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I met Mike in 2011 when I was
visiting. We got to talking and a
couple weeks later, I had a job
offer that I figured would get
me by until I found a job in my
degree field.”
While the relationship with
the girlfriend ended, Hicks saw
Gondran’s potential and offered
him a salaried position. “I took
it and haven’t looked back,”
Gondran adds.
In the beginning, he was doing
basic grunt work. “I unloaded
containers of materials, helped
with burning and washing screens,
and pulledmaterial from the
shelves for orders. I didn’t find it
very intriguing, but it was a paying
job with 50-plus hours a week so
I couldn’t complain.” Over time,
as the business grew, Gondran
worked in customer service, art,
shipping, accounting and inside
sales. He’s been the national sales
manager for about two years.
In July, Gondran married 10th
grade English teacher Erica Berry.
While his life has turned out
nothing like he planned, he now
couldn’t picture it any other way.
What do you enjoy
doing when you’re
not working?
I enjoy being outdoors either
hunting or fishing. If I must
be inside, it sure is hard to
beat watching some Rangers
baseball, any college football
game, and the Dallas Cowboys.
One day I would like to be part
of a program where I could
teach inner city children about
the outdoors. Something like
“Take a Kid Fishing” or other
similar programs. The outdoors
is so peaceful and a great way
to spend time with yourself and
others. It’s perfect to take time
for personal reflection and to
remember that we are but a small
part of this world, so we need to
make the best impact we can.
What do you enjoy
most about your work?
I enjoy not doing the same
thing day in and day out. At
BEST there is no such thing as
“that’s not my job.” If something
needs to be done, you just do it.
So every day is different, which
keeps things interesting.
Who has had the
biggest influence on
your professional
career and why?
Mike Hicks. Since day one,
Mike has encouraged a fun work
environment and is never too
busy for anything. It didn’t take
long after being hired to tell that
Mike had the respect of every
employee in the building, and the
entire company had a “bring it on”
attitude. I really liked the culture.
I recognized that this was such a
positive environment, completely
opposite of my previous job where
it was all about numbers. Mike has
moldedme and built me up from
the very bottom. It has taken years,
but he was there for me every step
of the way.
The other person who has
had the biggest influence on
my professional career would
bemy late grandfather, Edwin
Johansson. Froma very young
age, hemade sure that I knew it
doesn’t matter what you are doing,
just do it the best you can. Give it
your all. It doesn’t matter if your
job is to lick and seal envelopes
at the post office, just be the best
in the world at what you do. I
try to live by that every day.
What motivates you in
business and in life?
Fear. Fear of failing. Fear of
becoming stagnant. Fear of not
living up to my potential. Many
people view fear as a negative
thing or as a weakness. I use my
fears to push myself forward.
Fear drives me every day. It can
be healthy to be fearful.
What is your
greatest professional
accomplishment?
Getting out of my own way.
I was my own biggest enemy
for a very long time. Instead of
executing a good plan today, I
would be hesitant to act until
the plan was perfect. Too often
the time of opportunity passed
by the time the plan was perfect.
So, instead of making sure
everything is just right, now I
have the ability to say this is a
good plan, and execute it.
This is definitely my greatest
professional accomplishment.
What advice would
you give to an industry
newcomer?
Be genuine and transparent.
Building relationships is key to being
successful in this industry.
Julie Richie is associate
editor for
PPB
.
The couple enjoy a recent
hunting outing. An avid
duck hunter, Gondran avoids
shaving or getting a haircut
between August and December
19 (his birthday) to better
camouflage himself, a tradition
he started with a group of
hunting buddies in college.
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DECEMBER 2016
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