TROY CHIPPS
CEO
Eijkelkamp North America Inc.
Morrisville, North Carolina
THE BEST ADVICE I EVER RECEIVED?
I was told by a friend the only constant in life is change, so be flexible, adaptive, and willing to change—quickly! The past five years in this role have passed quickly with constant change, and looking back, I’m not sure I could have imagined some of the things we’re doing today.
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR PROFESSIONAL SELF?
To have had exposure earlier to the idea that we are all different. Over the past 10 years I’ve come to understand there are many different personality types, different ways we learn, different ways we are motivated, different ways we communicate. This understanding transformed my management style and has made me a better leader.
MOST EXCITING TRENDS YOU SEE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DRILLING?
We are seeing a significant advancement in tooling and techniques which correlates to a reduction in drilling time, safety, cost cutting, and most importantly, the minimization of our environmental footprint.
WITH THE MOVE TO DIGITIZED EQUIPMENT, HOW SHOULD TODAY’S CONTRACTOR PREPARE FOR THESE CHANGES?
There is no doubt digitalization is here to stay and the pace of change is only going to increase, so embrace it. Ignoring this trend and hoping for the “old days” isn’t going to move your business into the future.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SINCE BECOMING PRESIDENT IN 2015?
Energy: Don’t waste valuable time on minutia; effectively delegate. Leadership: Be curious, seek new ideas, and ask questions. Risk: No growth without change and no meaningful change without risk. Trust: Business is about people. While we may make mistakes along the way, we strive to go the extra mile for both our team and our customers.
WHAT ARE YOU HEARING MOST FROM CUSTOMERS?
Drillers wanted! There is a shortage of drillers, especially young drillers, entering our industry. In fact, I have been told on several occasions, “I’ll buy a sonic rig, if you deliver them with a driller.”
FAVORITE PART OF TALKING WITH ATTENDEES AT GROUNDWATER WEEK OR STATE SHOWS?
Talking to our customers helps us know where to put our energies and how to prioritize our risks. Whether it’s helping us direct our marketing efforts or energizing us to update our products or even encouraging us to invest in new product lines, our customers push us to be better.