Posted March 1st, 2009 by richard in Installers Life
Exhibitslist was on the trade show floor of the Detroit Auto Show in January and ran into Steve Drouillard. Rumor has it that Steve is a legendary installer in the area. We thought interviewing Steve would be a great way to spark off some discussion of what it takes to make a great installer.
[more after the break]
Exhibitslist: How long have you been in the industry?
Steve Drouillard: My first show was the North American International Auto Show 2003. So I started working on the install on December 2, 2002 on the Audi Exhibit for Nth Degree.
EXL: How did you get started?
SD: I was recruited by my father-in-law. He's a carpenter in Detroit Local 687 and is regarded as an excellent craftsman. He thought that with my background in carpentry and considering my knowledge and experience working with precision tools, that this would be the job for me.
EXL: Who do you work for?
SD: For the most part I work for Nth Degree. I really enjoy working for Nth Degree, but my location geographically makes that difficult. From time to time then, as a result, I work for other I&D companies.
EXL: What was your proudest moment as an installer?
SD: I'm always proud of the my jobs. However, I think my proudest moment was working on CONEXPO in Las Vegas last year. It was the biggest show I have ever seen. I felt like I had finally made it in the industry!
EXL: What are the challenges of being an installer in Detroit?
SD: The challenges of being an installer in Detroit are really getting noticed by the exhibitor. With so many good carpenters on the floor you really have to be top notch to get call backs time after time.
EXL: What do you love about being an installer?
SD: I love the fact that as installers we take care of people's exhibits. From unpacking and placing the freight all the way to the dismantle and repack, everything is done with care. At least that is what I have been taught by Nth Degree, I try to carry that through on every job that I do. I guess you could say what I love the most is when I'm on the show floor with my purple Nth Degree shirt on, I'm always proud to represent the service level that comes with wearing the Nth Degree colors.
What makes a I&D company great? Which companies are at the top of their game? Who are the legendary installers in your area?
