CHRIS ENGEL – CEO AND FOUNDER OF CANOCO

Welder by trade turned into an entrepreneur, experienced operational and project management leader adept at driving exceptional results in executive settings through team building and strategic leadership. Skilled in navigating fast-paced, detail-oriented industries to deliver successful projects by leveraging collaboration and industry expertise. Expertise in maximizing profitability, operational efficiency, team development, safety compliance, and stakeholder engagement.

Chris Engel’s Journey:

• Chris started as a welder, became a journeyman at 19, and worked under various leaders, particularly in the oil and gas industry, which had a tough, old-school leadership style.
• At 23, Chris moved into management and led large-scale projects. His experience with a top-down, iron-fist leadership style taught him how not to treat people.
• In 2018, at age 29, Chris started his own company, Canoco Energy, focusing on building a family-oriented, people-centered culture.

Leadership Philosophy:

• Chris emphasizes the importance of listening to employees, valuing their opinions, and creating a culture where everyone feels welcome and valued.
• He believes in leading by example, maintaining an open-door policy, and continuously growing as a leader.
• Chris stresses the importance of mental health, therapy, and self-awareness for effective leadership.

Company Culture:

• Canoco Energy has a culture statement emphasizing caring and controlling the environment.
• The company's motto, "What good looks like," is a reminder to strive for excellence in both professional and personal lives.
• Chris involves families in the business, holds regular team-building activities, and ensures a supportive and growth-oriented work environment.

Advice for Aspiring Leaders:

• Learn to love and understand yourself before leading others.
• Pay attention to communication and ensure work-life balance.
• Continuously work on personal and professional growth, as a leader's energy and behavior significantly impact their team.

Books and Growth:

• Chris recommends "Frogs to Princes," a book about mental health and understanding human behavior, and "48 Laws of Power," which provides historical insights into power dynamics.
• He also mentions "The Art of War for Managers," a modern interpretation of Sun Tzu's classic text, focusing on peaceful conflict resolution and strategic thinking in business.

JR Hill is a Florida-born native with roots in both Florida and Illinois. JR started working at age 15 in high school and has been working ever since. At 19, he began his career at FedEx as a package handler overseeing the evening package sort. This role was his first taste of leadership, shaping his career trajectory.

Over the next 11 years, JR held various positions within FedEx, spanning operations, leadership, and sales. These roles allowed him to build a strong foundation in leadership, preparing him for future challenges beyond FedEx.

For the past 8+ years, JR has held various roles at Badger Infrastructure Solutions. His roles have included Area Manager, District Manager, and currently, General Manager of Northern California and the Locate Services Division. In addition, JR has served on the company’s emergency response team as incident commander, operations manager, and dispatch manager.

JR is married to his high school sweetheart and enjoys golfing on the weekends and traveling with his wife, Vanessa. JR recently completed his bachelor’s degree in business and is currently pursuing an MBA."

PODCAST SUMMARY AND MAIN TAKEAWAYS

In this interview, JR Hill discusses his career trajectory, beginning at FedEx and evolving into various leadership roles at Badger Infrastructure. He emphasizes a pivotal moment when a manager’s tough feedback reshaped his understanding of leadership, highlighting the importance of supporting and engaging his team effectively.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leadership Evolution: JR’s leadership style transitioned from being a friend or a buddy to truly supporting his team.
2. Pivotal Moment: A critical conversation with a manager emphasized the importance of the team’s perception of leadership. Being a leader is about growing and developing your team members, getting to know them as individuals and taking an individual approach to leading them.
3. Authenticity, Trust and Vulnerability: Embracing authenticity and vulnerability has been crucial for building trust and effective leadership. JR learnt early that acknowledging that he doesn’t know everything, and he doesn’t have to fix everything actually bring more engagement and collaboration in the team.

Also leading by example, acknowledging his failures and inviting a collaborative approach to moving forward from mistakes brings psychological safety and respect to the team.

1. Continuous Learning: JR values continuous learning from both his experiences and his team members.
2. Empowering Others: He believes in recognizing and developing potential in others, significantly impacting their careers and lives.

In this podcast from Sage and Summit, the conversation features Trevor Muir, co-founder and past CEO, and current president of SurePoint Group. He shares insights about his leadership journey, particularly focusing on how he led his team through significant challenges with authenticity, vulnerability, and a core value of caring.

Three Core Learnings:

1. Authenticity and Vulnerability as Leadership Strengths:

• Trevor emphasizes the importance of being genuine and transparent with his team. He shares how his willingness to be vulnerable and admit his uncertainties helped build trust and rallied his team during crises. He believes that being true to oneself is crucial for effective leadership.

2. The Power of Caring and Community:

• The foundational core value of "we care" at SurePoint Group played a pivotal role in navigating through tough times. Trevor highlights how caring for each other and the community can be a competitive advantage. By focusing on this value, the organization was able to pull together and support each other through financial and cultural challenges.

3. Facing Challenges with a Collaborative Approach:

• Trevor's approach to handling crises involved open communication and involving the entire team in decision-making processes. Whether it was the financial struggles of 2013 or the COVID-19 pandemic, he gathered input from his team, vendors, and clients, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and teamwork. This collaborative effort was instrumental in overcoming obstacles and emerging stronger.

Trevor’s journey underscores the importance of leading with heart, being open about challenges, and building a culture rooted in genuine care for people.