines go by, we all probably too often take for granted the amazing electrical grid that makes our modern lives possible.  Without the instant access and 24/7 reliability that it provides, our lives would be drastically different.Philip Wall is a former lineman and has a unique understanding of and first-hand experience with maintaining the grid's infrastructure as well as what it takes to rebuild after a catastrophic storm.Philip's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-wall315/Impressive videos of linemen:"Spacer Installation on 765,000 volt line""Helicopter Linemen"Linemen Training Program: https://www.fletcher.edu/student-services/testing/workkeys

Charles Cayce is the Regional Vice President for Property Management at InvenTrust Properties - a premier retail property management firm.  He shares his many years of experience & expertise, details the complicated nature of managing retail property, and demonstrates how the landlord/tenant relationship can one of the most beautiful examples of human and societal cooperation.InvenTrust Properties websiteCharles Cayce's LinkedIn page

There is WAY more to think about vis-a-vis roofing than you would ever think, and Jason Widener comes on the show to prove that.  In an immensely interesting and wide-ranging conversation, host Jared Wall gets Jason to share his many years of expertise, detail the wide variety of roof types & materials, explain how to think about white/reflective roofs, and offer his advice to those thinking about solar panels.Jason is a contract manager at Baker Roofing.  He and his company can be found at the links below:https://bakerroofing.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-widener-71439012/

Raj Setty, President & owner of Setty & Associates joined Jared on the podcast.  His company does all of the necessary design and engineering associated with large-scale, complex, and ultimately very impressive projects.  Their work is not always recognized despite the high-profile nature of many of their products (they're the Rodney Dangerfield of engineering firms), but in spite of that their work remains top-quality and their portfolio of completed project speaks for itself.Raj gives a brief insight into his company, shares some fun anecdotes about specific projects,  and offers some important advice.  He and Jared also spend some time reminiscing about their favorite computer games - Sim City and Roller Coaster Tycoon - two all-time classics.https://www.setty.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/raj-setty-36a7033/

Chimere Harbor has spent all of his career in the world of energy efficiency, and is now in a role seemingly tailor-made for him.  As Channel Sales Manager at Centrica Business Solutions, Chimere has become an expert on the technology behind real-time energy monitoring technology & the benefits that such data can bring to owners & managers of industrial or commercial buildings.  He joins Jared on this episode to share that expertise with the Best Practices audience.Referenced in the show:Chimere's LinkedIn pageCentrica Business Solutions - Energy Insights SolutionsPowerRadar

Jared is in the sentimental spirit on this episode as he interviews his cousin, Patrick Horan.  Patrick is a serial entrepreneur going back to when he was charging neighborhood kids for rides to & from school.  Today, he is the owner of (as of this recording) two automotive repair shops - Precision Imports in Manchester, NH and AutoWorks in Kittery, ME.Patrick and Jared start out talking about the challenges as well as the necessity of following one's own path.  Patrick then gets into all things related to the automotive repair business, how mentorship & collaborative groups have benefited him, and how to pick the right shop to take your vehicle to.https://precisionimports.com/https://auto-works.com/

Jared flies solo for the first time on this episode as he reflects on a recent trip he took to the lovely Cincinnati, Ohio to visit the impressive manufacturing campus of LSI Industries.  While on site, he got to tour their manufacturing facilities, learn about new products, walk through the testing & engineering laboratory, and gain some insight into how other lighting industry professionals think about LED luminaires.  He doesn't pull any punches on that last part, so make sure to listen to the end!https://www.southpointsolutions.com/

Bob Luddy began his business as a humble installer of kitchen ventilation hoods, and has since grown it into a market leader in both kitchen ventilation & general HVAC systems.  CaptiveAire, under Mr. Luddy's leadership, has been at the forefront of much of the technological advancement that has taken place within this world of kitchen ventilation & HVAC equipment.  More recently, Bob founded the Thales Academy, a revolutionary advancement in the world of private school childhood education and is perhaps Mr. Luddy's most important work.  Links to Bob's book, and everything else he is involved with are below:https://www.captiveaire.com/https://www.thalesacademy.org/https://mises.org/https://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurial-Life-Startup-Market-Leader/dp/0989498905/

