Five Fast Facts: Meet Mike Hermann
Sometimes a new face and a fresh perspective come along at exactly the right time. Enter our Vice President of Industrial Sales, Mike Hermann. Mike joined Van Meter in June 2020. Almost two years, one global pandemic and a company acquisition later, Mike has already helped guide Van Meter through plenty of challenges and set us up for continued success.
Here are five fast facts to get to know Mike.
1. He worked with Van Meter before he worked for Van Meter
Mike was born and raised in Wisconsin, graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and worked for Rockwell Automation, headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, for 21 years. He first met Van Meter in 2005 while managing a Rockwell branch in Omaha. However, he really got to know Van Meter in the last seven years while working in Market Access where he attended to the needs of Rockwell’s distributors and system integrators. He joined Werner Electric, now Van Meter, in June 2020 and leads our industrial sales team.
2. He is a problem solver
One reason Mike joined Van Meter was to engage more with customers. He works with some of our larger, strategic customers to build long-lasting relationships and make sure their needs are being met. He enjoys gaining an understanding of what they need to accomplish and coming up with a solution that fits their needs. “The core of what we do is helping our customers solve their business problems,” Mike explained.
3. He is a people person
Electrical distribution is a people business and Mike stressed the importance of knowing the individuals on your team to optimize performance. “The most impactful leaders I have worked with have taken the time to get to know their team and know people individually. They try to better understand how those people want to be treated and what they need to be successful,” he said.
Mike hopes people he works with would consider him genuine, caring, creative and challenging. That applies to his career and his service to the community. For instance, he is active in his church and in the past has led youth groups there.
4. He brings out the best in his team
Mike enjoys winning sales and solving customers’ problems, but he says the best part of his job is witnessing the success of individual members of his team. “The most rewarding part is when the team wins, and you see individuals do things that put us in a better spot every day,” he said. “More specifically, it is cool to see people do something unique they have never done before because it gives us the capability to replicate that success in the future.”
While at Rockwell Automation, Mike served as Vice President of ROKability, an organization that helps people with disabilities find and retain employment and advance their careers. Mike ensured that he and his company were assembling the best possible team regardless of disability status.
5. You can find him with family (and outdoors)
Mike spends much of his time outside of work following his kids around for sports. He and his wife, Lori, will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in May and have three children, Thomas (14), Anna (11) and Zoe (9). Mike has coached them in baseball, basketball and soccer. When he is not at sporting events, he enjoys fishing, golfing and going on ski trips with his family.
If you have questions for Mike or our industrial sales team, please call 1-800-247-1410 or click here. They will make sure you have Everything You Need to Succeed.