Linetec People to Know: Andy Joswiak

JoswiakQ:  Tell me about your job
A:  For the past 18 years, I have been the V.P. of Operations. The duties and details of the job were very extensive, so with Linetec’s recent growth, the decision was made to split that role into two positions.
The two new positions are:
V.P. – Operations with responsibility for daily manufacturing, scheduling and safety
V.P. – Engineering and Technical Services, (my new position), with responsibility for Engineering, Environmental, Continuous Improvement, Maintenance, New Product Introductions, and New Plant & Equipment
Q: What did you do prior to Linetec?
A: I focused on my education and held part-time jobs. I sent out one resume while in my senior year of college – and I am still here.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A:  Working with all the great people at Linetec and helping to build a team and culture that has made Linetec the best in our industry.
I also enjoy working on concepts and projects that make us safer, better, faster and more reliable.
Q: What poses the biggest challenges for you?
A:  Easy – keeping up with the significant growth we have seen over the past four years.
It has been phenomenal, but ensuring we have capacity to service that growth has at times been challenging.
Q: What is the biggest change you’ve seen over the years of doing your job?
A:   Change – it never stops. We are constantly improving our process capability, capacities and offerings. It has been great to be part of the change improvement for the past three decades.
If I had to pick one, it would be connecting nearly all the buildings of Linetec with the Line 3 “Great Hall” connection.
Q:  What is something you are looking forward to?
A:  Getting into more detail of my new position to make Linetec even better and more capable.
Q: What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Andy-snowmobiling-webA:  I really enjoy the outdoors, both winter and summer. It is tough to find things to do outside in Wisconsin in the winter. Snowmobiling is one thing I really enjoy no matter how cold it gets outside.
You don’t understand cold until you are doing 100 MPH on a snowmobile with an outside temperature of -17F. (I am not sure what the wind chill was, but it was a little cool.)
I have also snow-machined in Alaska several times. If you ever have that opportunity, do it. It is nothing like trailriding in Wisconsin. And I still managed to keep in contact with customers via cell phone in the mountains!
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