Rod Donnelly started his company by himself and a 1974 green Ford Econoline van.  Today, his efforts have expanded from those humble beginnings to something quite a bit different (and larger) than that.  Donnelly Construction is a full service contractor based in Wayne, NJ that does some AMAZING work.  Seriously, go to their website and check out the country clubs section of the projects tab - here.  Over the course of two recording sessions, Rod takes the listeners on a ride through the history of his business, details where the company's success comes from, talks about his leadership style, gets into some of the specific "ins & outs" of the construction industry, and shares some fun & entertaining anecdotes that you're sure to enjoy!

This episode is packed with fascinating content about a world few of us know much about.  Emre Schveighoffer founded and built NRM (National Resource Management) with the goal of providing an energy efficiency solution for owners of large-scale refrigeration equipment.  In the 25+ years & 50,000 projects since, NRM's product has evolved to meet almost any refrigeration challenge.  For many of their customers, the energy efficiency savings achieved by NRM's retrofit controls system are merely the icing on the cake, the real value is peace of mind.  From protecting perishable product to allowing for more comfortable loading & inventory sessions to assistance in navigating convoluted regulatory thickets, the benefits of NRM's solutions appear to be almost infinite.https://www.nrminc.com

Richard Blackwell serves as Vice President of Development for Agracel, Inc - a premier industrial development firm that specializes in manufacturing facilities in rural communities.  Over 35 years in business, Agracel has developed over 22M sq. ft. of industrial space across 21 states, and have played a part in the creation of over 18,000 jobs! In this episode, Richard offers a history & overview of Agracel, some insight into the world of industrial development, and shares why Agracel is so optimistic regarding the rebirth of manufacturing in the USA.

Chris Polk serves as the Fleet Manager for Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions based in West Virginia.  In this episode, Chris starts off with a history of trucking going back to the "Smokey & The Bandit" days of the 1960s.  He and (host) Jared Wall then get into a conversation about Chris's history as a trucker, why he partnered with serial entrepreneur Larry Long, and what makes Blue Ribbon Logistical Solutions different.This is a fun one!https://www.blueribbonlogistics.com/ 

Dan Hooks is the owner of Charlotte, NC based Party Reflections, and is President of the American Rental Association.  His company is a premier events solutions & rental firm whose amazing work speaks for itself through hundreds of pictures on their website's gallery.   Dan joins host Jared Wall on the show to discuss:the history of his companythe past, present and future of the rentals industrythe "best practices" of renting from both the supply side & the customer sidelessons & stories from a life of entrepreneurshiphttps://partyreflections.com/https://partyreflections.com/gallery/https://vimeo.com/showcase/6825401/video/452350256

Dan Marks joins Jared on the show as they review Dan's essay titled "10 Most Common LED Lighting Project Mistakes".  This is part 2 of their conversation in which they discuss lighting project mistakes #6-10.  Again, who cares if you use Southpoint Solutions or not.  Regardless, this is all MUST KNOW information before you do move forward with such a project.https://www.southpointsolutions.com/https://www.southpointsolutions.com/10-most-common-lighting-project-mistakes/ 

Dan Marks joins Jared on the show as they review Dan's essay titled "10 Most Common LED Lighting Project Mistakes".  For time, this conversation is getting split up into two parts, and this first part deals with lighting project mistakes #1-5.  Whether or not you partner with Southpoint Solutions on your lighting project, this is all MUST KNOW information before you do move forward with such a project. https://www.southpointsolutions.com/ https://www.southpointsolutions.com/10-most-common-lighting-project-mistakes/ 

Dave Banks founded Maintenance Solutions after he discovered a revolutionary product that cuts the downtime associated with performing repairs to damaged concrete or asphalt surfaces.  He and his son, Michael join Jared on the show to talk all things concrete.  https://www.flashfloor.net/ https://www.southpointsolutions.com/

Jeff Hickman, founder & CEO of Southpoint Solutions, joins Jared on the podcast to discuss his history, entrepreneurship, LED lighting, and what the future looks like for the world of LED lighting & energy efficiency.https://www.southpointsolutions.com/