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4.
5. CONNECTIONS
CONTENTS
Connections is a publication of HD Supply Electrical.
HD SUPPLY ELECTRICAL
2902 South 44th Street • Phoenix, AZ 85040
602.426.1377
Publisher
INNOVATIVE PUBLISHING INK
w w w. i p i p u b l i s h i n g . c o m
To advertise in Connections, please contact
Richard Ochsner at 520.546.0623.
WINTER 2007
Connections 5
FEATURES
16 Humuhumunugous Fun
Whether or not you can properly pronounce the name of
Hawaii’s state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua’a, check out
the photos taken by the participants in HD Supply Electrical’s
customer incentive trip to Maui!
28 Local IEC Apprentice Electrician Competes Nationally
Grant Haughn, apprentice electrician with Alliance Service and
Control Specialists, talks with Connections about his experiences
at this year’s regional and national wire-off competitions.
EXTRAS
32 Getting & Giving Respect
Respecting others is a crucial part of success. Find out how
incorrect assumptions can lead to disrespect, and learn how
you can create a more respectful atmosphere in your workplace.
DEPARTMENTS
People to People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Mahalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Cover photo by Joe Davenport, HD Supply Electrical
6.
7. If we haven’t met already, I’d like to
take a moment to introduce myself as
the regional vice president for HD
Supply Electrical’s Western division and
the pen behind future “People to
People” columns.
My family and I packed the bags and
moved west on November 1, but I have
been traveling back and forth for a couple
of months now. I am learning the rich
history behind our Arizona business, the
relationships developed over the years
and how they have shaped the way we
work together. I am looking forward to
meeting each of you and building on
those relationships.
During my past 15 years in electrical
distribution, without a doubt, the most
rewarding part of my career has been and
still is the relationships built with associ-
ates, customers and suppliers. There’s
nothing like a professional relationship
built on trust, service, quality and value.
How do these four important attributes
contribute to our evolving businesses
today and going forward?
• TRUST that we will follow through on
our commitments and that you can
rely on us to fulfill your important
business needs
• SERVICE that consistently delivers
what you need, when you need it and
proactively provides solutions and
new ideas to help you run your
business better
• QUALITY of the sales process, the
product, order/delivery accuracy
and payment
• VALUE contained within our products,
services and personal touch
Consider this issue of Connections an
homage to our strong customer and sup-
plier relationships. The pages that follow
will photographically take you through
our annual customer rewards trip, held re-
cently in Maui, Hawaii, for one week.
I hope you enjoy what we’ve put together
— a magazine chock-full of good times
and great memories from Maui. In the fu-
ture, we will carry out this important tra-
dition through a national program called
“Connect the Customer.” Begin looking
for details on this exciting program now
and going forward!
Thanks to all of you for your contribution
to our business and for the relationships
you continue to grow with us. I look for-
ward to our combined success as we
tackle the next year together!
All the best,
signature to come
CORPORATE OFFICE/
CUSTOMER DISTRIBUTION CENTER
602.426.1377
602.426.1388 fax
DEER VALLEY
623.869.9339
623.869.6776 fax
GILBERT
480.497.1900
480.497.1780 fax
PHOENIX WEST
602.269.3301
602.269.3392 fax
SCOTTSDALE
480.368.8860
480.368.0123 fax
TOLLESON
623.907.1466
623.907.2943 fax
COTTONWOOD
928.646.5050
928.646.7103 fax
FLAGSTAFF
928.779.5194
928.779.2298 fax
PAYSON
928.474.5192
928.474.0435 fax
PRESCOTT VALLEY
928.772.7887
928.772.7006 fax
TUCSON
520.622.0068
520.622.1519 fax
Lake Havasu
928.453.9027
People to People
CONNECTIONS
VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 3
Connections 7
Dear Associates,
Customers and Suppliers,
Tim Klei
Regional Vice President
HD Supply Electrical’s
Western Division
8.
9.
10.
11. Connections 11
Greetings and mahalo to our customer and manu-
facturer friends! In case you missed the Hawaiian
translation, “mahalo” means “a very deeply felt
personal sense of gratitude.”
