Maggie McGurk, 35
Commodities Manager
Van Meter Inc.
Maggie got her start in the industry in 2010, in an outside sales position with DWC, a master redistributor of cable in Denver. “I had a good friend/college classmate who was working there,” she recalled. “She was the only outside sales resource at the time and every time I saw her, she would try and convince me how much I would like it. I finally took her advice and applied. When I was offered the job, I wasn’t even sure what the heck I would be selling—I saw these big wooden spools in the warehouse and thought it might be rope!
“I instantly loved the people in this industry, they were genuine, straightforward, relationship focused, and enjoyable to spend time with,” she continued. “On one of my first sales calls I had a customer who told me if I lasted six months, I would be in this industry forever.’ I was 22 at the time and laughed. Now, at 35, I am thinking he might have been right!”
After two years on the road and being further away from family than she wanted, Maggie left DWC and headed back to the Midwest. “I was going to be done with the industry and go ‘make it big’ in Chicago,” she explained. I was back in Iowa for one week when I ran into a good family friend who asked what I was up to. She had made a career change and was now working at Van Meter. I had my first interview two weeks later and have had the pleasure of working with this amazing woman and many other impressive leaders and coworkers for 10 years.”
Asked what keeps her interested in electrical distribution, Maggie pointed to its history, the people, the companies, and the relationships. “There are so many people to learn from and past knowledge to acquire, but at the same time we are at a point where rapid change is happening and we need to keep up,” she said. “You not only have this wealth of knowledge to help you understand how we got here, but also this huge runway to help be a part of the needed change.”
As for challenges the industry is facing, Maggie reflected on how the past two years have opened the eyes of many as to how quickly day-to-day life can change. “As an industry we have run into supply chain issues, labor issues, changing technologies, and the consolidation of suppliers, distributors, and customers,” she said. “As someone who focuses a lot of time on supporting large mission critical projects, I am constantly trying to stay ahead of lead times and find efficiencies to help with the labor shortages. We have so many great supplier partners who have taken the time to sit down and work collectively with our teams to ensure that our customers can stay ahead of extended lead times and still have the flexibility needed to work through design changes and delays in schedules. As a company we are always discussing with our customers their challenges in the field and how we can help solve them. It’s a consistent flow of feedback and growth with every project, every customer, and every year that goes by.”
When it comes to her future at Van Meter Maggie admitted that while she doesn’t have a specific position in mind, “My overall goal will be to continue to add value to Van Meter and our customers, wherever that need may exist,” she said. “I get to work with some of the best people in this industry (coworkers, customers, reps, and suppliers) and as long as I am doing that in some capacity while helping to create growth and change, I will call my career a success.”
What would Maggie tell someone just entering the industry? “Don’t expect someone to teach you everything you need to know,” she said. “This industry is full of knowledge, but you must be the one that goes out and gets it. Spend the time to build the relationships, you will never regret the time you invest in others.”
When she’s not at work, Maggie is a busy mom. “With an 18-month-old at home and another little one on the way, my time for hobbies has definitely taken a back seat,” she said. “However, when I do get a free moment, I love being outside (hiking, skiing and being on the river), cooking, and restoring old furniture.”
Each year tED magazine recognizes 30 of the industry’s best and brightest under the age of 35. Please visit tedmag.com/30Under35 for nomination information and updates about the 2023 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2022 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, people