My First Job: Ash Awad, vice president, McKinstry Essention

May 21, 2006

My First Job: Ash Awad, vice president, McKinstry Essention

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Ash Awad

Current position: Vice president, McKinstry Essention, a Seattle-based facilities management company.

First job: My first career-based position was with Landis & Gyr Powers, now Siemens after many, many name changes. My role went from analyzing energy-conservation opportunities as an engineer to directly collaborating with clients about comprehensive system changes as an account executive. When I made the move from the engineering role to account executive I was told it would last for six months. I am still waiting to go back to engineering.

Pay: Minimum wage, $1.50 an hour.

How I got the job: A college-age friend of my older sister encouraged me to apply. She was the only one who really spoke to me during work hours.

What I learned: I started my career simply and naively believing that the basic truths that lie in engineering principles and mathematics alone is what makes an individual and then a company successful. At this juncture in my career I have a strong belief that people who are passionate about what they do, and who chose to take the responsibility to deliver superior service and support to their teammates and customers are the most important element of a successful organization. And to the dismay of my logical engineering mind there are no mathematical equations that govern the principal of great people that take responsibility make great things happen for themselves and those that count on them — even those who are not engineers.

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