Having recently completed a fantastic time in Maui with so many of you (at least
the lucky 273 of you who were able to participate this time!), I wanted to thank you
one more time for making the trip possible. Thank you to our customers for anoth-
er record-setting trip attendance. That means you purchased more than ever from
HD Supply Electrical here in Arizona, and we appreciate it! Congratulations to Rex
Reinbold of AME Electrical, who won the Harley-Davidson motorcycle drawing
sponsored by Philips Lighting. All trip attendees were eligible to win the drawing
and the randomness made it exciting as we anticipated the drawing. We were all
surprised that such a well-known (or is that “notorious”?) contractor personality
wound up the chance winner. We’re all happy for you, Rex. Thank you also to our
longtime travel fulfillment partner, The Travelmart, and to our team members Meg
Fanire and Phil Kinney for working so hard to address the many details that result-
ed in the pampered feeling we all received. I hope you enjoy viewing the Maui pic-
torial trip summary story here in the HD Supply Electrical Connections magazine.
We announced in Maui a newly formatted national customer incentive trip that will
take place in less than 12 months to the Dominican Republic in October 2008. This
new format offers many benefits, including a faster-paced trip interval of just 12
months, exposure to contractors and market conditions in other regions of the
United States and a tiered structure that rewards purchase levels up to and includ-
ing earned trips. Please look for registration information on the one-page
“Connect the Customer” ad later in this issue of the magazine.
As we rapidly approach the closing days of 2007, I want to wish each of you and
your families peace and tranquility — HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
Skip Lenfest
District Manager
Southwest Region
Mahalo
17. FunEverybody had fun trying to pronounce the
popular name of Hawaii’s state fish, the
humuhumunukunukuapua’a. Most people
get as far as “Humuhumunukunuku — yada,
yada, whatever!”
Connections 17
Fun
18. 18 Connections This photo shows the winding road to Hana.
That was some kind of fun in Maui! From October 4
through October 8, 273 customers, manufacturers,
manufacturing reps and HD Supply Electrical
employees participated in our eighth customer
incentive trip. Thank you to all of our loyal customers
who have made these trips possible during the past
10 years, and thank you to our manufacturer part-
ners for covering a portion of the tab!
Our destination in Maui was the five-star Grand Wailea resort.
This location was actually selected as a close number-two
choice location by customers who attended our Mayan Riviera
trip back in 2004. Costa Rica was the number-one pick, which
we visited in 2005. Time sure does fly!
19. Connections 19
Some sought out the sunrise atop a chilly, misty and cloud-covered 10,000-foot Mount Haleakala. No sunrise was observed this time, but they had
lots of laughs and a great breakfast at 5,000 feet on the way back down.
Many people made the all-day drive on the road to Hana to observe beautiful
waterfalls that meet the ocean. This group rented motorcycles for the windy, curvy
road that makes Arizona’s 89A look like switchback child’s play.
20. 20 Connections
Thank you to the many customers who submitted
sightseeing photographs so we could include them in
our closing-night slide show. We’ve reprinted many of
those photos here in the Connections magazine so you
can enjoy them too.
The colors of fishing were incredible as displayed by Bob Swier of
RDS Electric.
Above: Jim Fetzer landed one too.
Right: The fishing was spectacular and enjoyed by several groups. Here,
Jerry Hayden of Hayden Electric reels in another one.
PhotographbyBobSwier
22. 22 Connections
Meg Fanire, our party-planner extraordinaire,
gets a hug from party co-sponsor Bob Jones
of Bob Jones and Associates.
Even the kids got into the tattoo-themed clos-
ing-night biker party.
Getting into the biker theme at the big party.
They’ve definitely got the look down pat.
Rocking on the stage with Mac of Mac’s Maniacs – our excellent party band
23. Connections 23
Our happy winner of the Harley-Davidson drawing, Rex Reinbold of AME Electrical, Phoenix
The highlight of our time together in Maui was
the closing “Born To Be Wild” biker-theme
party, where we gave away a $14,000 Harley-
Davidson Sportster motorcycle and leather
package. All customer companies who partici-
pated in the trip, including first-time atten-
dees, were eligible to win the drawing. The
winner was Rex Reinbold of AME Electrical
(Phoenix). Rex was shocked as he commented,
“I’ve never won anything!” Congratulations to
Rex and Connie.
