In conversation with Sean Roukey

In conversation with...

Sean Roukey

Reliable Controls Business Development Executive for Northeast USA

What inspired you to pursue a career in building automation?

I’m very interested in the technology and everything that goes on behind the scenes. Building automation has such an impact on our everyday lives, and most of us don't realize it’s there until there's a problem! I’m intrigued by the prospect of using technology to enhance a building user's experience.

How have you seen the controls industry evolve over the years?

When I first started working in the field, there was no such thing as data analytics. A service technician was dispatched for monthly preventative maintenance tickets, most of the time with paperwork orders. There were no data-driven maintenance activities. Enhanced analytics are relatively new to the building automation industry. When they were introduced, everyone who worked in the field was looking at it like John Henry and the steam shovel—like the technology was going to take our jobs. But looking back on it now, I wish it was available to help me when I was a technician.

What excites you most about your role as a Business Development Executive at Reliable Controls?

I’m excited to consult with our Authorized Dealers on how to grow their businesses and further develop beneficial relationships in the marketplace. I’m also excited about the hyper focus on the customer experience here at Reliable Controls and the mission to achieve the most satisfied customers in the building automation industry. Throughout my career, I have tried to help customers by looking at the issues from their perspective. It’s always been a successful approach for me, and now I’m working with a team who shares my passion for this methodology. 

How do you see the future of smart buildings and sustainability evolving?

I believe we are just getting started with data analytics, predictive maintenance, and fault detection and diagnostics. I see a lot of challenges with integration and producing quality data to drive outcomes. This reduces trust in technology, but with time I believe integration and data-harvesting methods will improve and systems will become more open. This will generate more accurate and impactful activities and in time increase trust in the technology. We use connected data through IoT systems every day. Our navigation apps use data from connected devices to route us around traffic; the apps on our phone can tell us when there's an issue with our car. Even our refrigerators can tell us we need to pick up something from the grocery store. Isn't it time we had the same expectations from our buildings?

What do you think makes Reliable Controls a trusted partner for Authorized Dealers?

Reliable Controls genuinely cares about our dealer network, and many employees and employees of Authorized Dealers are personal friends. Whether it's an end-user issue or a dealer issue, the Reliable Controls team wants to be a resource to help find solutions.

What motivates you most in your work?

Helping people solve problems!

Interested in how Sean and Reliable Controls can help you better manage your buildings? Reach out today.