Innovation Overload

Innovation is how you make something better for somebody.  Whether it's a very simple solution or a very complex solution, how can you make it faster, simpler, and easier to implement. Chris Lamb, Hilti North American Trade Marketing Manager, embodies this ethos, championing solutions tailored to the nuances of the electrical and mechanical trades. This episode of Innovation Overload explores the importance of understanding your customers and embracing how technology has reshaped the construction landscape.  Chris discusses the value of a customer-centric approach that transcends simply providing a service to instead foster genuine partnerships aimed at catalyzing growth and elevating safety, speed, productivity, and profitability across all organizations.  He shares transformative innovations spanning products, processes, and technology, empowering contractors to curb theft, eradicate downtime, overdrive ergonomic safety, and optimize resource allocation to scale their businesses.

“Innovation can be defined in a number of different ways. I think it can be tangible in terms of a product that you are actually using that is very different than anything you've seen before.  I think for me, I work for a company that is very innovative and we breathe the culture of that but for my day-to-day, it's really innovation in the way you approach things, your thought process.  Be ok with trying different things." Sarah Bardot, Director of Electrical Trades, Milwaukee Tool joins the Innovation Overload  Podcast and discusses networking, mentorship,  collaboration, and taking note of those who have paved the way in our industry.

One aspect often overlooked is the importance of relying on your peers. Don't hesitate to pick up the phone and reach out to someone. We're here to uplift the entire industry, and if we can offer assistance, we're more than willing to do so."  Join Jared Christman, Director of Innovation and Technology at Big State Electric, and Sean Lazarian, CFO of ESSCO, as they share valuable insights and learnings from their experiences at the inaugural NECA EMERGE Conference.

"Don't be afraid to fail.  Let's throw things out on the table, let's brainstorm.  I really try to empower everyone within our organization to think outside the box.  To not just do what we always have done.  We need to move the needle a bit every single day," Adam Rude, ERMCO.  In this episode of NECA's Innovation Overload learn how beneficial student chapters are and where they can take you.

“You have to be open minded and look at problems as opportunities if you want to have a culture of innovation.” Curtis Harbour, Senior Vice President at The Brandt Companies joins the Innovation Overload Podcast to offer invaluable insights into strategies and techniques for cultivating a culture of innovation within a company. His discussion extends into the intricacies of team dynamics, highlighting the importance of recognizing and utilizing their strengths and explores how behaviors and relationships within the team can contribute to elevating creativity and productivity to unprecedented levels.

We're looking at an estimated 1.5 million skilled tradesman shortage over the next 10 years.  We really have to leverage all of the advanced technologies that are becoming available to fill that gap.  As a contractor you need to be nimble and you have to be able to identify the opportunities within this marketplace and adapt. Collin Weiner, President of CalEnergy Corporation, teams up with Jared Christman, Director of Innovation and Technology at Big State Electric, and Sean Lazarian, CFO of ESSCO, on this Contractor Takeover episode of Innovation Overload.  Together they offer a contractor's perspective on the pivotal technologies fueling America's drive towards electrification and the imminent era of intelligent, interconnected structures. Check out their insights on highlights from the NECA 2023 Convention, the paradigm shift towards automation tools to streamline workflows, the mainstream integration of AI solutions to amplify productivity, and the transformation of futuristic concepts such as microgrids into tangible market opportunities for contractors to expand their capabilities and evolve their businesses.

“I think the younger generation is definitely where you want to start, you want to start in middle school and high school.  I was a sophomore in college before I got into Construction Engineering.”  Join the contractor Takeover as Jared Chrisman, Director of Innovation and Technology at Big State Electric, and Sean Lazarian, CFO of ESSCO interview the student chapter finalists of the Electrical Contractor Innovation Challenge to discuss their individual journeys and explore what motivates them and younger generations to get involved in the construction industry. 

“Coming here really opens up your knowledge to a lot of product that you didn’t know about, which is huge for us!” Mike Oakes, President of First Choice Electrical Solutions and Andy Sellers, Management Executive at Quality Electric join Sean Lazarian to discuss valuable tips, strategies, and experiences they’ve had attending the NECA Annual Convention.

Definitely plan your schedule out for conventions, look for what's going to make you happiest and get you the most productive.  Join Innovation Overload as we hit the road to the 2023 NECA National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.  Gain insights from Todd Reed, the host of Graybar's Keepin' The Lights On podcast and a corporate innovation expert, as he shares his expert tactics for conference readiness and time optimization at meetings and events.  Discover his invaluable approaches to absorbing knowledge, fostering post-event discussions, and capitalizing on the in-person experience. In this episode, two introverts share their best tips for enhancing engagement and fortifying connections to elevate your personal and professional innovation journey.

"Innovation to me is the opportunity to think, to explore, and to take risks in an effort to solve a challenge, remove an obstacle or optimize a process." Dr. Pauline Mosley, Full Professor, Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems for Pace University discusses part of being an innovator is to be a mental gladiator, having fortitude and resilience.  Listen to Dr. Mosley discuss closing the Stem gap.