We are thrilled to announce the promotion of Troy West to VP, Delivery services here at Provisions Group. Troy’s dedication to our clients has been paramount in the organization's success. We took some time to chat with Troy about his experience here at Provisions Group and where he sees this newly expanded role going.
Tell us about your first day at Provisions Group. Looking back, how did those early days lead you to where you are today?
I came to Provisions Group through my relationship with the CEO, Mark Freeman. I first met Mark on February 14th, 1994, in Knoxville when he and the church pastor did a follow-up church visit to my apartment which resulted in my salvation and changed the trajectory of my life. Mark and I established a friendship, did a Promise Keepers bible study group, and played on a softball team together, and he later was the best man at my wedding. Through many years, I observed Mark’s successful career and entrepreneurial growth, and he always did it with integrity and a sense of a higher purpose (evidenced by the “Provisions” name of the organization). Our careers brought us to Nashville, and we stayed in touch as friends and professionally. Provisions called on me as a prospective client at Dollar General.
When I left Dollar General, Mark suggested Bill McConnell (CXO) and Matt Gerber (CSO) interview me to think through how they might utilize me as a resource at Provisions. Both Bill and Matt made a positive impression by conveying the opportunities at Provisions and how well they exuded the Provisions culture. Talking with others at Provisions, the office visit, and the environment illustrated Provision’s approach to work, play, and life. It’s no wonder why Provisions Group is voted the Best Places To Work by Nashville Business Journal.
Provisions first utilized me as a vBench PM consultant to lead an ERP Selection project for a transportation industry client. After multiple client PM projects, identifying opportunities to improve project management and delivery practices, creating an Account Planning model, and working with Bill McConnel to establish the Delivery Manager role, I was brought onto the PG staff as Director of Delivery Services. In that role, I partnered with Bill to establish a PMO. I grew it by adding resources/skillsets of Delivery Managers, Project Managers, ScrumMasters, and Business Analysts with the help of Mike Edwards (VP Community/Staffing). I created a resource forecast planning process with reporting to assist Provisions Practice Area Leads with resource management. Then grew reporting from our internal PSA (Accelo) and CRM (Salesforce) to create a Delivery Insights team responsible for publishing internal and client reports. I’ve appreciated the opportunities at Provisions to participate in and facilitate various strategy meetings and working sessions with leadership and extended team members. These steps have been part of the journey that’s led to my current role. And the journey continues…
It takes a village. Who's in yours? Who has been instrumental to your success here at PG?
It does take a village. A servant leader is only as good as those that support him/her. I am thankful for the Provisions Leadership team's support, especially how much time Bill McConnell has invested and collaborated with me as my direct manager. I am excited to work alongside Justin Meeker, Bill Edmondson, and Justin Scott as part of the Ops Model continuous improvement program in 2023. I am also grateful for the team members I can lead. Their professionalism, expertise, and successful delivery enable us to earn and maintain Trusted Advisor status with our clients.
What does community mean to you?
Through community, we help leaders win with people and technology (through staffing and IT services). Provisions Group values teamwork and leverages collective genius across our organization and ecosystem to help our clients achieve their objectives and win. Community also means connection; the extended Provisions Group team feels like family. I appreciate and enjoy our working relationship.
Who are you outside of work? What makes you "you"?
I’m a husband to my wonderful wife, Jeri. I have three children (Brayden, 21, Madison, 19, and Carson, 17). We attend Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN, and co-teach a Blended Family Life Group/ministry. I’m a University of Tennessee alumni and a big fan of UT sports (Go Big Orange!). I love competition and enjoy playing sports/games: softball, tennis, Pickleball, basketball, golf, ping pong, pool, and cornhole. In the summer you can find me playing a lot of pool volleyball with friends. I’m a car enthusiast that likes attending car shows and race events and having fun driving on drag strips and road courses. I enjoy hiking and skiing/snowboarding with family and friends.
Rapid fire: What's your favorite travel destination? Favorite movie? Favorite childhood memory?
Travel: Holy Land is my favorite trip. Favorite destinations for vacation are Park City, Utah, for skiing/snowboarding; Gulf Shores for a US beach getaway; Cancun, Mexico, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, for Caribbean vacations.
Movie: Forrest Gump
Memory: Winning a 10-year-old state championship in baseball
What does the future look like for you in your new role?
Exciting, interesting, challenging, and fun. Provisions Group is entrepreneurial at heart and innovative, allowing leaders to grow their areas of the business while looking for ways to deliver better and disrupt the marketplace. It will involve increased involvement in organizational strategy, continuous improvement, planning, managing growth, and developing my team and those around me. We continue to grow, and I want to partner with leadership to help us scale while maintaining our culture.
Give our readers a piece of advice.
Don’t just focus on what you are doing, but on who you are becoming (relates to John Maxwell’s Law#9, the Law of Magnetism, from “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”).