From Apprentice to Vice President: Ken Pickett’s Leadership Journey
He joined A.O. Reed in 1998 as an apprentice. His career progressed from there to sheet metal worker, journeyman, foreman, and general foreman. His latest role as Vice President of Operations is one he has held for the past six years. Ken will retire on August 31, closing out a career defined by hard work, mentorship, and service to the field. Ken is not leading from a distance, as he knows the work firsthand. “Being in the field showed me the importance of listening before making decisions, and that the people closest to the work often have the best understanding of what’s practical, efficient, and safe.” Ken leads with composure and respect, and he values input from the people with their boots on the ground.
“Everybody within our office, we only exist to support the field.” Ken truly embodies servant leadership, sharing, “Decisions made at an executive level have a direct impact on the crews, schedule, safety, and customer.” Regardless of job title, he values accountability, ownership, trust,and solving problems where they happen. “If everybody does their best to solve every issue at their level, it’s going to make everybody’s job a lot easier.”
One of the biggest turning points in Ken’s career was his work on Rady Children’s Hospital, which was the first large-scale project he led as a general foreman. It was an OSHPD job, which means it was governed by a very strict regulatory body with intense requirements and inspections. “That project taught me to trust and appreciate the incredible sheet metal workers A.O. Reed has in the field. It also taught me how to break a large project into smaller, more manageable areas, so you don’t get overwhelmed by the size of it.”
Mentorship and teamwork have proven to be the key steps to success in his professional journey. “The experiences that shaped me the most were working alongside people who took pride in their craft and were willing to teach others.” Ken is experienced enough to guide, but grounded enough to listen, and he works to “stay connected to our teams and make sure their input is part of the process.”
When he’s not working, Ken enjoys spending time with his wife Joana and is usually out in the middle of the ocean on a fishing excursion anywhere from Alaska to Costa Rica. His favorite is halibut fishing, and his largest catch was a 300 pound tuna.
One piece of advice he has for those wanting to progress in their career: “You should always accept the challenge. If you accept the challenge and put the time in, that’s how you move up.”
