Six months into his new role as Senior Vice President of North American Operations, Will W. shares his thoughts on priorities, opportunities and people.
Describe the North American operations top priorities for this fiscal year. What excites you?
We’re concentrated on the fundamentals of the business: providing a high level of service, focusing on our people and finding opportunities to grow the business.
What opportunities do you see as we work toward achieving those priorities?
There are opportunities to gain more market share in every segment of the business. As a team we have to attack potential growth from every angle.
Just as importantly, we need to make sure we are out there attracting the men and women we want to bring onboard.
At the same time, there are a lot of corporate initiatives going on that will accelerate the business forward. Just like the field is taking care of our customers, the Corporate team is working to provide tools for future growth. We’re excited to see how they all come to fruition.
Investing in our people is an important aspect of the Enterprise culture. How are we continuing to make this a priority in North America?
My goal is to provide consistent, fluid feedback to all employees. Culturally, that’s how we maintain a motivated, engaged employee base.
What advice would you give managers as they navigate their careers at Enterprise?
We are only as good as the men and women who work with us. You can’t do it yourself; you need to rely on those around you. Keeping them motivated, giving them responsibilities and providing them consistent feedback on where they currently stand. If an employee receives a note of appreciation from a customer, celebrate that success with them. If there’s opportunity to think more strategically, share your personal experience when providing that constructive feedback.
What’s something employees might not know about North American operations?
Through my time leading three North American SVP teams – and working in two other regions – I have visited more than 40 Operating Groups. One thing that remains the same on every trip is discovering the outstanding drive and talent level of our employees.
But to differentiate each visit, I always try to work in an authentic meal and taste some of the famous local cuisine. Poke in Hawaii, In-N-Out burgers in California, wild salmon in Alaska, Texas barbeque, New York pizza, chowder in Boston, mussels in Nova Scotia and on and on.