2025 30 Under 35 Profile: Lauren Cox

Lauren Cox, 29
Branch Manager
Elliott Electric Supply

Lauren started with Elliott Electric Supply in 2017 as an intern and continued to do two more summer internships with the company around the greater Houston area.

“I found Elliott at Texas A&M University’s Industrial Distribution career fair,” she recalled. At that time, she was told Elliot wasn’t hiring in Houston but was given the Houston area manager’s number and told to give him a call. “They thought I would be a great fit for the company,” she said. “Once I began my internship, I found that Elliott had a ‘family feel’ to it and I was hooked; I knew I didn’t want to leave!”

Before moving to Nashville in 2020, Lauren began Elliot’s Leadership Development Program, where she completed NAED’s EPEC Bronze, Silver, and Gold. “Once I completed the program in 2021, I was moved to inside sales and, shortly after that, I took on my current role of branch manager of the Nashville store location,” she explained.

Asked about a challenge the industry is currently facing, Lauren said, “My store location is heavy in the residential market, so one of the bigger problems I see is the housing market. Houses are being built faster than they are being purchased and even though the interest rates are decreasing, people are still struggling to afford homes. Due to this, we have seen subdivisions and multifamily jobs being put on hold. I try to stay in the know by talking with customers to find out how their current and future jobs are going.”

For her next career goal, Lauren would like to tackle managing more than one store location. “I am prepping for this goal by making sure I train my current employees to be successful and knowledgeable, finding great new hires, and making sure logistics and inventory are under control,” she said.

What would Lauren tell someone just entering the industry? “Try to learn things on your own, but also don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially to your customers; they enjoy teaching what they do every day,” she said. “Also, walking into work with a smile will change the atmosphere of the workplace and it does make an impact on your customers. Most importantly, don’t forget to ask your customers for an order!”

In her free time, Lauren enjoys doing puzzles, cooking, fishing, grilling, tending to her garden, and taking her dog, Noodles, to the dog park. “I got Noodles from a beagle rescue a few years ago and she is my pride and joy!” she said.

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.