When Austin Industrial Inc.’s Vice President of Specialty Services Michael Cox was first approached to lead this division, he found the company’s vision for growth through people and performance aligned closely with his own. BIC Magazine recently sat down with Cox to learn how his family-first mentality allows him to lead effectively.
Q: What led to your position at Austin Industrial?
A: I started my career in the U.S. Navy, where I oversaw numerous construction and tactical operations. After serving 11 years, I expanded my career in the industrial construction industry. I spent the next 10 years holding numerous positions, including executive management, business development and operations.
While I worked in North Carolina, Austin Industrial approached me to lead the efforts in building its Specialty Services division in Texas. This division was created to complement Austin Industrial’s full turnkey solutions capabilities by adding services such as scaffolding, insulation and coatings. After learning Austin’s vision for its Specialty Services division’s growth and the advantages of being part of an employee-owned company, I knew this position was for me.
Q: What is the most important part of your position?
A: Growing the business and aligning with company strategy is a big part of my position, but the most important aspect of my job is ensuring our project teams have the resources they need to operate safely every day. I’m a big believer in being active in the field to ensure we truly support the guys who do the work. Another important part of my position is engaging with our customers to ensure their needs are met.
Q: What are your goals for your position?
A: Austin has a number of goals for the business, and my goal is to underpin those goals by developing our Specialty Services division. Our strategy and strong team focus will continue to drive our already impressive growth, but it will be the people and performance that make us different. My goal is to make sure we focus on those two areas to set ourselves apart from our competitors.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: Every week I schedule time for work, family and my personal hobbies. As a husband and a father of two active boys, I put my family first. When I have stability in my personal life, I thrive in my work life. My family has always been a strong motivator for me. If I did not have them, I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today.
Another important focus of mine is physical fitness. Currently, I am training for my first Spartan Race, which I am very excited about. By keeping my family and physical fitness the highest priorities in my schedule, I have more energy and enthusiasm at work.
Q: What’s the most important thing a person should know before taking a similar career path?
A: Prepare yourself for continuous change, while adapting and improving with that change. Continuously research your company, industry trends, customers and competitors; this will help you grow as the industry changes.
A lot of people expect when they start a new career someone will be there to show them how to do things. This isn’t always the case. Set your own personal career goals, while addressing what learning tools and experiences you need to achieve those goals.
For more information, visit www.austinindustrial.com or call (713) 641-3400.
