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Introduction
For Andrew Prichard, the name of the game is growth. Whether it’s his own growth and development from a sales trainee to the general manager of our northeast region, or the growth Rittal fosters by putting employees in a position to succeed, a progressive path toward goals and accomplishments that empower the people of Rittal is part of what inspires Andrew to give it his all each and every day. And after more than two decades with Rittal, his drive to develop and grow is just as fervent today as it was when he joined our team.
How long have you worked at Rittal?
21 years.
Tell us about your education and career leading up to your current role. What did you study, and what other roles have you held?
I was hired by Rittal as a sales trainee right out of Wittenberg University in late 2000. At the time, the Rittal US headquarters was located in Springfield, Ohio where Wittenberg University is located. I have had multiple sales roles during my time at Rittal including inside sales, outside sales, product specialist, regional sales director and now General Manager. I have a degree in history from Wittenberg which, amongst other uses, comes in handy to impress others while we are watching Jeopardy.
What inspired you to pursue a career with Rittal?
The people at Rittal inspired me to pursue a career here. When I interviewed, Rittal was in a significant growth mode of revenue and personnel. There were a lot of new team members and roles that were being added at the time. The energy and excitement from the people really inspired me to want to be a part of the future of Rittal. Throughout my 21 years, the people at Rittal continue to inspire me.
What's the coolest project you're currently working on?
A customer who manufactures automated retrieval systems for grocery stores. This type of system is changing the future of the way we will shop at grocery stores. We have been working on this application for six years and are now getting to see how the systems operate. It has been a great experience to see this company as a start up with a handful of employees to grow into who they are today.
Who or what inspires you?
People who are passionate about their interests. Most people have something they are individually passionate about like a hobby, charity, job, family, etc. Being around someone who is truly passionate about their interests is really inspiring to me.
Do you have any advice for new hires at Rittal?
There are two pieces of advice I would share with new hires. First, reach out and get to know as many people as you can at Rittal. There are so many great people willing to help with a lot of different experiences that can be support and resources to a new hire. Second, as you grow at Rittal, spend time learning other parts of the company outside of your discipline to broaden your knowledge and allow your expertise to be well-rounded.
What does true leadership mean to you?
In my opinion, the best leaders are usually great simplifiers, effective communicators and ones who find an opportunity in every challenge, failure, or success. True leadership to me is the philosophy of servant leadership. Leading by serving others through encouragement, support, help and challenging them to achieve their goals. I have been fortunate enough to experience this type of leadership in my career from my leaders and mentors.
What has been the proudest moment of your professional career?
My proudest moment is when I was promoted to an outside sales position. I had started my career as a sales trainee and when I was promoted, I had achieved my first professional goal.
What do you do for fun?
My family and I really enjoy traveling together. Also, we live in a great area for outdoor activities such as metro parks, amusement parks, baseball games and horse racing. Our two teenage daughters are very active in sports and music. We get to enjoy their activities and spend a lot of family time together.
Join our team and discover how rewarding a career with Rittal can be!
