Ryan Linn already had interest from multiple companies when he agreed to an interview request from Sentry Equipment. Right away, though, he realized other companies couldn’t measure up to Sentry Equipment. Thirteen years later, he knows he made the right decision – and is looking forward to a long and satisfying career.

When Ryan started, he was impressed by the company’s focus on employees. “Sentry Equipment has such a strong focus on the shop and the safety of their employees. It was something I really enjoyed seeing,” he says.

He continues to enjoy his time within the shop from his original position as an Assembler B before to his current role as a Quality Inspector. This career trajectory comes from a focus on continuous learning opportunities, including receiving several certifications such as universal refrigeration technician and weld inspections.

“Sentry Equipment has a willingness to train and continue to educate their employees which allows for a lot of work variety,” says Ryan.

Ryan Linn

Quality inspector

Three things he’d take on a deserted island: “A fishing pole, a gun to hunt for food, and a lighter.”

What does he do when he’s not working? “I like going to the shooting range. I’m also restoring my 1904 farmhouse and taking care of a 20-year old, a toddler and a 9-month old with my wife.”

If you could be or do anything else, what would it be? “Growing up, I wanted to be a custom car designer. Now I’d work in auto restoration if I could. I’m currently working on a ‘57 Chevrolet Bel Air.”

Variety is the spice of life

On any given day, he gets to do a variety of work that keeps him engaged and interested. A typical workday involves “a little bit of everything,” from collaborating with his teammates to conducting visual inspections.

His biggest challenge is adapting to the changing needs of customers. Documentation needs vary by customer, which means Ryan double checks requirements for each country, industry and more to ensure the customer gets exactly what they need.

However, it is these kinds of challenges that help him thrive. “I get excited about nothing staying the same and working through the challenges of the day – everything is new,” he says. “There’s a variety of work, and the quality team is full of hardworking, A players.”

He’s proud of being part of the company’s growth through new product lines and acquisitions, which has not only increased revenues but has grown personnel by nearly 40% from the time he started.

As he sees it, the future is bright. Personally, he’d like to obtain even more certifications in quality to help improve the department and the company overall. And company-wide, he’s looking forward to continuing the growth of product lines and developing Sentry’s profile in the Houston area.

It’s all part of his motto: Always be learning. “Anytime you’re offered to be taught something, do it. You never know where it will take you, and you might like it more than you thought. At Sentry Equipment, the sky’s the limit when it comes to career growth.” 

Employee-Owner Profiles is a regular feature that highlights members of our team. As an employee-owned company, Sentry Equipment believes that employee ownership makes a difference. Our employee-owners are dedicated to hard work, positive results and continual improvement and innovation to provide our customers the highest quality products and services.