H&W’s Shannon Heigel on Her Construction Industry Journey

Shannon Heigel is Vice President of Operations with H&W Electrical, a South Carolina-based electrical contracting firm that focuses on industrial, commercial, and plant maintenance projects with an emphasis on design-build construction projects in the Southeast. GroundBreak Carolinas spoke with Heigel about the company and its culture, how she “fell into” the construction industry, and her recent promotion from Chief Administration Officer to Vice President.

2023 was a busy year for you and H&W. The company celebrated 50 years in business and H&W made the list of South Carolina’s Fastest-Growing Companies. Elaborate for us. 

We have created several new departments within our company recently. We now have a full-time estimating team, an engineering/design team, a BIM department, as well as new technology/equipment. We also have a field coordination group, recruiting roles, a direct safety department and have added new levels of leadership to assist with the growth. H&W has invested in several new software platforms to help everyone communicate and be on the same page when it comes to knowledge on a topic. We don’t have to go searching through papers or emails and have a primary source for all the updates and info for any project. We also focus on resolving issues as soon as they arise to avoid any further problems. This is, in my opinion, how we have come so far in such a short period of time.

How did you end up at H&W?

I was working for Verizon at the time and handled H&W’s business accounts. I would often help Alan Holcombe (our president) or other employees when they needed anything regarding email issues, setting up devices, new phones/tablets, etc. Nearly eight years ago, Alan came in one day and asked me if I wanted a job. At first, I was hesitant since I knew nothing about Electrical contracting or how the industry worked, but I decided to take the leap and have loved it ever since.

Tell us about the learning curve that you experienced getting up to speed in this industry.

I started by simply learning all that I could and cross-training with all departments to just help where I was most needed. I gradually ended up taking on more and more tasks and eventually became a powerhouse of information, since I have done everything within the operations side of the company. I have contributed to the implementation and setup of several systems and software platforms that we are using to help streamline and make us more efficient. I think multitasking and problem solving are my strong suits. Our business constantly revolves around those needs, so I thrive in this environment.

How do you help other women thrive in a business that has been male dominated?

I have made it a point to bring up other women in the industry and help them become successful as well. I believe women contribute a different set of skills that are very much needed in the construction industry in partnership with what you typically imagine.

You previously served as the Chief Administration Officer at the company.  How has your role changed?

I think the biggest difference in my role now is fine tuning what we have in place and getting more detailed with communication and the expectations for each department. I think clear and precise information is key to making sure everyone knows what is expected and how they can grow with the company and improve in what they are currently doing. Operations is the heart of a business and keeps it going each day. I love being a part of that. I plan on helping develop new ways to assist those in our company reach their full potential by outlining what is expected and how they can succeed with clear and concise direction.

You assumed the role of Vice President this past February. Who else received promotions?

We have promoted several others around the office who are very deserving! One of these is Charlie Richmond, Vice President of Preconstruction and Business Development. Charlie brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from the industry to our team and has helped us grow our business substantially. We also promoted Spencer Strickland to Vice President of Procurement. Spencer came from the vendor side of the business and has an exponential amount of knowledge that helps us in our purchasing department and helped with growing our business. Alexa Carrero started as an intern a few years back and after graduating from Clemson with a degree in finance, has now moved into the Office Manager role. Her attention to detail and preciseness has been a huge asset in our office day-to-day needs. We also have Dalton Freeman who started in our warehouse a few years ago who has worked his way up into the purchasing department and has now earned the title of Procurement Manager. As far as new hires, Randy Birch has joined H&W with an impressive 35 years of engineering experience and contributes to both our BIM and estimating team. All the individuals on our team are a huge part of our success and have helped us get to where we are right now. I am extremely lucky and grateful to work with the team we have at H&W every day.

How does H&W attract and retain quality employees?

H&W believes in investing in the right people, acknowledging and encouraging our best employees, investing in our assets/top performers, getting the right systems in place and customizing them to the company’s specific needs. This is a great place to work that allows you to grow as an individual.

How do you help a new employee to understand the culture of your organization?

H&W is the most unique company I have ever had the opportunity to be a part of. Our owners treat us like family here and I have truly loved my time with H&W. They care about us as individuals and if you work hard for the company, you are rewarded in return.

They have even built a gym for the employees to use so that we can promote our health while working each week. This has been a huge perk so that we can stay focused and be our best selves each day.

The culture here is amazing! I often go to lunch with my colleagues, we have workout training programs together, we plan corporate events each quarter and all work together extremely well. I can ask anyone here for help and they will drop what they are doing to assist in any way they can. We have been provided with all the resources and tools for success and any time we need something to get the job done, it is answered. I don’t think you can ask for a better culture than that.

How do you decide who the best candidate is for your team or organization?

We often seek those who like being in a team environment, can communicate well and are okay with an ever-changing schedule. There is never a day where you will be doing the same tasks, and it sometimes changes by the minute, so you must be able to adapt. I think we have a team of positive people who enjoy working here and that helps us get the most possible done each day.

What do you do for fun?

I am a wife and mother of three, so anytime I am not working I am with my family. I have a daughter who is 12, a son who is 3 and another son who is 1.5 years old. They keep me quite busy outside of work. I think being a mother has helped me get to where I am today. It has made me a strong individual, a problem solver and keeps my multitasking skills on par. I know that my hard work each day helps provide for my family and that’s what keeps me motivated. I want my children to be proud of me when they get older and see that their mom put in the extra effort and was successful because of my hard work and actions.