Ryan Sierra, 34
Business Development Specialist
NorthEast Electrical
Ryan started his career in the industry when he took a counter sales role at NorthEast Electrical’s Lawrence, Mass., branch in November 2022. He was promoted to business development specialist after seven months and officially started in that role four months later when a replacement was found for his counter position.
“I have a friend who has worked in the industry in a variety of roles for his entire career. He was constantly telling me this was a good, stable career with good benefits and lots of advancement opportunities. These attributes were what I was looking for,” Ryan recalled. “I was on Indeed and saw an opening in Lawrence, which is about 15 minutes from my home. I applied and the rest is history!”
Ryan noted that the constantly revolving product lines help keep him excited about his job. “Learning keeps me stimulated and new product knowledge is a great tool for developing business,” he said, adding “I love outside sales as it gives me great freedom and allows me to use my outgoing personality daily. My goal is simple: Work hard, succeed, and provide for my family. This job can be extremely demanding, but I accept it as great on-the-job training that will carry over for the rest of my career.”
Asked about a major challenge in industry, Ryan pointed to the aging workforce and trouble finding young, talented new hires. “We must be technical experts in a complicated industry as well as great salespeople in a saturated market,” he explained. “We must constantly train and evolve, which can be a hard sell to our youth. I believe my relatively young age and passion for my job is exciting for my superiors, as I am helping to fill this void.”
What would Ryan tell someone just entering the industry? “I will paraphrase something my sales manager, Travis McGowan, told me on my first day: Work hard, and care. Approach customers with the best customer service possible,” he said. “One of my customers described me as like one of his employees—someone they can call at any time and their needs are met. Sales jobs are full of peaks and valleys; don’t get discouraged!
When he’s not at work, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family. “Taking them to the beach, cookouts, the pool, etc.,” he said. “I go to the gym four times a week and find it keeps me very mentally stimulated. As a first-time homeowner, I also spend a lot of time doing home improvement projects, which I enjoy very much. They are a great way to teach my children valuable skills!”
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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