GenComm is delighted to welcome Jeff Heil to our team as Operations Manager for our Madison office. He brings valuable law enforcement experience to the role and believes strongly in the value of GenComm’s critical work. We recently chatted with Jeff to learn more about his background, position, and life outside of work.
Tell us a bit more about your past experience.
I retired after 28 years with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, having worked in all four divisions of the agency as a deputy sheriff, sergeant, and lieutenant. My last role was the Training Lieutenant, which involved overseeing the budgeting, hiring, recruiting, and training for the agency, the law enforcement and jail academies, and the Dane County Law Enforcement Training Center.
I earned a BA in Criminal Justice from UW-Eau Claire and an MBA in Finance from Upper Iowa University. I graduated from the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute and the National Command College. I have also been on the Board of Directors for the Dane County Credit Union and Heartland Credit Union for the past 12 years.
What brought you to this industry and specifically to GenComm? What do you enjoy most about working at GenComm so far?
I was led to GenComm and the industry due to my past law enforcement career, which gave me familiarity with radios and police equipment, and my interest in managing people and projects. GenComm supports the efforts of first responders, which gave the work a strong sense of purpose and made it feel meaningful. I was impressed by the many long-term employees here, and the role felt like a natural progression of my career.
What has a typical day for you as Operations Manager at the Madison office looked like thus far?
In these first weeks, I have been studying the company and its diverse business lines. I am learning from the other employees to build an understanding of the products we sell and of how the company works. I am hopeful that this knowledge will be a strong foundation for making a meaningful and positive impact on Madison operations.
What do you enjoy about working and living in the Madison area?
The Madison area is a great place to raise a family and appreciate the outdoors and unique Madison activities. We enjoy Wisconsin Badgers football, Art Fair on the Square, and the many state and county parks in southern Wisconsin.
What are you most passionate about at work?
I enjoy learning new things and making processes and practices more efficient and effective. I have found training and developing people and their skills to be the most rewarding parts of my career.
What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
Both of our kids are active in sports and music activities at school, so my wife and I spend much of our time at school-related activities for our two high school children. We are active volunteers with Golden Retriever Rescue of Wisconsin and like to travel in our motorhome. I also enjoy walking our dogs and woodworking and home improvement projects.