There’s an adage that says those who cannot do, teach. Colin Dees is a welcome exception. He’s an adjunct professor, researcher, author, speaker, and consultant. Colin founded Dees Consulting, LLC, to help distributors optimize profitability and growth. Jason caught up with his longtime friend to learn more about his expertise in supply chain management and customer pricing strategies. The pair also explores the rewards of lifelong learning, be it in the classroom or on the warehouse floor.
“I sometimes feel like I was raised in distribution,” Colin laughs. I was an HVAC service technician starting when I was, like, 15 years old, and I was in and around distributors constantly.” He built relationships early on, which eventually connected him to a HARDI scholarship. “I look back on that moment and how important that scholarship was,” he says.“I would work all day on the counter, then as soon as work was over, I went to school at night.”
The HARDI scholarship, coupled with company-sponsored tuition reimbursement, set Colin on a path that includes earning a Master’s degree from Jacksonville University and a Ph.D. in construction science management from Clemson University. “I wanted something close to a trade, but I wanted a high level of education,” he explains. “I never want to separate myself from the trades.” Colin has kept to his word for 23 years.
When he’s not teaching the next generation of industry leaders, Colin is busy helping distributors make vital operational improvements. Although he’s fluent in the languages of business intelligence and M&A, his true passion lies in helping distributors optimize their customer pricing structure. “I like to think that there’s always a good balance between science and art,” he says, noting that the emotional component is just as important to the pricing matrix as the data.
Colin relies on his mentoring skills to help clients process his complex recommendations. “This area of profitability speaks to a wide audience. I’m really passionate about sharing that,” he says. “I wanna be known as somebody who helped educate, helped train, and helped grow somebody professionally or personally.”
College may not be for everyone, but knowledge certainly is.
QUOTES
“I talk to, especially younger people, and I say, you don’t have to go to college. I want to always make that clear. It’s like college is not for everybody, but what is for everybody is learning and educating themselves.”
“If you can’t get excited about a bunch of data and a bunch of price matrices, and that scientific side of the business, then let the profitability inspire you.”
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Distribution Talk is produced by The Distribution Team, a consulting services firm dedicated to helping wholesale distribution clients remove barriers to profitability, generate wealth, and achieve personal goals.
This episode was edited by The Creative Impostor Studios
Special thanks to our sponsors for this episode: Profit2, helping distributors charge the right price; and INxSQL Distribution Software, an integrated distribution ERP software designed for the wholesale and distribution industry.
