Hugh Blackwell, MBA
Principal Owner at Blackstar Diversified Enterprises- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Adam Greenberg
I have been working with Hugh ever since he joined the Electrical Industry in the Siemens training program. Hugh worked came to our team and immediately demonstrated that he could perform the tasks assigned, but it was quickly obvious that he was better suited to go on Sales and Business calls with our customers. Even in his first customer meetings, he demonstrated a keen business acumen and was a fully engaged contributor. Over the years, he quickly gained experience in his roles where he developed processes and efficiencies that became best practices throughout the company. He demonstrated his ability to sell and confirmed that he is a valuable member of a Sales team and Global companies. After our time together at Siemens ended and our paths went in different directions, I became a customer of the companies he worked for and continued to benefit from the relationship. Hugh continued to refine his skills and became and Entrepreneur that serviced the Industry competently and with the same energy he had when we first met. He brought his creativity, passion and business sense and helped generate accelerated revenues, even after changing markets and geographies. I continue to value our relationship as I can use his perspective and expertise to help find new and creative ways to navigate my own career. He is a leader that will benefit any company as a revenue generator and Business leader.
Clayton Harris
I've know Hugh for years. From the Lewis K. Downing School of Engineering at Howard University to the board room...Hugh's business and engineering experience has led him to embrace entrepreneurship head on. A journey not for the faint of heart. With a passion for giving back, Hugh's sincerity and integrity have always been at the forefront. Blackstar Diversified Enterprises (https://www.blackstardiversified.com/) is a culmination of his hard work, dedication, and sheer will to succeed against the odds. It's been an honor getting know Hugh personally and professionally. Keep going my friend...the world is ours.
Adam Greenberg
I have been working with Hugh ever since he joined the Electrical Industry in the Siemens training program. Hugh worked came to our team and immediately demonstrated that he could perform the tasks assigned, but it was quickly obvious that he was better suited to go on Sales and Business calls with our customers. Even in his first customer meetings, he demonstrated a keen business acumen and was a fully engaged contributor. Over the years, he quickly gained experience in his roles where he developed processes and efficiencies that became best practices throughout the company. He demonstrated his ability to sell and confirmed that he is a valuable member of a Sales team and Global companies. After our time together at Siemens ended and our paths went in different directions, I became a customer of the companies he worked for and continued to benefit from the relationship. Hugh continued to refine his skills and became and Entrepreneur that serviced the Industry competently and with the same energy he had when we first met. He brought his creativity, passion and business sense and helped generate accelerated revenues, even after changing markets and geographies. I continue to value our relationship as I can use his perspective and expertise to help find new and creative ways to navigate my own career. He is a leader that will benefit any company as a revenue generator and Business leader.
Clayton Harris
I've know Hugh for years. From the Lewis K. Downing School of Engineering at Howard University to the board room...Hugh's business and engineering experience has led him to embrace entrepreneurship head on. A journey not for the faint of heart. With a passion for giving back, Hugh's sincerity and integrity have always been at the forefront. Blackstar Diversified Enterprises (https://www.blackstardiversified.com/) is a culmination of his hard work, dedication, and sheer will to succeed against the odds. It's been an honor getting know Hugh personally and professionally. Keep going my friend...the world is ours.
Adam Greenberg
I have been working with Hugh ever since he joined the Electrical Industry in the Siemens training program. Hugh worked came to our team and immediately demonstrated that he could perform the tasks assigned, but it was quickly obvious that he was better suited to go on Sales and Business calls with our customers. Even in his first customer meetings, he demonstrated a keen business acumen and was a fully engaged contributor. Over the years, he quickly gained experience in his roles where he developed processes and efficiencies that became best practices throughout the company. He demonstrated his ability to sell and confirmed that he is a valuable member of a Sales team and Global companies. After our time together at Siemens ended and our paths went in different directions, I became a customer of the companies he worked for and continued to benefit from the relationship. Hugh continued to refine his skills and became and Entrepreneur that serviced the Industry competently and with the same energy he had when we first met. He brought his creativity, passion and business sense and helped generate accelerated revenues, even after changing markets and geographies. I continue to value our relationship as I can use his perspective and expertise to help find new and creative ways to navigate my own career. He is a leader that will benefit any company as a revenue generator and Business leader.
