Testimonials | cedcarolinadivision

TESTIMONIALS FROM PAST TRAINEES

"My name is Jackson Whitley and I am a graduate of the Reeves School of Business at Methodist University, Class of 2018.

I started part time with CED in Fayetteville NC under manager Tina Burgess while I was finishing up school. After graduation, I became a full time trainee at CED/All-Phase in Danville, Virginia. I learned Warehouse Operation, Counter and Inside Sales while in Danville which gave me valuable experience, product knowledge, and customer/coworker relationship skills that I have carried with me on my journey. After Danville I moved to CED Charlotte where I learned valuable work skills all while the world, and very much CED, was battling the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic taught me many lessons on being thankful for the ability to physically go to work and make a decent living all while working for a great company.

As of January 2021 I am now the manager of CED-Sandhill Electric Supply in Aberdeen, North Carolina. I am very thankful to CED for all that I have learned in such a short time while progressing through the company. The journey always seems to go by quick, but along the way there are highs and lows and the biggest factor is staying positive through it all. CED has a great support group of mentors and I am thankful to each and every one of them who have supported me throughout my journey to get me to where I am today. CED is truly a great company that has done right by me, and I recommend to any candidate that a career with CED is a great option.

Jackson Whitley / Greensboro NC / Manager

"I started on the same path as a lot of fresh graduates who sign on with CED, as a Manager Trainee. I look back several years and realize I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect after Wayne Carter, the division manager, plucked me up from your typical college career fair- but what has unfolded over the last five years has been more fun than I could have imagined.

I would say my path was a culmination of hard work, good timing, and a whole lot of patience by those entrusted with bringing me through the ranks. Each manager I trained under throughout the program had a different style, which allowed me to see several different paths a manger can take to reach success.

CED has a unique and often underutilized business model that gives every new hire the opportunity to choose their path within the company. With the extra freedom that comes from the decentralized model, each profit center manager, outside salesman or even counter salesman has the ability to build their own system within the umbrella of a strong company. As our industry evolves, the focus CED has on bringing in and training good people will remain invaluable. I am glad to be a part of a family as opposed to simply a company.

Will Hudson / Raleigh NC / Outside Sales

I started with CED Greensboro as an intern while finishing up my degree at UNC Greensboro. The straightforwardness and genuine demeanor of the CED Greensboro manager, Wes Harris, stood out to me when I met him recruiting at a career fair. When I graduated, I started full time as a Trainee in CED Roanoke. The 2 years I spent in Roanoke I worked with a tight knit group that felt like family, and I picked up valuable skills and industry knowledge from a top performing PC. After living in the mountains, I made my way to the beautiful beaches near CED Wilmington. Here, I am a jack of all trades. At the time of this writing, I am currently in Sales and serving as the Purchasing Agent, amongst other things.

I spent time in both the Roanoke and Wilmington PC's, having worked alongside two managers (Richard Lovegreen and Kevin High) who had both previously been trainees. Both have been instrumental in helping me grow and learn about the ins and outs of the electrical industry and wholesale. Both have shown me that success can be achieved with varying philosophies on running a PC. The training program has also shown me that an impact can be made at all levels of the PC hierarchy.

CED has given me the opportunity to learn the electrical industry from the ground up, as someone that entered with zero knowledge. It has taken me to different cities across the country on vendor training courses. I have met CED colleagues all over the Carolinas Division and the country. I hit the books with supplemental learning through EPEC. I even recruited at career fairs at universities in North Carolina and Virginia. CED will give you the opportunity to be successful, and it will empower you to seize that opportunity.

Justin Adviento / Wilmington NC / Outside Sales

"Every trainee hired by CED will always have a little bit different of a path than others. Largely impacted by which locations they're training in, as well as the needs of the division. My trainee experience was very different than most, but I believe that's what has led me to have a successful career with CED.

I was hired right out of college to the CED Carolina Division as a trainee. The division manager, Wayne Carter, relocated me from Wisconsin to Durham NC. In my time as a trainee, I relocated to three separate profit centers. I had the privilege to learn from those different teams and that has been a huge benefit for me. I trained at CED Durham, CED Richmond and CED Fayetteville. At CED Durham, under Rodney Pitts, I learned AP/AR and counter sales. At CED Richmond, under Pete Daulton, I trained more in the operations management side as well as inside sales. Lastly, at CED Fayetteville under Tina Burgess, I learned outside sales and how each piece of the business can truly affect the success of the PC. Each profit center was able to teach me different methods and help me develop into the sales professional I am today.

Currently, I work for CED Henderson under Phillip Poston. Here everybody does a little bit of everything. Under Phillip I have been able to learn quite a lot of the solar industry and how to manage and work with your team. Having learned from several profit centers, that experience has enabled me to be able to help in any area of the job that is needed.

My favorite thing about CED and the path I took, is that if I need help I can call anyone I've worked with along the way. I've learned that every profit center is in a way, a family, and the CED family takes care of its own. When you choose CED, you're choosing a company that will invest in you and your future."

Jackie Diesch / Henderson NC / Outside Sales