Hey Noah! It's awesome to have you here. To start, could you introduce yourself to our wonderful audience and share a bit about your journey in the tech industry?
My name is Noah McKernan and I am the President of NDT Products Limited, an NDT equipment distributor in Canada. I joined the family business out of university and have been here for 11 years now, holding a few different sales and management roles. My journey in this industry has been very exciting, because although I am not technician by trade, being on the supplier side has allowed me to be a part of so many different exciting applications and industries with amazing people.
We go way back, and I know you've had quite the journey. Can you share a moment in your career that made you think, "Wow, I've really come a long way"?
I think the 10 year mark was a big milestone for me. It has been great to grow alongside our customers and watch new and old employees alike go through various stages of their careers.
You've worn so many different hats over the years. What's the most surprising lesson you've learned from being the National Sales Manager to now being the President of NDT Products?
With increased responsibility should come increased accountability. Any employee should have accountability in their position, but moving into a president/ownership role, you realize that everything stops with you and everything is your fault. This also translates well into our industry. I believe our industry is extremely important in supporting the safety and integrity of our critical infrastructure, which makes it extremely important for everyone involved to maintain a high level of accountability and integrity.
Speaking of leadership, if you could invite any three leaders, past or present, to a dinner party, who would they be and what would you ask them? Oh, and what would be on the menu?
Gary Vaynerchuk, Bobby Hundreds and Tommy Mello. I enjoy learning from people in a variety of different industries, sectors and points in their career. I think it is important to have a mix of tactical business inspiration as well as emotional/creative inspiration. With Gary Vee, I would discuss all things marketing and family business dynamics. With Bobby, it would anything creative and community-driven. And with Tommy, I would discuss very tactical questions when it comes to building a successful business and navigating the different stages of ownership. I'm likely one of the few vegan people in this industry so on the menu would be anything veg!
The non-destructive testing world is always changing. What's one trend or technology that has you geeking out right now?
I definitely have my eye on UAV/Robotic technologies and how (or how much) they are going to impact the traditional inspection methods. I think it will be interesting to see how these technologies improve (not replace) more of the manual inspections. I also think AI will eventually be a huge player in this space. Inspections can involved a significant amount of data, like thousands of auto parts or km’s worth of pipeline, and I think there will eventually be an important component of AI that can enhance speed and detectability.
Can you tell us about a project at NDT Products that made you think, "This is why I get up in the morning"? Maybe one that had you doing a little happy dance?
I love any time that we can be a part of a complete project for a customer, from the beginning to the end and supporting them every step of the way. I was/am involved in 2 projects like that - a tank car manufacturer and turbine facility. The tank car manufacturer required 2 separate digital xray systems; one for the half tanks and another for the completed tank. Another is a turbine facility looking to implement digital Xray into their own procedures so is building a vault and system from the ground up. These projects allow us to get deep with each customer and really work with their team.
We all know things don't always go as planned. Can you share a time when a project went sideways, but your quick thinking turned it into a win? Bonus points if it’s a funny story!
Things don’t go as planned almost every day! Currently, we have a fabrication job for an LPI system that is months overdue and the customer is very unhappy. We are doing everything we can to help turn this into a win with lots of discounting and free services in the future. Hoping to turn this one into a win very soon. As a company, it is not how you show up for your customers when things are going well… it is how you show up for them when things have hit the fan!
Creating a great work environment is so important. What's one fun or quirky thing you do to keep the team spirit high at NDT Products?
We try to have company outings or parties whenever possible! Christmas is a great time to get the whole team together for a day/night to have a little fun outside of work. Most recently, we closed the office for a day and went to a Toronto Blue Jays game. When culture is bad then events like this might feel like a band aid, but when culture is strong these events can really help to connect with each other and improve our overall values and performance as a team.
How do you stay on top of industry trends and advancements? Any favorite blogs, podcasts, or books that you just can't get enough of?
LinkedIn is probably the primary resource for staying connected in the industry and with colleagues. I think other platforms like OneStop NDT provide a ton of valuable content that is very industry and application specific. Another great resource would be our vendors website. We work with a variety of great vendors that work very hard at creating white papers, application notes, product improvements, etc.
Noah, Mentorship is key. Who has been a significant mentor in your life, and what's the best piece of advice they've given you that still makes you chuckle or think today?
Within this industry, it would probably be my Dad. Like most family dynamics, we are very different people. But I think his experience and personality have really taught me a lot when it comes to how you treat your people, how you handle tough situations with both customers and vendors, and how to handle my liquor at work events!
For those just starting in the tech industry, what's one piece of advice you wish you had received early on? And maybe a funny lesson learned the hard way?
I would say hard work and accountability are a great place to start in any industry or career. Now that I have moved into more of a leadership role, I really try to keep an eye out for the people that go above and beyond without being asked or managed. I think those are the type of people that are going to far outperform the rest, no matter what your background or education.
Let's lighten things up—when you're not being the tech wizard extraordinaire, how do you unwind? Any hobbies or guilty pleasures we should know about?
My hobby is definitely my family at the moment! I have a 1 and a 3 year old so that keep me very busy. We live in the city so love going to parks, swimming, skating, etc. Outside of that I enjoy music/concerts and playing almost any sports.
How do your personal interests and hobbies influence your professional life? Any surprising crossovers or funny stories?
One area of crossover is that I always try to make the most of any work trips! As soon as I have a trip planned, I start looking for things to do in the area. I usually start with restaurants, concerts or games in town, or maybe an activity/workout. During the last ASNT Annual Conference in Houston I was able to catch an Astros playoff game 7! They lost… but still had a great time.
On a more whimsical note, if you had a superpower to solve one major industry challenge, what would it be and how would you use it?
Better economics for everyone involved! With how important and critical the role of inspection is in the world, quality should never be sacrificed for the sake of profits or making ends meet. I think ensuring that finances are secure, to the best of our ability, would allow the industry to focus on what it does best, and that’s protecting our critical infrastructure.
Last one, a fun one—if you could describe your journey in the tech industry with a movie title, what would it be and why?
Succession - being in a family business is a very unique experience, and I think that show captured the craziness of that dynamic and a wild and hilarious way (maybe with a lot more ‘000’s involved though!)
Finally, platforms like OnestopNDT are growing in popularity. How do you see these platforms shaping the future of our industry, and how do they bring value to professionals like yourself?
I think platforms like this provide a great forum for like minded individuals to learn, connect and grow within the industry. Social platforms are great for a variety of content and connection, but something like OneStop NDT is tailored perfectly for our community.
Noah, it's been an absolute blast chatting with you. Thanks for all the laughs and insights! Looking forward to seeing the amazing things you'll continue to do at NDT Products!
