This is third in a series related to clients I learn from and admire.
Mike Klockenga is the President/Owner of Progressive Electric in Lincoln. I have known Mike since 1990 when we both worked for Sundstrand Aerospace (now Hamilton Sundstrand).
Mike was a Plant Manager for Sundstrand in York, Nebraska and I reported to him as his Human Resource leader.
Mike was the type of operations leader that thought that Human Resources was a crucial area of the organization. He was the only manufacturing executive I ever reported to that I actually learned new methods/approaches from in Human Resource management! He was a master at getting the best out of people not only because he was technically competent but because he was such connective leader who made every employee feel important and energized about our plant site metric goals. His interest in each and every employee was evident and real.
I also admire Mike because he is a selfless friend and leader. He has accounted for at least a handful of new executive searches for my firm due to his connections. Most importantly, Mike never wants me to send him a gift for these important and successful introductions. He just wants to make sure that when I am in Nebraska, I look him up and stop by.
Progressive Electric employees are very lucky. They have an owner and leader who believes in his employees, thinks that Human Resource issues are important and a strategic part of the business plan. He also has a big heart and seldom thinks about his own personal gain. Mike just likes to see people and organizations grow and that is his reward.
