Craig Garner Talks His New Role at Emerson/Fisher

Describe your new role at Emerson/Fisher.

As the regional sales manager, I’m fortunate to work directly with distributors in the U.S. and Canada as an outside sales resource partner to drive pressurized Fisher brand propane and anhydrous ammonia gas regulator and valve product sales. We have a strong LP team here at our McKinney, Texas, regulator headquarters with a broad engineering, marketing and business resource landscape dedicated to our channel partners’ needs. Ultimately, my role is to develop authentic, credible and lasting relationships with my customers over time that provide an environment to collaborate solution options that solve their industry challenge or opportunity.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your career to date?

The most valuable lesson is to stay aligned with core principles and keep moving forward — even fail forward. All industries continue to innovate; it’s the ones that stand still and refuse to stretch at the risk of uncomfortable change that get crushed over time. In leadership, people are the greatest asset to an organization when it comes to change; always involve people, listen and move slowly.

What inspires you about the industry currently?

What inspires me about the LP gas industry is that it’s full of innovative history yet still a viable product offering today for future generations in more than just the U.S. The LP gas industry will continue to rise to the challenge of meeting energy goals. Propane’s versatility and the growing need for clean energy will ensure the promise of growth.

How would your colleagues describe you?

I would hope my team describes me as a balanced person who listens well, a resourceful and service leadership-style team player, a person who’s willing to be teachable, and aggressive to principle. They may say I’m crazy for national parks and Formula One [racing]. If I can help the team achieve their goals, I believe the same comes around in return. However, with a prior sports background, I do get a little competitive when it comes to a simple game of cornhole!

What’s a skill you’d like to improve on?

Some days I feel the only skill I’m 100% confident in executing well is tying my shoes. The skill in learning how to be present in the moment is what I’m working on currently; it takes discipline and focus, but it’s paying off. I still remember the day my daughter beat me in a 40-yard dash, or my son beat me in a round of 18 holes of golf. Although I lost, I enjoyed those moments all the same. In fact, my relationship strengthened with each of my kids that day. They say that every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. Skill development and building repeatable, true-north habits is a constant journey for me.

What do you want your legacy to include?

Legacy is a big word — a word that feels like it’s for someone else. Being influential and respected for good as a husband, father and coworker would be legacy enough for me. I do carry an ever-driving sense of urgency in mindset toward growth and development. I hope my actions over time always provide contribution vs. consumption.

Have you taken a huge leap of faith at work? Did it pay off?

Yes, I recently joined a new industry with a fantastic team that carries a passion to serve and teach the LP gas industry — David Schmidt, director of sales; Fernando Gallegos, director of marketing; and Sam Fung, product manager, along with a highly skilled applications engineering and manufacturing team. They willingly add value to me every day.

Do you have any pets?

Our family has a rescue dog named Cosmo. He’s like a soft pillow to my daughters. He never barks — I can’t figure it out. He’s a good dog, but I’m afraid a cat would give him a run for his money in a backyard wrestle.

How would you spend an unexpected day off?

Honestly, I’d like to say I’d wake up the same time as normal and clean up email. However, I’d default to sleep in an extra few hours, combined with a long — very long — breakfast.