Clayton Harris
I've know Hugh for years. From the Lewis K. Downing School of Engineering at Howard University to the board room...Hugh's business and engineering experience has led him to embrace entrepreneurship head on. A journey not for the faint of heart. With a passion for giving back, Hugh's sincerity and integrity have always been at the forefront. Blackstar Diversified Enterprises (https://www.blackstardiversified.com/) is a culmination of his hard work, dedication, and sheer will to succeed against the odds. It's been an honor getting know Hugh personally and professionally. Keep going my friend...the world is ours.
Adam Greenberg
I have been working with Hugh ever since he joined the Electrical Industry in the Siemens training program. Hugh worked came to our team and immediately demonstrated that he could perform the tasks assigned, but it was quickly obvious that he was better suited to go on Sales and Business calls with our customers. Even in his first customer meetings, he demonstrated a keen business acumen and was a fully engaged contributor. Over the years, he quickly gained experience in his roles where he developed processes and efficiencies that became best practices throughout the company. He demonstrated his ability to sell and confirmed that he is a valuable member of a Sales team and Global companies. After our time together at Siemens ended and our paths went in different directions, I became a customer of the companies he worked for and continued to benefit from the relationship. Hugh continued to refine his skills and became and Entrepreneur that serviced the Industry competently and with the same energy he had when we first met. He brought his creativity, passion and business sense and helped generate accelerated revenues, even after changing markets and geographies. I continue to value our relationship as I can use his perspective and expertise to help find new and creative ways to navigate my own career. He is a leader that will benefit any company as a revenue generator and Business leader.
Clayton Harris
I've know Hugh for years. From the Lewis K. Downing School of Engineering at Howard University to the board room...Hugh's business and engineering experience has led him to embrace entrepreneurship head on. A journey not for the faint of heart. With a passion for giving back, Hugh's sincerity and integrity have always been at the forefront. Blackstar Diversified Enterprises (https://www.blackstardiversified.com/) is a culmination of his hard work, dedication, and sheer will to succeed against the odds. It's been an honor getting know Hugh personally and professionally. Keep going my friend...the world is ours.
Experience
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Blackstar Diversified Enterprises
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United States
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Construction
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1 - 100 Employee
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Principal Owner
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Jan 2016 - Present
It should come as no surprise that after fourteen consecutive years of driving revenue growth for Fortune 500 companies, Hugh would venture out on his own to start Blackstar Diversified Enterprises (BDE) in 2016. His next challenge would be to connect his penchant for top line growth with cost control discipline, otherwise the business wouldn't survive. As with everything else, Hugh took the challenge head on establishing detailed vendor selection criteria, a three-quotation requirement for all major expenses, insourcing, and an intense requirements review on projects that require custom products. To that end, Hugh’s commitment to BDE Risk Management even extends to developing a custom industrial review software solution enabling his team to accurately assess manufacturing risk for the products BDE sells. With this framework in tow, Hugh has grown BDE from a $350,000 company in 2016 to a $2.5 million company in 2020. Show less
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AdvisoryCloud
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United States
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Business Consulting and Services
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500 - 600 Employee
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Advisor
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Oct 2020 - Present
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Switchgear Solutions Ltd. (SSL) D/B/A Substation Solutions Ltd.