24. 24 Connections
Thank you to everybody for making this event the
fun success that it was! Be sure to sign up for
the new national incentive trip program,
“Connect the Customer.” Your purchases will be
contributing to your eligibility for this new multi-
level rewards program, including an exciting trip
to the Dominican Republic in October 2008. Visit
hdsupply.com/electrical/connectthecustomer.html
to register and review the program rules.
Real bikers get ready to leave the resort on a trip around Maui.
Right: The pool at the Grand Wailea was huge, colorful and fun!
Below: Enjoying a sunset sail cruise
PhotographbyLindaFetzer
29. Connections 29
Local IEC Apprentice
Electrician Competes
Nationally
You may or may not know about the “wire-off” competition that takes place every
year among the nation’s regional apprentice electricians of the Independent
Electrical Contractors Association (IEC). The IEC-Arizona branch is very active chap-
ter. Each March, HD Supply Electrical works with IECA to host an event that serves
as a forum for the current group of apprentice electricians to compete against one
another. Last March there were 13 apprentice competitors in the parking-lot event
at HD Supply Electrical in Phoenix. The local winner was 28-year-old Grant Haughn.
In October 2007 he had the chance to go to Houston, Texas, to compete against 28
other regional wire-off winners at the national IEC event. Congratulations to Grant
for his commitment to excellence in the electrical contracting industry! And addi-
tional congratulations for scoring sixth place in the national event. We thought it
would be fun to interview Grant so we can hear how he’s wired up!
30. 30 Connections
Tell us how you got your start down the path of becom-
ing an electrician.
My twin brother is an electrician in Sacramento, California. I
was a tire technician in 2003 and I wanted to gain experience
in something else. My brother encouraged me to become
an electrician. I had wanted to be a firefighter. With those
two options, I couldn’t decide which career I wanted, so I
actually flipped a coin. That is how I started my path of
becoming an electrician.
How long has your apprentice program lasted?
The apprenticeship is a four-year program through
Independent Electrical Contractors of Arizona (IECA).
What is the most surprising experience you have had to date as
an apprentice electrician? Anything surprising since graduation?
When I first started out as an apprentice electrician, it was a
surprise to see how much is involved in a job as far as electri-
cal. There is definitely more to it than I thought there was.
How did it feel to participate in the Arizona wire-off and then to
win the right to represent Arizona in the national IECA wire-off?
When the fourth year of the apprenticeship started, my
classmates and I were eager to participate in IECA’s wire-off
competition. After the competition happened, everybody in
my class seemed to have enjoyed the whole experience. The
competition was very fun. The whole event was very well organ-
ized thanks to IECA’s executive director, Nancy Levey. Nancy
puts a lot of time in setting up these events. The competition
included several categories, including conduit bending, a logic
diagram that we had to draw, a written test and the actual wire-
off, which included points for safety; points for our installation
meeting code; and points for neatness, measurements and
correct operation. Since I scored the most total points in the
competition, I represented Arizona in IEC’s national wire-off
competition in Houston. Several people helped me prepare for
this national competition. It was a pretty exciting experience to
compete in the national wire-off and it was also an honor to
represent Arizona. I had a fun time with the whole competition
in Houston. My competitors from all around the country had
fun as well and everybody was supportive of each other.
Were any family members able to join you on the trip to the
national competition?
My parents were able to join me in Houston inside Houston’s
Convention Center.
Did you get to do anything fun and relaxing while visiting in
Texas? How many days were you there? Did the Arizona
chapter pay your expenses for the trip, or was that up to
your employer or you or some combination of the above?
I was in Houston for five days and for the most part, I was pret-
ty busy with the competition, so I didn’t have a lot of time to do
anything else. In-West Electric paid for my airfare and IECA
paid for all other expenses for the trip. CPR Electric donated
$250 to my parents.
Was the national competition wiring schematic a much more
difficult project than the Arizona one? If so, what magnitude
of greater difficulty would you say that it is? Were there any
major surprises or stumbling blocks at the national event?
The national competition logic diagram (schematic) that we
had to draw was very challenging, especially having only 30
minutes to draw it and the small amount of information that
was given to us. I think it was a little harder than the logic dia-
gram we had to draw in the competition in Arizona. I wish we
could have checked the operation of our own projects that we
wired up. I don’t think there were any major surprises or stum-
bling blocks at the national event, although one new addition
to the competition was troubleshooting controllers that had
defective components inside the controller.
