LeRoy Nosbaum is the retired President and CEO of Itron, Inc., a leading provider of global water and energy industries and a producer of intelligent metering, utility software solutions and data collection. Mr. Nosbaum joined Itron in 1996, was promoted to President and CEO in 2000, and was elected Chairman in 2002. After retiring in 2009, he was called back to Itron and served as President and CEO for 2011. During his tenure, Itron's annual sales grew from $200 million to $2.4 billion.
After graduating from high school in 1964, Mr. Nosbaum attended Valparaiso University where he graduated with a bachelor's of science degree in electrical engineering. He then went on to a 20-year career at Sangamo Electric Company, rising through the ranks and living in many places throughout the United States. Before coming to Itron, Mr. Nosbaum served a stint at a Bay Area company called Metricom, where he learned about the quirks of start-ups, IPOs, and venture funds. LeRoy Nosbaum is married to his college sweetheart, Brenda, and has two children. He is a distinguished and respected leader in his industry and in the Spokane business community.
Mr. Nosbaum's advice included the following:
5 keys to Success
1. Experience - Take every job you are offered when moving through a company.
2. Pay Attention to Your Boss - You can anticipate the needs of your boss by asking yourself the following questions: What matters to your boss? What does your boss like or dislike? What works and what does not work?
3. Be a Studied Observer - Make a point to observe everything including employees, customers & clients, bosses. It is also important to know how the company works.
4. Excel at Communication - Written and public speaking, powerful persuasion, knowing your audience, and being quick on your feet are all important communication skills to have.
5. Care about Your Company - Fight for what you think is right, apologize when you are wrong, speak up for customers, and fix problems.
Tips, Phrases and Mottos to Live By:
- When running a company, focus on "making money every day" in order to become more profitable.
- Nothing is chiseled in stone, find your own way.
- Judge your own interactions with others. How would you respond if you were in their shoes?
- Learn your trade well.
- "Manage the Mood" - The mood you portray will be mirrored by your people.
- People are everything. Treat them with respect.
- Build a complementary team around you. Don't surround yourself with people who are exactly like you.
- Curb your appetite in good times, so you will be able to make it through the lean times.
- In regard to cutting back, "Do it now, do it quick, do it deep." Otherwise you will kill morale.
- Make decisions and implement them. Don't sit on them.
- Tell the truth. Always.
- Listen to people, because they will tell you everything you need to know to move forward.
Student Contribution: Joshua Crowe, Tyler Friends