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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1 - 100 Employee
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Applications Engineer SSL MD, DC & VA
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Mar 2013 - Mar 2016
• Within 2 years of hire, I have closed major construction projects totaling over $15,000,000 dollars of volume, which have lead to over $500,000 dollars of profit for SSL. • Major projects awarded include Dulles Silver Line Phase 2, P998 Drydock 8 (Norfolk, VA), Back River WWTP Arc Flash Upgrade, Patapsco WWTP Arc Flash Upgrade and Montebello Filtration Plant. • Provide electrical engineering system design support to key Baltimore and Washington D.C. Area MEP consultants including Shah and Associates, JMT, Hatch Mott MacDonald, AECOM, Girard, Sidhu, etc. • Used SSL's diverse product repertoire to team with Square D, Siemens and GE on projects, fulfilling partner product needs to complete a project package. • Function as the team lead on complex projects that include SSL project manager, manufacturing plant application engineer, electrical wholesaler project manager, electrical contractor project manager, electrical engineering consultant project lead and end user project management/engineering personnel. • Manage financials on all electrical construction projects to ensure SSL profitability. • Directed training plans and programs designed to introduce new products and procedures for clients at various organizational levels. • Researched emerging industry trends, new applications, concepts and techniques to update current training curriculum as appropriate. Show less
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Square D by Schneider Electric
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Appliances, Electrical, and Electronics Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Electrical Equipment Account Manager
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Oct 2008 - Mar 2013
• Successfully managed project team on over twenty $50,000,000 and above electrical engineering construction projects; which included Square D project manager, Square D manufacturing plant application engineer, electrical wholesaler project manager, electrical contractor project manager, electrical engineering consultant project lead and end user project manager. • Provided electrical engineering design support to Washington D.C. Area MEP consultants. • Provided energy management support for key end user customers in Washington DC Area. • Successfully managed transit project team on Dulles Silver Line project, Orange and Blue Line Project and Jackson Graham Building Project which included Square D project manager, Square D manufacturing plant application engineer, electrical wholesaler project manager, electrical contractor project manager, electrical engineering consultant project lead and WMATA project management/engineering personnel. • Managed financials on all electrical construction projects. • Recognized as 2010 Initiative Leader by management because of ability to create a cross business unit team and capture federal and local government relationships with clients at Ft. Meade, Ft. Detrick, and Quantico. • Grew electrical equipment sales to client McDean Inc. from $250,000 to $3.5 million, to $4.5 million, to $9.5 million, to $11 million in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. • Directed training plans and programs designed to introduce new products and procedures for clients at various organizational levels. • Researched emerging industry trends, new applications, concepts and techniques to update current training curriculum as appropriate. Show less
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Siemens
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Germany
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Automation Machinery Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Distribution Electrical Equipment Engineer
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Feb 2005 - Sep 2008
• Provided electrical engineering design support to Washington D.C. Area MEP consultants.• Provided energy management support for key end user customers in Washington DC Area.Recognized as a Top performer in Siemens Construction Sales organization with the following results:5.7 million in sales volume, equating to 170% of 2007 quota.3.4 million in sales volume, equating to 150% of 2006 quota.• Lead and managed an effort that achieved successful double digit sales volume growth in 2 of the 3 largest electrical distributors in the DC Metro Area in 2005, 2006 and 2007.• Orchestrated and conducted over 100 successful hours of product and systems training for 2 of the 3 largest electrical distributors in the DC Metro Area.• Led 2007 conversion of key NVRyan homebuilder contractors, leading to a 20% gain in DC/Baltimore Metro Area residential product market share. Show less
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Bid Project Coordinator
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Feb 2004 - Jan 2005
• Coordinated and estimated construction projects over 65K with target business accounts to increase project sales to electrical contractors.• Created Construction Product CD for NY/NJ engineering consultant/distributor/contractor information and submittal usage.
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Sales and Marketing Development Program
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Jun 2002 - Feb 2004
Sales and Marketing Development ProgramProduced "Construction Sales Submittal Program", which lead to a 25% time savings in creating project submittals.Built the "Web based Panel-Builder Program", utilizing Microsoft Front Page software program for Siemens OEM customer usageDeveloped Web based Commercial and Residential Metering program which allowed sales to easily locate the proper metering to be installed in NJ and NY utility jurisdictions.
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Education
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1997 - 2002
Howard University
Bachelor of Science (Spring 2002), Mechanical Engineering -
2009 - 2012
George Mason University
Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Business Administration and Management, General
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