Kevin Taylor, senior vice president of Engineering & Construction for NAES Corp., has more than 27 years of experience in executive management, business development, major project management, restructuring and change management. He is focused on the safe execution of services and work products while also meeting customer needs in compliance, cost effectiveness, schedule and quality as part of the company’s growth strategy.
BIC Magazine recently visited with Taylor to learn more about how he is leading the engineering and construction business of NAES in the power generation, oil and gas, and petrochemical markets.
Q: What led to your position at NAES?
A: This position is a natural fit based on my previous experience in the engineering and construction sectors of the energy business. Prior to joining NAES, I was the president of the Power & Industrial Group at MasTec, and before that I was senior vice president for the Americas Power Group at Parsons Brinckerhoff. I had previously worked with Bob Fishman, NAES president and CEO, when we were both at Parsons Brinckerhoff. When he laid out his plans for the diversification and growth of NAES, my immediate response was “when can I start?”
Q: Are you looking to grow in new markets or expand in current ones?
A: We are looking at a combination of both expansion in our current markets and diversification into some closely related markets. We currently have a union labor subsidiary company, NAES Power Contractors, which is focused on power plant maintenance and construction. This business will continue to grow, particularly with the impending return to health of the power sector. Our nonunion maintenance and construction group is currently active in the downstream oil and gas market and is expanding into the midstream market.
Q: Do you have any plans to grow/expand your business through acquisitions and mergers?
A: Very much so. NAES has concluded the acquisition of E3 Consulting®, an industry-leading engineering consulting firm based in Denver, which is an ideal complement to our existing plant operations-focused engineering group. In addition, we are in the process of evaluating a number of engineering and construction firms that operate in the midstream and downstream oil and gas markets. While the M&A landscape in energy engineering and construction is currently very competitive, I’m confident it will not be long before we have further exciting announcements in this regard.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: Basically I couldn’t do it without Jane, my very understanding and incredibly well organized wife. My family (mostly) understands that traveling and long hours away from home are part of the package if you choose a career in the energy business. Fortunately these days, most of my trips are domestic and rarely span a weekend; therefore, balance is possible with proper planning and really wise use of time.
Q: Do you have a favorite quote? Why is it your favorite?
A: It’s not actually a quote; it’s an excerpt from a speech given by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in 1910 referred to as “The Man in the Arena.” In essence, it contrasts the people who make the choice of inaction but willingly criticize those people who have the courage to put themselves forward and take action, whatever that action may be. The speech/quote concludes with “ … who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat … ”
For more information, visit www.naes.com or call (425) 961-4700.