To date in your young electrician career, what is your favorite type
of wiring (i.e. residential, commercial, industrial) to do and why?
My favorite type of wiring is motor controls. Motor controls can
be very challenging. I like a challenge. I learn something new
every day when I am working with motor controls.
What company are you currently working for?
I am currently working for a company called Alliance Service
and Control Specialists. ASCS specializes in well pumps.
What observations or trends can you share about being an elec-
trician (i.e. safety, apprenticeship participation increasing or
decreasing, residential, commercial, municipal regulations, etc.)?
Some observations or trends about being an electrician that I
have noticed are the increasing number of people joining the
apprenticeship program with IECA. I have also noticed many
employers are sending their employees to other programs that
IECA has to offer, like CPR training, the Foreman Seminar,
Project Management, Estimating, Lock Out/Tag Out, OSHA
training, Code Update and much more. Another popular trend
in the electrical industry is prefabrication of the material that
many electricians use on jobsites every day.
Are you married and do you have children?
I am not married and I have no children.
What benefit do you see to being an active member of IECA?
Some benefits I see to being an active member of IECA are
increased leadership skills developed from going to IECA’s
classes, meeting new people, learning different approaches
to wiring up a building due to what vendors can offer any-
body to make the job get done more efficiently, and increas-
ing safety awareness.
Do you have any long-term goals that you’d like to share?
Right now I enjoy working out in the field and I hope to con-
tinue doing so for several years. A long-term goal I have is to
eventually get into company management. I also want to be in
charge of a really big job someday.
32. Getting & Giving
R E S P E C TLessons Learned in the Arizona Desert
I used to hang out with a motorcycle gang. It lasted only an hour,
but what an hour. It all started when I left the Grand Canyon for a
rental-car drive to Las Vegas. Surely my half-full tank of gas would
be sufficient. Even if it wasn’t, surely there would be gas stations
aplenty along the way.
Getting & Giving
R E S P E C TLessons Learned in the Arizona Desert
33. Connections 33
I saw wondrous things during that drive: towering rock formations,
delicate flowering cacti, an open view as far as the eye could see.
And as far as I could see, there wasn't a single gas station anywhere.
Pretty soon, I didn't really care about the rocks or the cacti or what-
ever the heck the plural of cactus was or is. All my attention focused
on the fuel gauge and that looming “E.” And in the middle of such
beautiful country, which inspires soaring hopes and dreams, all I
hoped for was a big reserve tank. It wasn’t there. And just when I
thought my luck couldn't get any worse, my car sputtered to a stop
within a stone’s throw of 10 or so resting bikers, none of whom
looked like they had shaved for a decade.
Let me pause this story for some important background informa-
tion. Having grown up in Maple Heights, Ohio (town motto: “Just
like Mayberry, only not as wild”), I didn't get much exposure to
bikers. In fact, a “biker” was someone who drove a basket- and bell-
equipped Huffy or Schwinn. So, when several of the bikers walked
up to my car in the Arizona desert, I took a deep breath, gripped the
steering wheel, squared my shoulders, and promptly made an idiot
out of myself by uttering these words: “Sure is a nice view.”
Instead of laughing in my face — an impressive show of respectful
restraint, if you ask me — the bikers asked where I was from, wel-
comed me to Arizona, and offered to help. One of them raced off
to the one gas station that’s located in all of northern Arizona, and I
spent the waiting time with nine others talking and laughing and
feeling entirely too clean-shaven. And you know what? We had a
great conversation. It got to the point where I wanted to hold off on
Vegas and head for the nearest tattoo parlor.
Before long, I drove away with a couple gallons of gas, side-road
directions to an open station, and a powerful lesson in respect. For
years, whenever I saw a biker, I’d make a harsh value judgment. I’m
ashamed to admit it, but I didn't have much respect for them. Now,
my respect runs so deep I could be their public-relations director.
I’m still tattoo-free, but the lesson will stick with me forever.
Interestingly, the words “respect” and “regard” (as in “how I regard
you”) are derived from Latin and French words that capture various
nuances of the verb “to look.” How appropriate. When I look at you,
or when you look at me, what kind of quick judgments are made?
36. 36 Connections
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