Rigo Murillo
Rigo Murillo holds a lifetime of experience under his belt for a man under 40. He’s held several key positions over his career(s), is married with nearly half-a-dozen kids (he’s father to five, with a sixth due in October), and he recently launched his own company, Change Agents Consulting. Conversations with Murillo typically include insightful little nuggets such as, “You’re only limited by your limiting thoughts,” or “Business is a reflection of your relationships.”
His wisdom is undoubtedly a testament to his family (He credits his wife for almost everything in his life — and one is bound to learn a thing or two raising more than a handful of kids) and a full and varied career.
After obtaining a degree in electrical engineering in 2007, Murillo built a small business that provided products and services to the low-voltage housing market (think home theaters). However, success was short-lived because of the financial crises that hit the country in ‘08. “I was forced to either reinvent myself or tough it out and stay within the small box of experience and education that I had become familiar with,” shares Murillo. It wasn’t long before he reinvented himself.
A friend of his suggested a new opportunity working in renewable energy, and specifically in wind. “I was fascinated with clean energy, but at first I struggled to see what I could offer an industry that felt so foreign to me. It was intimidating,” he admitted. That failed to stop Murillo from leaving friends and family behind to work as a lead technician and site supervisor at a wind site in central Iowa.
“At the time, I had only $68 to my name so I had little to lose,” he said. “But it required dedication and hard work to save enough money to move my family out to Iowa with me.” His work paid off. Murillo quickly secured the O&M Supervisor’s role with EDF Renewable Energy, and in 2012he became Director of Operations and O&M Sales & Business Development with wind-farm service provider, Availon, Inc.
“When I first started in the wind industry, I was surprised at how advanced the technology was and at the skill level of the wind techs who maintain the turbines,” he said. “I have nothing but respect for those who’ve pioneered the wind industry in this country, and am proud to have worked in wind.”
For the last almost three years, Murillo worked as the Global Business Development Manager for Wind & Industrial at AMSOIL, Inc., which specializes in developing synthetic lubricants. He left only recently to launch his new venture. Change Agents Consulting is a B2B company specializing in renewables, and focused on business development and connections. “Regardless of the position I’ve had over the years, I often found myself in situations where someone either held or sought knowledge that could solve a challenge, and I’d want to connect the two parties. Now, I can.”
The three questions Murillo asks all new clients: Where are you now? Where are you going? How will you get there? His new role entails helping clients with corporate messaging, connections, goal setting, and action. He adds: “No matter how many surveys, market reports, or algorithms are collecting data for a company, lasting success will always come down to building and maintaining relationships.”
One more nugget from Murillo: “When we can help others around us achieve their goals, and help them see what they’re truly capable of, we become true change agents and we begin changing lives. That’s what I want to do for others.”
Filed Under: News
