Gainesville, Texas
Traveling through Denver International Airport? Don’t worry about your bag getting lost – Jim Lierow has your back. As part of the team that got the airport’s baggage system running properly, he has saved thousands of travelers the time and stress that comes with checking your bag. Jim Lierow has served in many ways for his entire career. After 25 years of duty in the US Army and retiring as a Major, Jim joined various companies in food production. He protected consumers from food safety issues and recalls by guaranteeing the standard and processes of production that his team followed.
Jim is currently serving as Managing Director at Crucial Assets. He loves the opportunity to do new things every day and Jim’s ability to manage not only his team and responsibilities at work, but also prioritize caring for his family is a major accomplishment.
Jim Lierow, thank you for everything you do. We honor and appreciate your never ending service to our country and public wellbeing.
How did you get started in maintenance?
I started my technical career in the Army. I had a degree in English, but they said that I was an engineer. It turned out that they were right. I had great fun as an engineer and leader in the Army for over 25 years and retired as a Major. However, it is my degree in English and the project management skills that I picked up in the Army that have propelled my career. It turns out that engineers need help communicating, and the Army and my English degree gave me the skills to do just that.
I went back to school in my late 30’s to obtain a deeper technical background. I chose Aviation Electronics because I had always been around planes and thought I could work longer on the ground than as a pilot. The truth is that I never touched an airplane after I graduated. I was hired immediately out of school by an industrial instrumentation company.
Working in various industries as a field service engineer and later as a manager offers new and profitable challenges every day. The work that I had initially done as a writer keeps pulling me back into technical writing and project management for all sorts of companies.
What is one of your proudest achievements?
I am proud of the teams that I have been able to build over my career that have made a difference in people’s lives. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from numerous technicians and I’ve been recognized by my internal peers and external contractors as a change agent. I am proud that I have built a deep skill set in applying the best maintenance practices and using the best Computerized Maintenance Management Systems that are available.
What is one thing you wish people knew about your job?
It is a challenge to get team members to want to do the right thing every time. It is my job to be sure that the team receives the best instructions, resources, and opportunities to succeed. That’s why I have adopted the Servant Leader Philosophy and believe that the leader is a servant of the team. It doesn’t mean that I am a pushover nor does it mean I am a tyrant. You lead by example and make sure they know you have their back.