As one of the key leaders behind Wyatt Field Service Co.’s growth over the past 20 years, Todd Riedlinger is proud to say his personal and professional development has tracked Wyatt’s success every step of the way. BIC Magazine recently sat down with Riedlinger to learn more about what makes him one of Wyatt’s many indispensable leaders.
Q: What has been the most pivotal time of your career?
A: I have worked for Wyatt Field Service for over two decades, and throughout this time I have experienced very exciting projects and people. Wyatt has taken me and my family all over, including the Virgin Islands (VI), where at the age of just 37 I was tasked to embark as the leader on Wyatt’s VI adventure. In just nine years, our team grew from a once-small mechanical projects contractor to a major force with a peaking year of 850,000 man-hours.
Q: What are your goals for your position?
A: At the beginning of any journey, the excitement and optimism are overflowing. It’s an honor to take a leadership role and run an established company with a great reputation. As we look toward the future, I aim to take the company to a new level by challenging Wyatt management teams to excel past the standard. Keeping with market trends and expanding within our core competencies, paired with maintaining good financials, will escalate Wyatt’s abilities and future. Truly, the people who work for Wyatt are what make the 103-year-old company great.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: I thrive on the energy and challenges my work offers me. As I’ve watched my boys grow throughout the years, I have developed a way to enjoy a work/life harmony. Instead of strictly allocating my everyday time, I take my work very seriously and work hard to accomplish tasks so that when it is time to be around family I can dedicate myself to those priceless moments.
Q: What is your biggest lesson learned?
A: My career has been filled with character-building lessons. One particular lesson stands out: Never under estimate your competition. The oil industry is filled with ever-changing environments. From mergers to promotions to economy-driven layoffs, refinery sites and their decision makers are ever-changing. Just when you think you can get comfortable as a contractor, your competition can swoop in.
Q: What is your best management tactic?
A: Very unlike a dictator, I like to get Wyatt leadership’s buy-in prior to making any major decisions that will impact the company. I see great value in getting decision makers together for brainstorming sessions, which inevitably leads to new ideas. Establishing buy-in on processes, philosophies and style early on by sharing ideas produces strong results and is a key to success.
As Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Listening to others for new ideas is a big part of not falling into this trap.
For more information, visit WyattFieldService or call (281) 675-1300.
