From Engineer to President: Leadership, Growth and CMMC with Tad Sellers
RSS Feed How do you grow from a technical expert into the leader of an engineering firm?
Trevor Davis sits down with Tad Sellers, P.E., President and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vansant & Gusler, Inc., for a candid conversation about engineering leadership, professional responsibility, business development, workforce challenges, remote work, and CMMC.
Tad shares how childhood electronics kits led him to electrical engineering, how he advanced from a new graduate to company president, and why leading a small firm requires far more than technical expertise. He also explains the responsibility behind signing and sealing engineering plans, his learn-by-doing approach to developing engineers, and the challenge of giving employees room to grow while maintaining high standards.
The conversation also examines the practical realities of CMMC for smaller firms pursuing government work, including cost, internal effort, CUI uncertainty, and the potential competitive advantage of preparing early.
Along the way, Tad and Trevor discuss engineering talent shortages, hybrid work, work-life balance, design-build partnerships, and what sustainable growth could look like for Vansant & Gusler.
In this episode:
- Moving from engineer to president
- Leading and developing technical professionals
- Engineering ethics and public responsibility
- Recruiting during an engineering talent shortage
- CMMC costs and risks for small businesses
- Remote work in a collaborative engineering environment
- Building stronger contractor and design-build relationships
- Casamigos Reposado, coconut notes, and the case for sipping good tequila
Learn more about Vansant & Gusler: Professional Services - Vansant & Gusler, Inc. Consulting Engineers
About Tad SellersTad Sellers, P.E., is President and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vansant & Gusler, Inc., where his leadership is rooted in technical accountability, hands-on mentorship, strong relationships, and the belief that professional excellence and work-life balance can coexist.
President and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vansant & Gusler, Inc
Tad Sellers, P.E., is President and Chief Electrical Engineer at Vansant & Gusler, Inc., a Norfolk, Virginia-based mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering and commissioning firm. With more than 30 years of experience, Tad has designed electrical systems and managed projects for government, institutional, commercial, and industrial facilities. His expertise includes project management and the design of interior and exterior power and lighting, electrical distribution, emergency power, grounding, communications, fire alarm, and security systems, as well as short-circuit and coordination studies and arc-flash analysis.
Tad earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Duke University and joined Vansant & Gusler after graduation. Over the course of his career, he progressed from an electrical engineer performing hands-on drafting and design work to senior electrical engineer, department leader, and ultimately president of the firm.
Today, Tad provides overall leadership and strategic direction for the firm while remaining actively involved in technical oversight and project delivery. His role includes maintaining the firm’s engineering standards and overseeing quality assurance, mentoring and developing employees, strengthening client and industry relationships, identifying new opportunities, and guiding the firm’s continued growth.
Tad’s commitment to developing V&G’s team and the next generation of engineers is central to his leadership approach. He emphasizes hands-on experience and mentorship, strong partners… Read More