Tate Hunton, 31
Learning & Development Specialist
Border States
Tate spent most of his early career in the marketing and communications field as a generalist and manager, with some inside sales experience. “After working in a variety of different industries—including sports, fashion, distribution, the Federal Government, and even a credit union—I joined Border States in June 2022 and decided to remake my career by enrolling in the company’s Distribution Leadership Program (DLP),” Tate explained. “I graduated from the program in January 2024, at which point I entered my current role of learning and development specialist.”
Tate recalled how he found the industry: “[It was] by accident, like many others!” he said. “I was looking for a new job, and my father (who works in the battery distribution industry) was conversing with a consultant who came from the electrical distribution industry. They were talking about my job search, and he recommended Border States, remarking that if he ever went back into the industry, it was the only company he would work for. My dad forwarded me a job application for the DLP; I investigated the company and committed right then and there to starting my career over. I heard back from Shane Woerner, senior training program manager and former 30 Under 35 Honoree, within 24 hours, and the rest is history.
“Truthfully, I was blind to a lot of the industry when I first started, but I had been searching for a great company for most of my working career,” continued Tate. “Who I worked for became more meaningful to me than what I did, and Border States was the perfect fit. What continues to appeal to me about the industry is how distributors are taking on expanded roles. Vendors and customers alike are turning to distributors to fill gaps and solve problems, and the electrical distributors that rise to that challenge will be the distributors of the future.”
Asked about a challenge the industry is currently facing, Tate noted that amid the chaos and volatility of the economy and supply chain, the biggest threat is the same for most companies: The workforce is shrinking. “We are faced with solving the problem of retaining the endless knowledge that the Baby Boomer generation is retiring with while attracting new generations of workers to an industry that helps prop up this country’s infrastructure,” he said. “In my space, it begins with helping managers become equipped to lead teams that employee-owners never want to leave. It continues with helping all employee-owners tap into the version of themselves that they aspire to be. And the cherry on top is singing the praises of this great employee-owned company.”
Looking ahead, Tate reported that he wants to lead people. “I have started to equip myself for this by joining project teams within our organization and by setting development goals for myself to become more well-rounded in the HR space,” he said. “I am fortunate enough to have opportunities to grow my skill set every single day in my current role.”
What would Tate tell someone just entering the industry? “There isn’t much I can tell anyone to drastically change their outlook on their career or life, I think the right advice for one person can be wrong advice for another,” he noted. “What I prefer to do is ask a few questions: When you retire and look back on your career, would you rather say you were successful or significant? What does that mean to you? What does that mean to the people around you? What sacrifices are you willing to make or not make? And how are you going to get there?”
Outside of work, Tate is a self-described sports junkie. “I am a former hockey player and enthusiastic Dallas Stars fan. However, if I ever get a chance to control the TV remote, I often watch anything Texas Tech,” he said. “I still live in Lubbock, Texas, where I went to college, and this college town has a different feeling in the air when it is game day! I also play golf when I can and love being outdoors. That being said, most of my time outside of work is spent with my kids. Our son has autism and the journey that has taken our family on is special and coveted. The experience is leading me to look for opportunities to advocate for children like my son.”
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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 2026 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2025 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, Border States, people