Tim Ansell, 28
Outside Sales
World Electric Supply
Tim joined World Electric Supply—and the industry—in June 2019. “I spent my first year going through Sonepar’s STEP (Sonepar Training for Emerging Professionals) training, which is a year-long rotational program where you spend time with all departments of a distributor learning the ins and outs of how the business operates,” he recalled. “After that first training year I did inside sales for two years and then was promoted to my current role of outside sales, where I’ve been for a little over two years now.”
Tim describes himself as “one of the folks that can say ‘I wandered into the industry,’” he said. “I was close to graduating with my Business Management degree from the University of North Florida and, without a clue of where I wanted to work, attended the UNF career fair. After introducing myself to every business I recognized, I decided to stop at the table with a few guys that had been watching me bounce around every table but theirs that morning.”
“Once the conversation started, I must’ve been at their table for an hour; hearing stories of these guys starting off as delivery drivers and working through the ranks to their current roles of branch managers and the breadth of products they offer was all new information to me,” Tim continued. “I could see the passion and fulfillment they had from their jobs and was already thinking this could be the spot for me. One of the main selling points that appealed to me as a new hire was there is always more to learn—from product advancements to selling strategies—at a company that is continuing to innovate in solution services to benefit the customer. Another appealing aspect as a new hire was the tenure of my coworkers: An entire branch of people that have been in the industry for decades and are willing to teach a newcomer the lay of the land meant a lot to me and I believe has put me in the position I have today.”
Tim noted that what continues to appeal to him is the constant goal of being the go-to resource for his customers. “This is a competitive industry to be in and you must stay sharp to keep customers trust and provide value and outstanding customer service,” he said.
Asked about a challenge the industry is currently facing, Tim pointed to the aging workforce. “My experience is on the distributor side, but I hear the same thing from my customers and reps that it’s increasingly difficult to find young employees that want to grow with a company,” he explained. “There are so many opportunities within a distributor it’s just a matter of finding the right fit of person to fill those roles. I’m meeting this challenge in a couple different ways, one is by setting the example that by applying yourself and taking advantage of opportunities anyone can reach their goals even if they are unfamiliar to the industry. But the main way I am attacking this challenge is by attending career fairs with World. I met World at my University’s career fair, so I’ve always been happy to help the recruiting process of new talent.”
Tim’s next career goal is more of a long-term goal: to continue to improve his skills and add feathers to his cap. “As an outside salesman, there is always something to learn and I try to stay as proactive as possible,” he noted.
What would Tim tell someone new to the industry? “I would tell them the same thing that was told to me: Be a sponge for information,” he said. “This can be a complicated industry and the only way to learn it is to jump in and ask questions. I’m very fortunate to work alongside some amazing people and wouldn’t be where I am today without the help of others sharing what they know.”
When he’s not at work, Tim participates in activities that give him more time with his wife and daughter. “We’ll go fishing or to the beach. My two-year-old daughter loves our dog, so we spend a lot of time at dog parks so she can chase him around,” said Tim, adding “We’re expecting another daughter in March, so any other available time is being spent preparing for a new little one!”
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.
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