Meet Adam Wray from Nashville Wire

1. Tell us a little about yourself? Interests outside of work, family, pets, hobbies, entertainment, special talents…? 

I’m 35 years old.  I married my wife in 2007, and we had our daughter in 2011.  My wife and daughter tend to occupy the majority of my personal time.  However, I do moonlight as a quasi-professional photographer.  I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, and I was blessed with the opportunity to start charging people for my work about six months ago.  I just shot my first wedding solo last weekend.

I’m definitely a technology geek, and I enjoy the “greatest” electronics. Most people in the office come to me if they have an issue with their computer, phone, or other electronic device. 

2. Adam, what is your role in the organization? 

My primary role is inside/outside sales with a focus on accounts in the Midwest, although I’ve called on accounts in nearly every state. I travel about one week a month and the remainder of my time is spent in the office providing quotes. I also assist the IT department for our division, and in the past year I’ve taken over in marketing as well. 

3. How did your career path land you in this role? 

When I was 21 years old, I was working for a carpet company, in their warehouse, making minimum wage and no benefits.  A friend of mine was a plant supervisor at Nashville Wire, and I gave him my resume, hoping to get a slightly better position than the one I currently held.  He noticed that I had some computer skills and so he passed my resume up the chain and into the sales office where I was offered a position in estimating.  It was a great offer for someone who did not have a college degree, and I was certainly excited.  A year later I was offered a position in engineering and then three years later, the position of traffic manager.  After five years in logistics, I was offered a position as regional sales manager and here I am – 14 years later.

To say that I’ve been, and continue to be, blessed is a drastic understatement, and does not do justice to the word. I’m absolutely humbled with the opportunity to do what I do, and I enjoy communicating with people on a daily basis. 

4. What is the most exciting aspect of your Job? 

The most exciting aspect of my job is probably the traveling.  This position has given me the opportunity to see a lot of this country and it definitely breaks up the monotony of staring at a computer all day. 

5. What makes Nashville Wire unique and sets you apart from the rest of the industry? 

The first thing that sets Nashville Wire apart is its ethics. Unfortunately there are a lot of companies that are only interested in the sale, and doing whatever it takes to get it. I truly appreciate working for a family-owned and operated company that would rather lose an order ethically, than cheat the spec/customer or resorting to other unscrupulous tactics. The second thing is our diversification. Having four company divisions, and nearly 80 years in existence, enables us to truly think outside the box when determining a solution for a customer.

6. What product do you feel has the biggest impact on the material handling industry and is often overlooked? 

Well, obviously I’m going to say wire decking.  It’s easy to throw in some pallet supports, wood, or nothing at all and hope the result is structurally sound and that nothing falls through the rack.  Wire decking is an inexpensive solution that offers a capacity rating with a safety factor. 

7. What is one tip or bit of advice that you can leave with our readers? 

I’m a firm believer in “you get what you pay for” and this is certainly true when it comes to our product.  Make sure you ask for the details when quoting a project.  If a vendor is not transparent, it’s generally because they’re hiding something.  The devil is in the details! 

8. What are the biggest changes you see with wire deck in the future? 

When I started with NWP, the most common deck sold weighed nearly 30 pounds and could hold a house!  It now weighs 20 lbs.  Of course design and testing is much more refined, but in a price-driven market, competitors have pushed the limits on how light you can go.  I believe we’ve reached the bottom, and I see it going back in the other direction.  I’ve seen some decks in the field that are so poorly made it made me nervous just being in the building – let alone walking underneath them!