Jared Feider, President of Energenecs

Energenecs was founded in 1979 by Don Voigt with a vision to be a premier equipment supplier and service company to the upper Midwest water/wastewater industry. In 2006, the company was acquired by Jared Feider, who introduced a new business strategy while preserving the core principles established by Don. Jared has consistently emphasized the importance of having a professional, courteous, sales oriented team that prioritizes listening to customers.

Significant milestones in Energenecs’ growth include the acquisition of additional control system talent, which has contributed to the massive success of Energenecs controls division. Groth Biogas was also recently acquired in 2023, offering biogas processing for municipal, agricultural, landfill gas, and food & beverage applications. These acquisitions have not only expanded assets but have also enriched the team with top-notch professionals, strengthening service offerings across the board. Jared remarks “Energenecs really is all about our people”. We have knowledgeable, supportive people in our company whether sales, service, engineering, panel shop, or accounting. Each member contributes their unique strength, all working towards the common goal of delivering superior systems that we can proudly stand behind for the long term. We asked Jared a few questions about his impressive journey at Energenecs.

When did you start at Energenecs?

I began my career with Energenecs in May 1993, shortly after graduating from Marquette University with a degree in electrical engineering. Basically, I was at the right bar at the right time! I was up visiting my parents and went out to eat at a popular restaurant in Cascade, a little town west of Sheboygan. My dad saw Tim Ondercin in the restaurant and yelled across the bar, “Hey Tim, you’re always talking about that great place you are working at, could you use a fine young engineer?” Of course I’m embarrassed, but we talked a little bit and a couple of days later, I had an interview with Don Voigt, the owner of Energenecs. And the rest is history. Tim is still working at Energenecs as well and likes telling the story that he got me this job!

How many people were there at that time?

When I started, the company was relatively small, employing around 12-15 people.

What aspects of Energenecs have remained consistent?

Since my start at Energenecs, our commitment to the customer has remained steadfast. This dedication is deeply ingrained in our culture, maintaining a family-like atmosphere despite our growth to nearly 50 employees.

What do you see in the near future for Energenecs?

Our immediate focus is on phosphorus and PFAS mitigation and leveraging opportunities arising from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) such as biogas and renewables. This law represents a historic investment in U.S. infrastructure, including significant allocations for water infrastructure projects. These projects come with stringent requirements for domestic sourcing, which poses both challenges and opportunities. The current funding program differs somewhat from the previous significant initiative, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The new program is more stringent, with increased emphasis on sourcing American content. The increased focus on American-produced components is fueling significant investment in the US market by one of our long term partners, Huber Technology. I also see artificial intelligence (AI) becoming a bigger part of how we run our businesses, and more specifically, how we can optimize our customers’ plants to become more energy efficient and much more predictive, rather than reactive.

What provides the most enjoyment out of running Energenecs?

It’s been a fun place to work and continues to be a rewarding experience, with each day bringing new challenges and opportunities. I find great satisfaction in solving problems for our customers and supporting our team. Fun events put together by our entertainment committee ensure we don’t forget about time to recognize and thank the team and celebrate achievements as well. As Energenecs grows and adapts to changes, including dealing with staff retirements and expansions, our commitment to innovation, customer service, and a supportive work environment remains unwavering.