Synergy is spotlighting some of our new Synergy members to help you get to know them a little bit better. We asked each new member some questions so we could learn more about them and their business. Check out below to read all about John Kotek (LMS Building Systems):
1. What originally got you interested in your current field of work?
While in college, I was working part-time in the tennis department of a country club. Most days it was empty which allowed me to do my homework while earning my engineering degree. One day, our company founder’s daughters were there participating in a tennis tournament. I knew them from high school, we had a conversation, and they asked my focus of study. They offered to connect me with their father who owned an HVAC professional services company. It was a potential internship, although in an industry that was foreign to me. I celebrated my 29th year anniversary with the company in March 2022.
2. What do you love most about what you do?
One of the things I love is learning what is good about people. During our first conversation, the interview, on-boarding, and our relationship over time, I personally gain energy from understanding who people are and then recognizing who they can become. I am blessed in my life that someone saw some potential in me and provided an opportunity. It started with them taking an interest in me. I recognize this. Now I get to give this to others.
3. Who inspires you?
It is difficult to indicate a single “who”. For me, inspiration comes from experiencing people do the right thing when it is really hard, put others before themselves, sacrifice things today to gain more later, and take 100% responsibility for everything in their lives. Extraordinary people inspire me.
4. What is your favorite thing about the area you live in?
Not exactly sure why everyone else lives in Las Vegas, but 115F degree heat serves our business well and creates a sustainable need for our services. It is also great to have the best restaurants and entertainment in the world located right down the street. There is always something to do.
5. What is your most prized possession and why?
All the men in our family wear the same St. Christopher silver chain around our necks. He is the patron saint of travelers and has a very interesting “legend” story about him. It is an important possession, not especially for the good intent to keep me safe, but more for the bond created amongst our family members and that we are always together, even when not physically present.
6. What charity or cause are you most passionate about?
I have participated in many causes over my career, including Big Brothers Big Sisters as a “Big” for a nine-year period. A recent cause I have been dedicated to is American Red Cross. In addition to regular financial donations to help those most in need, I also donate blood with conscientious regularity. The motivation for me came after the tragic mass killing of 58 people at the Route 91 country music festival on the Las Vegas strip. The degrees of separation among people is so small that each of us, either knew someone in attendance, or another who did. It was a terrible time for our community. I believe we all came together amazingly. Giving blood was my small contribution then and will continue to be going forward. Vegas Strong!
7. What is the best thing you got from your parents?
That there is no silver bullet. Earning success is hard, laborious, tedious, and sometimes boring. We win because of the positive habits we develop, and the consistency in applying those habits.
8. What have you learned as a business leader since the COVID pandemic?
COVID came with a great deal of challenges and uncertainty, which has impacted the world. And while it was uniquely difficult in Las Vegas, I have learned that we have become stronger because of it. For as long as I have been with LMS, we have managed waves of industry and economic ups and downs that directly impacted the company. But, we have been fortunate to have the caliber of dedicated associates who have developed essential skills to adapt to changes. As a business leader, I have realized that no matter how difficult the business climate is, putting our associates first – even through trying times like COVID – continues to carry us through.
