Jonathan Peck is UG2’s Senior Vice President of Operations for New England & Tri-State Regions.
As he approached his two-year anniversary at UG2, we spoke with him about his time in the industry and his experience at UG2.
UG2: You’ve worked in this industry a long time, and yet you continue to bring so much energy to your work. You seem to really get a charge out of the day-to-day stuff. What’s your secret?
JP: Back in 1990, I fell into the industry by chance, and I fell in love with it. I started with UNICCO Service Company and worked in a variety of roles for many years. Eventually the company went through a series of changes, and over time I started to feel I was missing what was important when working in a family first culture company. In 2019 I figured out that I needed to take control of my future. Coming to UG2 was like a reset button. UG2 brought back what I was missing – those feelings of empowerment, engagement, autonomy, family, trust, and teamwork. I put my head on the pillow each night now and know exactly what I’m doing the next day. I wake up with a purpose, deliberate intent, incredible drive, and shared vison. It doesn’t even feel like you’re “working”. You want to be a part of it because it’s so enriching – that’s culture!
UG2: You bring an important perspective based on your varied experience in the industry. What different positions have you held?
JP: At 22, as a recent college graduate, I was working at a gas station looking for the right job. I was fortunate to stumble upon the UNICCO organization. They took a chance on me and hired me based on my character, not my experience. I worked days and nights learning the business from the inside out. I completed UNICCO’s six-month training program and landed in Human Resources for two years working on training and development programs. Then, John Correia encouraged me to join the Operations team. I left HR and went to work full time in Operations servicing the company’s customers in the commercial and higher education sectors. I worked nights as an account manager, and over time advanced in my career and got to learn the business through a variety of roles and experiences. I held positions in Human Resources, Operations, Business Development, Client Retention and Executive Management.
Over those years, the company went through a lot of changes. As the company grew exponentially, I lost that sense of really being connected to our most valuable assets – our customers and our employees. I missed being part of a people centric culture and the engagement inspired at all levels in the organization. I had professionally left the doors open with many of my former colleagues and mentors who were now at UG2 and officially joined them in September 2019.
UG2: What advice do you have for others when it comes to managing people and relationships?
JP: Early on in my career at UNICCO, one of my mentors said “You have two ears and one mouth” – listen to others and you will hear what is really important. Ask the right questions, be inquisitive and be curious, and actually listen to what people are telling you. Figure out their pain points and you can develop a customized solution. You’ve got to be open to one another and build a trusted relationship with your customers and team.
I firmly believe it starts from the top. Here at UG2, our CEO comes into the office enthused, engaged, smiling and treats us all like a family. You’re not a number or a person on a spreadsheet or a line item on a budget. Each person, regardless of the seat you sit in or the team you work on, is an integral piece of the puzzle that makes our company so unique and valuable.
UG2: What are your feelings about mentoring, from both sides of the equation?
JP: I learned early on that you have only a handful mentors in your life. These mentors of mine helped shape the person who I am today, both professionally and personally. In my current role at UG2 I’m like the elder statesman, so my job is always to guide, coach and mentor the next generation. I have had opportunities to mentor people who are totally different from me, with different backgrounds and skills. It has been so rewarding to learn from their differences and diverse perspectives. I’ve learned to look for and embrace difference in my daily job. I’ve helped people quietly with tips and tricks I’ve learned along my tenured career and to see them succeed and excel— these are rewarding experiences.
In the end, it’s about having compassion, being genuine, taking care of employees and your customers and being empathetic. We have so much to offer, helping customers find solutions to their problems. Coming into this role at UG2 two years ago has made me more reflective and reminded me how impactful and rewarding it is to be part of a business that puts people first—employees and customers—every time. I’m just so proud and fortunate to be part of this family at UG2.