FALCON FOCUS – SHAWN DUMOND
by: Joseph Rodriguez
Shawn DuMond has been a part of the InterConnect team for almost a year. In that time, he has grown to be the Program Manager for some of InterConnect’s largest customers. I recently talked with Shawn and found how he connects with others to be a great example of how we like to operate. He is an important member of the InterConnect family and lives out “Connections Matter” daily!
How would you describe your role at InterConnect?
My role is to connect with customers in order to process bids for harnesses, panels, and kits. I manage the relationship with our customers all the way through the process. I oversee the process of fulfilling the order all the way through to a good delivery. We have good meetings with them addressing their needs and answering questions. And then once our product gets delivered, we check in and ask how things are going and see if there might be other opportunities to partner with them.
What is something someone might not know about your role?
I am very much a relationship person, so something that people might not know is that I get out from behind my desk and go down into the production area. It’s great to talk with somebody on the assembly line about what they are doing. I don’t evaluate what they’re doing, but instead learn. Everybody has been open with that. I also talk to the shop foremen, quality department, and purchasing because that connection helps me to understand not just more about my role, but also their role. And the symbiotic relationship between what I do and what other people do across the organization helps us help each other.
Why are you proud to work at InterConnect?
It’s exciting to know that what we do produces an item that supports a pilot who’s defending our country and protecting our freedom. It feels like I am in the trenches in some ways with that officer. It’s also the scariest part of the job as well, because if we don’t do our job well, that puts that pilot’s life at risk. We certainly don’t want to produce a poor product at the cheapest price. We want to partner with organizations who utilize our quality products to help protect the freedoms of our country and protect our pilots who make that conscious choice to sit in that aircraft. I’m proud to know InterConnect cares that every time that pilot takes off from the ground that they’re going to come back down safely.
What is something InterConnect does that you like?
One of the things that I really value is there’s a lot of transparency and authenticity at InterConnect. I value how John (Ashour, InterConnect’s President) and Clare (McGarrey, InterConnect’s Vice President) clearly and directly communicate. I appreciate knowing when I’m meeting the expectations or not meeting the expectations of my position. I have had jobs in the past where the leaders were vague and didn’t communicate on issues before it was too late. I know that John and the other leaders have hired me to do a particular job and I want to do a really good job at that. If I don’t know that I’m not doing a good job, then I won’t find opportunities for improvement. I know that the communication comes from a good place because in our leaders’ hearts the main thing they want is quality products, healthy relationships across the board, and to live out connections matter.
Shawn has a Bachelor’s degree in History from Sam Houston State University and a Master’s in Theology from Texas Christian University. His fiancé’s name is Whitney, and he has two sons named Joshua and Caleb. In his free time, Shawn enjoys fishing, reading, and attending concerts. He is originally from Conroe, TX.
