Few of us think our high school summer job would lead to running the company one day. Our CEO Bryan Wolfgram is definitely a ‘Then and Now’ success. He started in the warehouse and during his college years, returned to expand his role into purchasing and contract manufacturing. Bryan officially joined Steven Engineering in October of 1992, as the Contract Manufacturing Supervisor.

Over his 30 years at Steven Engineering, Bryan’s held positions in six different departments and has managed a handful more. As a leader, he still learns something new almost every day, appreciates his team’s feedback, and says that the relationships he’s formed over the years matter.

Left to right: Larry McQuaid, Bryan Wolfgram, and Victor Pasco.

How would you describe your leadership style?
I’ve been fortunate to work with great mentors, a terrific company and exceptional people. This provided me the opportunity to work in many different functional areas and learn a great deal about the industry. Given this background, I think my leadership can best be described as a coach and collaborator. I enjoy working with my team to accentuate their strengths, solve challenges and assist them to become better professionals.

What advice would you give to others aspiring to a leadership position?
While all things can be learned, I’d advise anyone aspiring to be a leader to first do an honest self-evaluation. Do you have a personality that lends itself to leading others? Speak to a leader you admire, ask questions and learn what pros and cons they see in their leadership position. Likewise, and just as important, how do leaders you admire see you? Leadership is difficult but can also be extremely rewarding.

How have you stayed motivated for 30+ years to continue professionally growing?
Although I’ve been with the same company for over thirty years, I’ve held positions in six different departments and managed a handful more. This has given me exposure to many different experiences and a true understanding of what is involved in the day-to-day work of different teams. Each day, I learn something new and it’s rewarding to use my own experience and the feedback from my teams to help us achieve mutual success.

Looking back, what has been a rewarding project?
One of my favorite types of projects includes acquisitions and setting up new buildings and branches.  During my tenure, Steven Engineering implemented several acquisitions and expanded its geographical and building footprint by 600%. The physical representation of our accomplishments and ultimately strong revenue growth is very exciting and has helped drive our continued success.

 

“Your ultimate success and happiness
will be linked to the people you work with
and the things you do together.”

 

What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t sweat the small, day-to-day stuff. Go with the flow and keep perspective.  Set your goals, stick with them and work hard, but also smart. Most importantly, your ultimate success and happiness will be linked to the people you work with and the things you do together. The relationships you form will be what matters.

What makes Steven Engineering stand out?
Since its inception, Steven Engineering has cultivated a family culture. We have incredible tenure because we care about each other and value everyone’s contributions. Our culture has helped us attract and retain high achieving individuals who are accountable and loyal to one another, our customers and vendors. Our customers appreciate this approach, know we are there to help them and ultimately be a partner they can count on.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love getting out and going for a long workout on the bike. The San Francisco Bay Area is beautiful with spectacular scenery and incredible areas to cycle. These days, however, it’s mostly about the kids. I’ve had a great time being a mentor and leader in the Boy Scouts the past thirteen years, helping my older son and several of his peers achieve Eagle Scout. I’m also an avid basketball fan and enjoy watching my younger son’s journey in high school basketball.

Bryan is a man of integrity–a humble, approachable, and resourceful leader. Thank you for your 30+ years of incredible service, Bryan!