My role
Within the Vestas group, it is my responsibility to lead the Central Europe Technology organization. This is the organization that provides resolution to all problems of technical aspects within wind power systems in our region, including Germany, Benelux, Eastern Europe, Russia and South Africa. Our responsibilities range from providing early technical risk evaluations of new sites, designing of the wind turbine, integrating the power plant into the customer’s infrastructure, and ultimately supporting the operation stage of the power plant itself.
The customers must be able to see and understand the value proposition that a Vestas power plant can provide. Changing products, markets and customer requirements has demanded the development of an organization which utilizes six sigma methodologies to deliver data-based decisions which provide validated solutions. This is part of my responsibility to ensure that these solutions are clearly communicated; both internally and to the customers.
My career path
My young adult years were spent participating in motorsports and working on local farms operating antiquated equipment. This provided an introduction and interest in optimizing a machine’s performance at a low cost.
I later on steered myself on a path towards a mechanical engineering degree, as language and communication were not my strong sides. After finishing my degree, I entered the engineering work field via an automotive OEM supplier, where I was introduced to an operational improvement method focused on using quality methods. Early jobs in this area took me to Brazil, Mexico and Germany.
A position with the largest US wind operator, FPL Energy, as an operation engineer for over 4000 wind turbines across the United States, got me into the wind energy business, and I gained a clear view of the requirements of a large customer. It was here that I became acquainted with Vestas and after five years of being their customer, Vestas presented me with an opportunity to move over to their side.
In November 2006, I joined Vestas as a Chief Specialist in Advanced Diagnostics and spent more than three years in this role based out of Aarhus in Denmark. While in Denmark, our small group helped Vestas Technology R&D develop a number of diagnostic tools, which were used to improve wind turbine performance for our customers. In February of 2010 my career led me to Hamburg, Germany in the position I have now.
My network
My networks are functions of some of my earlier perspectives as a customer, and most importantly my experience in the Must-Win-Battle-program, where we focused on improved MTBI (mean time between inspections) and we saw Vestas improve threefold in wind turbine performance around the world.
The MTBI project resulted in my opportunity to meet many of the operational leaders from all the SBU’s. In the Technology R&D role in Denmark, I was charged with the delivery of ”something different” to enable these worldwide operational leaders to operate differently and achieve their desired results. The delivery of this ”something different” enabled me to build many networks throughout the entire technology organization and this has become a key element in my job today.
My Vestas
When I started at Vestas, I had little vision or opinion of what wind meant beyond the task of improving the performance of an operating asset. My original journey into the wind industry was driven by an opportunity to go to California. However, within one year of being with Vestas, my views began to change.Vestas’ CEO Ditlev Engel commissioned a data-based analysis on the V90 3MWwind turbine’s net CO2 impact and water impact, and these studies moved me to the realization that the Vestas mission is more than just producing wind turbines. Vestas represents a path to a capable energy future for all of us. Whether it becomes a necessary requirement in 20 or 100 years, we will have no other choice than renewable energy sources, and I draw a great deal of satisfaction and pride that my efforts are spent in this area.
My life
Time with my family makes me happy and satisfied with life. A happy home is the best place to go at the end of the day. I need my family more than I sometimes realize, and it is because of them that I try hard to succeed at work. I love time with my herd of four children and my wife because she successfully manages this herd of children and is most often happy doing it. Keeping my family happy is very important for me, making sure that everyone’s needs are met. For my wife who is from California, my efforts are focused on convincing her that the weather is just a trivial distraction from the beautiful city of Hamburg and great diverse nation of Germany. This doesn’t always go so well. In closing most of all, I like laughter and sarcasm, and I want to contribute as much as possible to my family, friends and colleagues.
