PowerSpot: Rick Grossert

Welcome to PowerSpot, Plug Power’s monthly blog series where we highlight the Plug Power employees who inspire us and, we hope, will inspire you, too.  Today, we’re meeting Rick Grossert, Training & Safety Manager for Plug Power, located in our Chicago-area office.

Rick could you please explain what you do for a living in 20 words or fewer.

I help people learn new skills in a risk-free environment.

What motivates you to work hard?

Why would you want to be anything less than the very best?

If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have?

The power to heal.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

While vacationing on the island of Kauai, my wife and I were walking around and we decided to have ice cream at a Cold Stone Creamery.  Being a BIG fan of ice cream (we have Oberweis ice cream here in Chicago) and having never tried Cold Stone, we thought it would be a good idea.  After looking the place over, and reviewing the many different combinations, I settled on their “Signature” Black Forest creation.  The thought of Chocolate Ice Cream with Pecans, Coconut Brownie and Caramel was too good to pass up.  I watched with amazement as my ingredients were being mixed together on a cold frosty slab. She asked if I liked coconut, and I said I sure do.  That is when it happened.  A big black fly landed in my ice cream.  I did not know what to do.  I thought for sure that she had seen it land, but she kept mixing up the ice cream with the brownie and pecans.  I elbowed the wife and said, “Did you see that!” She said, “Yes it looks good.”  As I was handed my Black Forest creation, I did not know what to say.  I did not want to cause trouble or have her waste the ice cream so I took the bowl and walked away thinking that I could find the big black fly and pick it out.  Well, I as close as I looked, I did not find the fly.  After I finished my ice cream the wife asked, “What do you think?”  I said, “I think flies taste good.”

If you could visit anywhere, where would it be?  Why?

The Great Barrier Reef, Whitsunday island and Cairns region.  SCUBA diving.

Who is your favorite author?  Why?

My library is full of great authors. Jim Rohn for teaching me things that are not taught in school.  Tom Peters for explaining successful management.  Napoleon Hill for boiling it all down to a few things. Malcolm Gladwell for thinking.  Michael LeGault for reasoning. C.S. Lewis for enlightenment. Stephen King for freaking us all out.  J. K Rowling for great adventures.

Rick is just one of the colorful characters amongst the Plug Power team working to change the way the world moves.

#InfiniteDrive