Meet Gail, one of our Senior Project Managers, based out of our Memphis office. We are fortunate to have him as part of the LSI family and appreciate his contributions to the company’s growth and success for more than a decade. We recently sat down and asked Gail 20 questions. In addition to being a standout person, he’s also a talented project engineer. The three words that we would use to describe him are Proactive, Resourceful, and Easy-going.
20 Questions with Gail
How long have you been with LSI?
I’ve been with LSI for 11 years.
What was your role when you started, and what is it today?
When I started, I was in a management role, but I did several things, including drawings, sales, start-ups, essentially whatever needed to be done. Of course, my job has changed over time, and now my concentration is on our Diagnostic Assembly Line Systems (DALS) projects.
Where did you go to college?
Memphis State and I graduated with an Electrical Engineering Technology Degree.
What industries have you been involved in?
The coffee industry initially, and now I’m focused mainly on the testing side of LSI’s business (DALS).
What is your area of expertise?
My “expertise” comes from the experience I’ve gained working in the refrigerant bearing industries for 30 years. I’ve been involved in many projects over that time that required testing equipment and material handling (conveyors).
What platforms are you familiar with?
Allen-Bradley (Rockwell Automation), Modicon, GE, and Siemens.
What has been your favorite project at LSI?
I don’t have a favorite because there are so many of them. Projects that have a specific and aggressive goal aren’t easy, but they are the most rewarding. One of those projects was for a washing machine manufacturer that was manufacturing the motors themselves. The motors required a full test regimen, including electrical high potential testing, gap check between rotor and stator, RPM, and clutch control.
What is your proudest moment at LSI?
I’ve been fortunate to be a part of the company’s growth that allowed us to move into our new Memphis headquarters and campus. That was a great moment for me. I’m always happy to invite clients to come and see our facility here, show them our capabilities, and meet our people.
What sets LSI apart as an employer?
The opportunities and benefits that LSI offers, especially if you stay long term. I’ve worked for three other engineering companies that were smaller than LSI, and one advantage that we have with our size is the chance to specialize and become experts in so many disciplines and technologies.
What sets LSI apart as a systems integrator?
We listen and deliver a better solution overall for our customers, which builds long-term loyal relationships. We wear it on our sleeve that our first customer in 1985 is still a customer today. It’s common to have challenging projects thrown at us, but we always deliver, and our customers appreciate our efforts.
What are three words to describe LSI?
Flexible, understanding, and trusting.
What is one thing that clients may not know about LSI that you would like to share?
The variety of services that we offer is often surprising to our customers.
Long-term client relationships are a hallmark of LSI. Why is that?
We pay attention to the customer’s needs. Like our logo says, LSI listens. We aren’t selling services or products from a catalog. Instead, we go out of our way to understand their needs. For my eleven years, that is what we’ve been doing for our customers.
How has LSI helped you in your career development?
LSI has provided me with flexibility and the freedom to go out and propagate the DALS product.
What advice do you have for prospective LSI candidates?
Be patient because there is a lot to learn. As you gain experience, you will have many opportunities come your way at LSI.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Play racquetball, and attend the many outdoor concerts that Memphis offers.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Destin, FL
Your favorite sports team?
The Memphis Tigers.
Apple iOS or Android?
Apple
Any random facts about yourself that you could share with us?
My wife and I like to watch professional tennis. We don’t play tennis but enjoy following it wherever they are playing around the world.