If you want to track down Brent Mangum during the work week, the first place to look probably isn’t his home office. You’re more likely to find him at a networking event, a coffee shop or in a meeting with a local business leader. He’s lived and worked in the Baton Rouge area for years, building a huge network of contacts. The conversations he has with people now that he’s working as a Business Development Manager for Bellwether are the same as they’ve always been—he’s just added one more way to help them.
“I get a lot of energy from meeting people and hearing their stories and finding out where their pain points are in their businesses and their everyday lives,” explained Brent. “I try to be somebody who’s just looking for ways to help, and sometimes that’s related to IT, technology and cybersecurity, and sometimes it’s connecting them with a babysitter so they can have a night out.”
Brent almost didn’t accept the offer to work at Bellwether because he was concerned that being an hour away from the company’s New Orleans headquarters would make him feel disconnected. But Merrick Sloss, who is president at the company, suggested that Brent come to visit the office and get a feel for it. Brent was so warmly welcomed and impressed by everyone that it dissolved his concerns.
Embracing the Challenge of Learning a New Industry
As he stepped into his new role, Brent faced a significant hurdle. Not having a background in IT meant that he had a pretty intense learning curve, but the task of learning a new industry appealed to him.
“My large and looming learning curve was part of what attracted me to this position,” said Brent. “Another thing that attracted me was the challenge it would be to help a great organization build a greater presence in an area that needed a higher standard of IT service.”
Coworkers Take Time to Share Their Knowledge
His technical coworkers have been willing to take time out of their day to help him learn, and Merrick has watched Brent’s progress closely.
“Brent joined Bellwether with a uniquely diverse background and has consistently demonstrated dedication and effort to improve daily in his role,” he said. “He exhibits an insatiable drive to learn and grow, coupled with a natural talent for sales and invaluable qualities that are very hard to teach. Working with him is a genuine pleasure, and I quickly recognized his ability to handle situations with competence and professionalism.”
Time for All the Roles in His Life
In addition to all the information he can take in from his Bellwether team members, Brent says that the company provides everything he needs to succeed and grow, and that includes a good work-life balance.
“My work-life balance has never been better than it is at Bellwether,” he said. “What’s really important to me in my place in life is that I’m able to be a good father and husband, and that takes priority in my life.”
Confidence in the Services He’s Selling
As a Business Development professional, it’s important for Brent to feel confident about who he represents and what he offers. He says that Bellwether is light years beyond what people expect from a managed service provider. Not only that, but it’s a company that has embraced the idea of change to keep up with evolving technology and client needs.
For Brent, choosing where to work comes down to three non-negotiables: believing in the organization, believing in the product or service they offer, and trusting his boss. Bellwether checked all three boxes.
“I am at a place in my life where I could fairly easily go get a job where I could make more money, have a bigger title, and have more responsibility,” Brent explained. “But I won’t compromise on any of those three.”
No Room for Mediocrity
That level of conviction shows up in the results he sees every day. One of the earliest clients Brent brought to Bellwether still calls him regularly to share how happy they are since making the switch from their previous MSP. It’s the kind of feedback that reinforces what he already knows—when clients call Bellwether, the phone gets answered. When something needs to be fixed, it gets fixed. The word has gotten around that Bellwether is here to deliver excellence.
“There’s a standard of excellence here,” said Brent. “And if you’re ready to hit some home runs and to do great work, awesome. If you’re somebody that dabbles in mediocrity or lives in the world of lukewarm, this is not a fit for you.”
It’s Bellwether’s commitment to excellence, combined with genuine care for people—both clients and employees—that keeps Brent right where he wants to be.
Brent found a great fit at Bellwether and you can too. Check out our current opportunities and find your place here.
