Industry Profile: Stephane Meunier

Stephane Meunier received his bachelor’s of mechanical and aeronautical engineering from McGill University and recently completed an EMBA in international management from Lancaster University in the U.K. He is currently director of project pursuit and execution for Emerson Automation Solutions in North America, based in Montreal, where he lives with his wife, Angela, and two children. He’s a very active member of VMA, serving as chair of the new Education & Events committee and is a member of the technical committee, as well as a past winner of VMA’s highest award, Person of the Year (2018).

What inspired you to pursue a career in the world of valves and actuators?

It was a matter of being at the right place and at the right time! I was a young mechanical engineering graduate with a major in aeronautical engineering. Opportunities in that field at the time were scarce and I found out Velan was looking for an inside sales engineer for their quarter-turn valves division through a friend. I got hired and never looked back. The valve and valve automation industry has been my home ever since!

Why did you decide to get involved with VMA?

I believe in the idea of communities where people of like interests and expertise can join and grow from one another. I also believe in giving back to those communities. I initially joined VMA’s Technical Committee which was the perfect vehicle for that. I continued to increase my commitment to the industry and the association over the years. I’ve met a lot of great people along the way, many of which I call friends!

Are there any exciting projects or initiatives you are working on that you’d like to highlight to our readers?

Professionally, my organization is going through some important transformations embracing digitalization and I’m happy to be an integral part of those initiatives.

Personally, I’m completing my Masters in International Management with Lancaster University in the UK through the IMPM Executive program. It’s been an exciting journey which has taken me to the UK, Canada, India, Japan, the Maldives and Brazil, and I look forward to submitting my thesis and graduating in December.

I’m also excited to be a continuous part of VMA’s strategic transformation which I believe will bring the association to new heights.

How do you stay abreast with changes in the valve/actuator industry?

Through the VMA! The VMA provides numerous outlets to stay informed and has allowed me to create an extensive network within the industry which I communicate with regularly.

What do you think the biggest challenges are for valve manufacturers? For end users?

I see three major challenges today and they are all interconnected.

Firstly: data! There is so much data available today and continuously being unlocked. Data has become so readily available and easily accessible that we, as an industry, need to take a step back and truly understand what it represents and how it can adequately be used to add value to our organizations and processes. Proper interpretation of data by the right people is extremely important and so is validation of the sources of data. The sheer quantity of data available suggests by default that the quality of data should be questioned along with the quality of interpretations and correlations we might draw from it. Are you deliberate in adding value with data? Is your data biased? Are you the right person to be analyzing it? It’s easy to get stuck in a paralysis-by-analysis loop!

Second, the permeability of the geo-socio-political environment is like never before. It is consuming significant bandwidth today in our organizations and our industry as we try to navigate what the next new direction we need to take might be to ensure social, environmental, and political adequacy, and remain financially viable. Oh, and we also have to manufacture valves!

Lastly, change…change has always been a thing. Sometimes positive and sometimes negative. But today, the pace of change itself has accelerated alarmingly and it can be difficult to keep up, particularly for a legacy industry like ours. There are pressures to digitalize, to obtain data, to use data, to provide data, to follow social, environmental, political trends and once we think we’ve figured it out, it’s become obsolete. As an industry I believe it’s important to change but the art of managing change is often forgotten or dismissed.

Are there any emerging trends or technologies that you are particularly excited about?

As the world drives toward more energy, I’m excited to see the advancements that will take place to generate that energy, particularly in remote areas. This is already triggering technological advancements in our industry as we improve automation and control technologies as well as remote maintenance technologies and valve signature trending.

 What advice would you give someone who wants to explore a career in our industry or one of our end markets?

There is a significant opportunity in understanding the legacy of this industry and knowledge transfer is key. As we move through new generations within our organizations, having a deep understanding of what, why and how will unlock the next advancements and the future of our industry. It’s an exciting time to be in the valve industry.

Is there a piece of advice you were given that has stuck with you?

Always consider the opportunities that are presented to you at the time they are presented.

Tell me a little bit about what you do outside of work—family, hobbies, etc. (only if you’re comfortable sharing!)

I live in Montreal with my wife Angela and two kids (Marco 15 and Clara 12). I enjoy soccer and like to stay fit by training and by running regularly. I am a self-proclaimed wine connoisseur and a whiskey and mezcal aficionado.

Do you have a secret talent that would surprise or delight our readers?

Being partly of Italian descent, I’ve learned to make my own wine and limoncello and love to cook; I make a mean eggplant parm!