Vice President and General Manager, Donald Guzauckas, Jr. celebrates thirty years with HB Live.
Don started his career at HB Live through a connection with the Dean of the University of New Haven. After what he recalls as a 90 second interview, Don was hired in November of 1989 as an AV technician. No longer operating AV equipment, Don serves as Vice President of HB Live and applies concepts of “ownership thinking” to provide value to the company.
Building a Legacy
At Live, Don rapidly moved up through the ranks. Throughout his tenure Don has sought to create a culture of never leaving another guy hanging. This has become such an important mantra that Don had a poster designed with this quote and hung it in a prominent location for all employees and visitors to see. The poster serves as a reminder for everyone that HB Live is more than a job, it is a family. Don considers this culture his greatest legacy and believes it directly benefits the quality of service Live’s clients receive.
It’s All About the Team and Clients
The work has never been about Don, it’s about the team and it’s about the clients. That’s clear in everything he does and how he talks about the people who work for him. He proudly speaks about his employees and believes they are some of the best of the best. Don places his trust in them. He believes in his people and gives them both the support they need and freedom to “be their best.”
Don most enjoys working with clients and thrives on the challenge of helping them see what’s possible. Because of this, he enjoys engaging with clients and partners. In helping clients to understand what’s possible, Don voraciously learns about the newest technology. He notes, that when he started it was all about the name and having the right brand. Now it’s about what piece of tech or solution does the job best. He likes the exposure to new technologies, especially when he can find a different use for a piece of new or updated tech.
Life Outside HB Live
When he’s not at HB Live, Don enjoys spending time with his wife and two, college-age kids. He enjoys running and cycling and mentoring a FIRST robotics team (FRC4557). Don also participates in a number of professional associations. He is a founding, and continuously serving board member of the Rental and Staging Network. As an 11-year board member, he has grown personally and professionally with some of the best business leaders in the AV industry. Don also serves in an official capacity for AVIXA on their Leadership Search Committee and is an active participant in their Live Event Council. He has been involved with AVIXA for over 25 years.
Congratulations and thank you, Don, for 30 years of dedication, leadership, and commitment to HB Live!
Get to know Don on LinkedIn: Click here to view his profile.