Kerith Richards, 34
Regional Sales Manager-Northeast U.S. and Canada
Service Wire
Kerith started her electrical career at Service Wire 2015 after working in the travel industry. “I was manager of VIP and small government travel for a travel agency, where Service Wire was my dedicated account,” she explained. “After working closely together, I made the transition into the electrical industry as an inside sales rep.” For about six years, Kerith managed six New England states as well as nine Canadian provinces. In the summer of 2021, she was promoted to Regional Sales Manager-Canada, where she is responsible for commercial and industrial sales in all 10 provinces.
Asked what appealed to her about the industry, Kerith said she was interested “not only in the challenge that an industry change would bring, but also the opportunity to educate myself beyond what people thought I might know when I first started. I try to participate in every training opportunity, learn everything I can about our products and competitors’ products, and educate myself on the codes and specifications so I can always be at the top of my game. I really pride myself on customer service and ensuring my customers get the most from their buying experience.”
Kerith said that transitioning from face-to-face selling to more technology-based interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge. “In my position, I’m working to overcome this hurdle by improving customer service levels,” she said. “This has opened the opportunity to communicate more frequently and at a more personal level as we all navigate through this challenging time together. I’ve had to think outside the box and find more creative ways to educate customers and sell our products.”
As for her future career goals, “Whatever God has in store for me, I will welcome,” said Kerith. “I always want to grow, advance, and find opportunities for Service Wire and myself. I want to continue gaining market share in the Canadian provinces. I love my customers in all my markets and continuing to strengthen and flourish those relationships is most important to me right now.
“One thing that will always be important to me is education and dedication,” she continued. “I know if I work hard, continue to educate and challenge myself, and hustle, I will be successful. With Service Wire, I know the sky is the limit, so I welcome any opportunity to show how grateful I am they took a chance on me.”
Asked what she would ask someone just entering the industry, Kerith said “It sounds cliché, but I’d tell people to stop and smell the roses. We’re so lucky to be a part of the growth of America—whether it be solar farms, condominiums, or food packaging plants. Our industry plays a large role in that development across all markets. The industry is fast-paced, challenging, and can rattle your cage, but it’s important to make time to think about the positive experiences you get to be a part of every day.”
When she’s not working, Kerith enjoys cooking with her husband. “We try to have a themed date night every month where we make a menu from a different country. That’s been a lot of fun,” she laughed. “We also have three dogs that keep us really busy, and I enjoy spending time with family and friends and cheering on the Baltimore Ravens!”
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 2021 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2021 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, people