Mitch Olson
Assistant Vice President, Global Connections & Supply Chain Strategy at AT&T

I have worked alongside Jerry for the past seven years, and reported directly to him for the past five. During this period of time, rarely have I ever felt as though I worked for Jerry Hogan; rather, I feel as though I work with him – a trait that I’ve learned few managers know how to provide. Thanks primarily to Jerry, I have learned more about business and gained experience that I would have never thought possible a few years ago. Over the past five years, Jerry has mentored me in the disciplines of R&D, Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations to name a few. Jerry’s skills as a manager are a rarity. Simply put, he understands how to motivate an employee in order to get the most out of them. When I first arrived at SymCom, most of the employees put in their 40 and bolted for the door. Once Jerry was promoted to COO, the culture shifted overnight. Now, it’s not uncommon to see employees putting in 60 hour weeks. It’s important to note that Jerry hasn’t once urged people to do this – SymCom employees simply like doing what they do and who they do it for. Jerry’s business experience and knowledge is unparalleled. Even though Jerry is a degreed electrical design engineer, the true value he offers is a result of his extensive background in management, marketing, finance, and operations. The most unique aspect of Jerry’s technical skills is that he is able to combine them with a very pragmatic, big picture approach. Perhaps Jerry’s most important quality, is his relentless drive towards excellence. Jerry wants to be the best at everything he does, and he wants to help those around him to be the best at what they do. He is the most goal-driven individual I have ever met, and the wealth of expertise he can offer to fellow co-workers is an invaluable asset.