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October 2002
Paul Eisenhuth is the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Universal Electrical Service in Franconia, PA. Paul started working with Universal in October 2002. A former submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, Eisenhuth was previously the President of InfraSource Integrated Services, a unit of Exelon Corporation, and had been the GM of Manufacturing for Keystone Spikes Corporation of Lebanon, PA.
KAI: When did you begin this most recent career transition?
Paul: I was with InfraSource Integrated Services, a unit of Exelon Corporation, for 18 months as the business unit President. In the spring of 2002, the parent company had decided to close that particular unit, so I knew before the June 2002 shutdown that I would be making a change. I had an employment contract, which specified that I would receive outplacement services, and that I would have a choice as to which outplacement company to work with.
KAI: Why did you choose Kelleher Associates?
Paul:
I had talked to several different companies, and felt that Kelleher Associates would give me the best results. There were a few specific things I was looking for. Unlike most of their competitors, Kelleher Associates performed an in-depth analysis of what I like to do, what I am good at, and then where I might it in the marketplace. My goal was to remain in the Philadelphia area, and Kelleher Associates is very well connected in this region. And I liked Ed Kelleher right away, his experience and his approach. He's a true professional willing to give me very good advice and steer me in the right direction. He wasn't telling me what I wanted to hear, but what I needed to hear.
KAI: What were some of the things Kelleher Associates did that really helped you in your transition?
Paul: It's a very structured approach, and they really take the time to lay a proper groundwork. They were not just about getting resumes out, but truly focused on understanding what I like to do and what I am good at, then helped me build my resume and materials based upon that. Ed took the time to learn where I wanted to be, what part of the marketplace did I want to be in. Another thing that they offer is that they are ready to provide emotional support in what can be a very traumatic time. Since I knew my transition was imminent, I did not need this help, but was impressed that it was available. I was of the mindset that I should be looking for another executive position in a business-to-business, service-oriented industry. Kelleher Associates opened my eyes to a number of possibilities I had not considered. We looked at the venture capital sector, looked at starting my own business, and the possibility of working with turnaround companies. They provided other options that I really hadn't thought about.
KAI: How did you find the position at Universal Electrical Service?
Paul:
It was through Ed Kelleher and his connections. The company's owner was working with a recruiting firm to fill this position. Ed had a personal relationship with the recruiting firm so they called Ed, and asked him if he knew of anyone who might fit the bill, and we just went on from there. Ed has a very strong network with the top recruiters in the area, and they call him because they know he knows top-flight people. Universal Electrical Service is an industrial electrical contractor, and we've done work in 37 states as well as Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The company's owner wanted to pull back from the day-to-day operations and was looking for someone not only to run the company, but a possible owner and successor. That was an option, which Kelleher Associates helped me identify, and something I was very interested in doing. The entire exercise, which took just over four months from the when I left InfraSource to the day I started at Universal, confirmed what I wanted to do and put me on the right path to achieve it.
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