Shawn Glidden, 35
Continuous Improvement Manager
NorthEast Electrical
Shawn has been in the industry since October 2021, when a few former colleagues reached out to him about an opportunity with growth potential doing something that he enjoyed doing. “I knew a lot about the industry because many of my friends are electricians in Local 103,” said Shawn. “They all spoke highly of their experiences working with NorthEast Electrical and talked about all the different projects the city has going on, and how busy they have been, making me realize that working for an electrical distributor would be a good career move for me.”
Shawn joined NorthEast Electrical the role of regional operation manager covering 10 branches in the Metro/South of Boston area. “In February 2022 I was brought into our CDC to work on a project implementation and was promoted to my current role of continuous improvement manager,” he noted.
Asked about a challenge the industry is currently facing, Shawn pointed to recruiting young talent. “We are not recruiting as much young talent as some of the other emerging industries,” he explained. “We are in a position that there is going to be a lot of people with a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience retiring, and we have to do a better job of preparing folks to take over these roles.”
Looking ahead, Shawn wants to continue and grow in the industry as much as possible. “I feel there are so many different paths you can take in this industry, but currently I am really enjoying the one that I am on,” he said. “I’d like to continue to grow my knowledge about the industry so I can broaden my scope and become the biggest asset I could possibly be to NorthEast Electrical.”
What would Shawn tell someone just entering the industry? “Be a sponge and soak up as much information as possible,” he said, adding “Make as many contacts as you possibly can. Everyone I have met in the industry is incredibly welcoming and always open to speaking to those who have questions or need assistance with anything. Then when your time comes, pass that same mentorship on to as many people as you can.”
Outside of work, Shawn— who grew up playing hockey and graduated from Daniel Webster College with a degree in Air Traffic Control—can be found cheering for his favorite team, the Boston Bruins, and traveling with his girlfriend, Nicole, and their family and friends. “I also love to golf and play as much as possible in the summer,” he noted.
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 2025 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2024 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, NorthEast Electrical, people