It wasn't so long ago that Irby Utilities celebrated each hundred thousandth sales milestone by distributing symbolic tiles company-wide. These milestones were etched in hard work, marking each step toward greater service and impact on the utility industry. As recently as 2020, the company commemorated the monumental $1 billion mark with the customary tile. Now, just a few short years later, Irby Utilities has surpassed a historical $2 billion in sales. Steering the company through these transformative years is Joe LeNoir, President of Irby Utilities. Under his direction and alongside a dedicated leadership team, the company diversified its portfolio, navigated industry shifts, and fostered a culture around adaptability and customer satisfaction. In an exclusive conversation, Joe shares insights into the company's evolution, emphasizing the collective efforts of the team and the crucial role of acclimating to change. |
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Q: Describe what Irby Utilities covers as far as business sectors.
A: Irby Utilities began its utility market involvement solely in the electrical space, with a very basic material supply offering. Over the past ten years, we have expanded within the utility market to include electric, gas, broadband and renewal energy sectors. We have also carried our capabilities into ancillary business sectors, which include utility and broadband contractors, telecommunication and internet service providers, and private sector energy organizations.
Q: Have the sectors changed since Irby Utilities started as a company?
A: There are actually two questions here, and the answers are yes and yes; the utility market has changed and so have the sectors. The traditional electric sector has shifted to more of a distributor-supporting environment than has previously been the case. For utilities with a gas component, bringing their gas divisions up to the same operational and service standards as their electric divisions has become a priority. Public power utilities across the country have entered the broadband space in the last 5-7 years with the push from national- and state-level regulatory decisions and associated funding programs. Finally, between the magnitude of infrastructure work and the aging lineman workforce dilemma, the emergence of the utility contractor and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) firms has increased. All this change has called for Irby Utilities to diversify to meet evolving needs.
Q: What do you attribute success to?
A: We attribute our success to a single component that you will find consistent with any high performing business—people. We have worked hard over the years to bring in the right people, those who can thrive professionally and personally in our organization. Our goal is not to fill a box on an organization chart, but rather to give an individual a starting point to grow and develop. As we tell associates today, we have roles in our business this year that did not exist three years ago, and there is always something new on the horizon. As we continue to move forward, our success is dictated by our people and their continued willingness to adapt and innovate.
Q: How have associates adapted to the growth and expansion?
A: Growth and expansion bring the added element of change, so these three characteristics in our evolution exist in unison. Our associates show excitement with the opportunities and benefits our growth has brought. As we bring on new associates, our existing teams have been outstanding with pursuing new roles and responsibilities in their own worlds while adopting new members with professionalism.
Q: What innovations has Irby Utilities implemented in the past few years to harness this growth?
A: Irby Utilities has invested in a long list of innovative events to fulfill our diversification goals and meet the changing needs of our customers. We have added an extensive portfolio of services, including personal protection safety testing, emergency response programs, and customer facility/mobile inventory planning. Irby Utilities has also assembled internal teams to support customer platform needs, contract compliance resources to assure we deliver on our commitments, and produce customer-specific standard operating procedures. In total, we are far from a simple item selling wholesale distributor—we are a true services and solutions provider.
Q: What excites you about the future?
A: We are engaged in industry segments that will always exist and continue to grow, with a significant level of resistance to economic downturns. The forecasted investment into our business sectors for the next 10-20 years is unprecedented, and our resume of performance and industry reputation has positioned us as the services and solutions leader as we march forward on this path. As I quote from my favorite college football head coach, “the best is yet to come.”
This remarkable milestone signifies more than just a financial achievement; it captures the company's unwavering dedication, adaptability, and the collective spirit of its exceptional team. Irby Utilities celebrates this historic achievement and all who have helped achieve it—a true testament to the power of adaptation and the strength of a unified vision.