Mike Kendall

“I really enjoy being a manager and showing and teaching people the skills they need to perform their jobs successfully. Growing new and talented individuals is always exciting and rewarding.” 

Every day, Mike is focused on learning and growth. As a leader, he takes pride in helping his team grow and learn new skills to position them for success in their jobs. As a manager, he strives to help the company grow by achieving sales goals through working hard, leading by example, and identifying new customer opportunities. Mike is already taking on an all-new learning and growth challenge with a recent promotion and a family move to Chicago, Illinois, from Houston, Texas, where he was born and raised. 

Mike got his start in the industry in 2010 after his dream to be a pro soccer player didn’t pan out. Having grown up around the industry, he knew his Plan B. His grandfather, dad, and uncles all worked in oil and gas or chemical and industrial plants, making him the third generation to work with valves. His career began as a manufacturer’s rep and progressed through what he calls “doing a little bit of everything” — and all along the way he was building on what his dad first taught him about the industry.  

Four years ago, Mike came to Ferguson Industrial and has since focused on serving customers and leading teams to reach their full potential. He started as Valve Automation Manager, became Sales Manager in La Porte, Texas, and will be the new Director of Industrial for the Central Midwest leading the industrial sales strategy and the sales team. He credits his wife, Colette, for her love and support, for keeping him grounded, and for keeping his personal life in order so he can focus on his team and his career. 

What Mike enjoys most about his job is being hands-on with both customers and his team every day. He values the chance to meet new people, getting to know customers and being able to help make a difference for them. His motto comes from business management rock star Tom Peters: “Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.” His leadership approach is grounded in teamwork, promoting personal growth, encouraging different thinking, making work fun, and understanding you’re never the smartest person in the room. 

In his new role, Mike will continue to focus on learning and growth. He’s excited about the opportunity to be a part of his new team, to support, contribute to, and lead his team to success in the Central Midwest. Having spent his entire career in the Gulf Coast, he’s looking forward to learning how things are done in a different area. He’s also going to enjoy sharing his knowledge, his unique leadership approach, and a little bit of his Southern swagger with his new team.