Month: August 2021

Dan Taylor, a Stock Room Group Leader, based in Roanoke, Virginia, has been with Altec since early 2019.

Prior to working for Altec, Dan spent time in the military as a contractor for the state department, and then he transitioned into a career in law enforcement. After years in that career, he was ready to hang it up and slow down the pace.

Discovering Altec

Dan worked at a local sporting goods store after his time in law enforcement. After noticing many people coming in with the Altec logo on their shirts, he was curious about the company and spoke to someone who told him he should apply.

“I said, ‘I don’t know nothing about the manufacturing part,’ and he said, ‘we’ll train you, just apply.’”

And that’s exactly what he did.

A Solid Foundation

Dan started in the stock room, eventually absorbing the responsibility of bringing in outside materials for the Roanoke facility. He is now a Group Leader in the stock room.

“I love it here,” said Dan. “It’s a solid foundation, and it just works. I enjoy every aspect of this company.”

Specifically, Dan loves the combination of the teamwork, people and family aspect of Altec. He also appreciates how even amid the uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shortage issues for parts, chassis and supplies, Altec kept them working so associates were able to feed their families.

“We got through the hurricanes during a global pandemic – I don’t think there’s anything this company cannot do,” said Dan.

His fellow workers are always available to lend him a helping hand, and he returns the favor, which, to Dan, says a lot about the type of people that work at Altec.

A Future at Altec

Having benefited from learning about Altec and being encouraged to apply, Dan does the same to talented people he meets.

“There’s a lot of good welders out there, and we need good welders, so I’m always trying to get a feel for where they’re at,” said Dan. “I say ‘hey, have you tried Altec?’”

Former Altec customers now work on the line, and they thank Dan for recommending Altec to them. He tells them to enjoy it and welcomes them to the Altec family.

“Now when I see a bucket truck, I want to see Altec on that boom, or I want to see Altec somewhere on that truck because I know we’re taking care of the order, and we’re taking care of the customer that’s taking care of their customer to get the job done,” said Dan.

Altec Careers

At Altec, we know if we put our minds and hearts and backs into something, we can do anything. We care about people. We look after each other.

And no matter where we go, across the nation or the globe, we know one thing holds true: our equipment, our services, and our solutions are used to advance our communities and improve other people’s lives.

Does a career at Altec seem like the right fit for you? If you’re interested in joining Team Altec, check out our current job openings here.

Recently, Altec President Jon Styslinger talked with the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) to discuss the value of exhibiting at tradeshows, the return of in-person events, what he most looks forward to at The Utility Expo (formerly ICUEE) this year and more.

Note: This article was originally published on AEM’s website on July 12, 2021.

View the full article from AEM here.

AEM: Over the course of a year or more, we’ve seen the vast majority of in-person events be cancelled or postponed to a later date. In taking a step back from being involved in these events in a traditional sense, what have you taken away from that experience, and how were you able to maintain connections with existing and prospective customers?

Styslinger: If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: The utility industry never shuts down, and it’s comprised of essential workers. And whatever other challenges the industry faces – fires, hurricanes, freezing temperatures – employees in the industry keep going to work.

At Altec, we don’t shut down either. So, when the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, we challenged ourselves to come up with new and effective ways to engage with our customers. We launched products virtually, and we worked diligently to find ways to bring value to our customers while maintaining social distancing and adhering to COVID-19 guidelines and protocols. Ultimately, we did what we had to do to connect with our customers so they could keep their fleets up and running, and we did so in an innovative and safe manner.

AEM: Now that we’ve seen things open back up and more and more events get held, what are you looking forward to in terms of being able to participate in events and connect with your customer base?

Styslinger: Exhibitions and events are a fantastic way for us at Altec to show our appreciation and express our thanks to our customers who embraced being essential workers and continued to do their jobs throughout the pandemic.
It’s really incredible what the utility industry has dealt with over the course of the last 15 months. When you consider the wildfires that ravaged the West Coast, hurricanes, freezes in the south, and even the increased prevalence of at-home work, which put tremendous pressure on telecommunications and cable television companies to increase internet speeds to meet demand, so much has happened that has challenged the industry. So, for us at Altec, in-person events provide a great opportunity to reestablish connections and relationships with customers we’ve had for years, as well as come together and say, “Wow, we’ve really been through a lot.”

AEM: As exhibitions and events continue to evolve over time, in what ways will Altec work to evolve and help ensure the company gets the most out of in-person events?

Styslinger: We just get so much out of events like The Utility Expo. They really are important for us, because the personal relationships that we have developed over the years, and continue to develop, are so, so valuable.
However, what we really want to do when attending exhibitions and events is make sure we’re disciplined and focused on having the right products, the right people and the right services that are really targeted to who will also be in attendance and – even more importantly – that those products, people and services meet the needs of our customers.

AEM: Your company has had a presence at The Utility Expo in the past when the show was ICUEE. Can you offer some insights into the value of that show for Altec, and what you’re most looking forward to at the upcoming edition of The Utility Expo?

Styslinger: The thing that’s unique about The Utility Expo is that it covers all of the utility industry. It’s the biggest and broadest show in our industry. And while our products are always the premier showcase of the show, what it really gives us an opportunity to do is to communicate the fact that Altec is a lot more than just our products. It’s about the services we can provide, our capabilities to manufacture and our ability to provide parts support. More than anything else, though, it’s about showcasing all we have to offer our customers to support them, not only when they buy the product initially, but throughout the product’s entire lifecycle.

AEM: If you could give one piece of advice to an AEM member or other prospective exhibitor who is evaluating their involvement in the Utility Expo right now, what would it be, and why?

Styslinger: Emphasize that your product truly is premier because of the critical nature of the service you provide – service, engineering support, all of the other services you build around the product – and let your customer know you’re the one who’s in position to deliver it.

AEM: Your organization has benefited from numerous opportunities with attendees of The Utility Expo in past years. What do you think the value proposition is for those who decide to invest their time and resources in attending this show?

Styslinger: Attendees of The Utility Expo get the chance to truly see the full range of equipment and accessories available on the market. In addition, the show serves as the perfect forum for attendees to network with other users in an environment where they can see, hear and learn about issues of importance for everyone in the industry.

About The Utility Expo

Formerly known as ICUEE, The Utility Expo is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends. The biennial trade show, known for equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations, takes place in Louisville, Kentucky. The next edition will be Sept. 28-30, 2021. For more information, visit www.theutilityexpo.com.