30 DC VELOCITY NOVEMBER 2017 www.dcvelocity.com
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QHow did the opportunity with Benjamin Moore come up?
AI had been in Plano about two weeks when I got a phone call from a headhunter at Everest Group
who had seen my résumé online. He was calling to
see if I might be interested in talking with Benjamin
Moore about a distribution logistics manager position
in Mesquite, Texas.
My interview with Benjamin Moore turned out to
be one of those interviews that were absolutely perfect.
I had been on the best team in the world—a dynamic
team, one that absolutely hit on all cylinders and where
everyone just worked so well together. After being on
one great team, I wanted to be part of another, and
when I interviewed, it became clear that this was another
dynamic team. It was evolving. It was pushing the outer
limits of doing things logistically that the company had
not done before.
QCan you give some examples?
AWell, the plan was to expand our network—our retailers—
and invest in better equipment
and technology. There was a clear
vision of where we wanted to go,
and that was to be the premier
paint company in the U.S. To do
that, you had to have the best logistics processes in place or be working toward that.
Q What skills and experiences helped you make the transition from the military to
the business world?
AI think dealing with both military and civilians throughout my time was instrumental. It really
allowed me to understand that while the two groups are
working toward the same goal, they tend to go about it
a little differently. So, you have to allow people to take
those gifts that they have and let them flourish. I was able
to hone my skills with respect to providing guidance and
providing oversight without impeding their progress or
hurting their morale.
Q What differences have you found between military logistics and logistics in the private sector?
AWhen you look at it from a logistical standpoint, there is not much difference. I almost look at the
retailers that we support as the frontline. They are dealing with the public and selling paint and paint products,
so we have to do everything in our power to ensure that
they have all those assets, all those products, so that they
can pay their bills and pay their employees and support
the public.
QHow did you find the overall transition to civilian life? Was it a difficult adjustment?
AWhen I submitted my paperwork to retire in 2013, I had roughly eight months in which to go through the
transition that the Army offers. I was mentally prepared
for it. Now, having said that, I will tell you that there
are certain aspects of the transition that are tough to get
used to. One is staying in place when you’ve been used to
moving about every three years. You’ve got to establish
some roots. I am fortunate that I have a job that I am
very happy with, but that is not the case with some people who are transitioning from the military.
Q Can you elaborate on that?
AThere are a lot of vets out there who are still unem- ployed. So, that transition is ongoing with them in a
very personal way. This is where we’ve got to get employers matched up with vets who want
jobs. The thing is, you’re not going
to find a work force out there that
is more committed, more loyal,
and that has this same level of real-world expertise. It is ready. They
just need a chance to be able to go
out and become part of another
dynamic team.
QYou spoke at a panel on the “Vets to WERC” program (an
initiative that seeks to match veterans with supply chain job opportunities) at this year’s WERC conference. How did you become a part of that?
AMy name came up in conversations with people at Benjamin Moore. We started talking, and they asked
me to be on the panel and talk about my experiences. I
just think it is an awesome program.
Q To close, what advice would you offer a veteran who is seeking a career in the private sector?
AI would say to the vets that are out there that you need to showcase who you are. Showcase what you
can bring to a company. Use all those skills that you
learned in the military. Don’t ever stop trying. There are
people out there that want to hire you.
I would say the same thing to employers. You have a
work force out there that is absolutely ready to go. And
somewhere, you have got to meet.
I am passionate about this issue because there are so
many veterans who are still unemployed despite the tight
job market. What baffles me is that there’s this group of
people from the vets side and a group of employers looking for qualified people. Somehow, they just can’t seem to
get together. So we have to be able to bridge that gap.
