When Christian Hackney walked through CBS ArcSafe’s doors for the first time in October 2017, he was just 21 years old and admittedly light on assembly experience. “The only assembly I’d ever done was LEGOs and IKEA furniture,” he laughed.
What he did bring, however, was a willingness to learn, a habit of asking questions, and the patience to listen closely to the answers. Those qualities made him a fast study, and before he knew it, he could build remote switch actuators (RSAs) and RRS-3 apparatus-specific remote racking systems with both accuracy and speed.
As the team evolved — with seasoned technicians moving on and new hires coming in — Hackney stepped naturally into a mentoring role. He trained new employees not only in the technical side of assembly but also in the bigger picture: the lifesaving importance of the electrical safety equipment they were building.
Growing With CBS ArcSafe
Over the next several years, Hackney’s responsibilities expanded well beyond assembly. He began managing quality assurance and return merchandise authorization (RMA) processes, and he helped with purchasing and receiving inventory. This broader exposure gave him a deeper understanding of the full production cycle and how every detail connects to customer outcomes.
In early 2022, Hackney got his first taste of sales when he temporarily filled in for an inside sales rep for the U.S. Midwest and Southeast. “Thank goodness they came back,” he joked, recalling the challenge of managing so many accounts and lines of communication. Still, that brief experience planted a seed. Three and a half years later, when the opportunity arose to step into an inside sales role of his own, Hackney felt ready to take on the challenge. Today, he manages accounts across the central U.S. and part of the Midwest, officially making the transition from production to sales.
Lessons From the Production Floor
Hackney credits his years in production with giving him a solid foundation for his new role:
- Technical know-how: From machining on a manual mill and lathe to polishing, sandblasting, powder-coating, and final assembly, Hackney developed a wide range of fabrication skills.
- Quality under pressure: Working under tight deadlines taught him how to maintain standards without compromise.
- Product mastery: Because he knows how CBS ArcSafe’s RSAs and RRS-3s come together — and the breakers and switchgear they’re designed to operate — he can troubleshoot and quote with efficiency and accuracy.
Having that inside knowledge really helps, Hackney explained, because it shortens the path between a customer’s question and a useful answer.
A Fresh Perspective in Sales
Now that he’s transitioned into sales, Hackney is focused on figuring out how to do CBS ArcSafe’s products justice. “I want to find ways to present information that makes our solutions sound as important as they are,” he said.
While he’d love to start breaking sales records immediately, Hackney is setting a more practical first-year goal: build at least 50 strong customer relationships. “I don’t want to just field questions and send quotes,” he says. “I want to be a friendly, reliable source of information that customers can trust and want to talk to.”
A Passion for Electrical Safety
When asked which CBS ArcSafe solution he’s most passionate about, Hackney points to the RSA-135 actuator line, the building of which was his specialty for a while. “I was able to hone the assembly process into very consistent steps,” he said, commenting on the care needed to pair the remote operators with Eaton’s Pringle switches, for example.
Hackney knows that every customer interaction starts with communication. “Sometimes just getting on the same page as someone can be a task,” he admits. “If I can clearly communicate solutions from my point of view and do my best to understand customers’ perspectives, I will only improve as I experience more situations.”
One thing he wishes more people understood about CBS ArcSafe’s products? Their adjustability. “Most of our products are extremely adjustable,” he says. “With the right tools, avoiding interferences — which are variable and plentiful — is no problem.”
Life Beyond CBS ArcSafe
Outside of work, Hackney is grounded by family and fueled by music. He and his partner, Emily, spend as much time as they can with their 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte. They love to spend their weekends on the beach at Ray Roberts Lake, a state park in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Hackney is also an avid music lover with a growing vinyl collection. When he’s not listening to records, he enjoys watching football and diving into video games.
Hackney’s approach to both work and life is simple but effective: Contribute ideas without ego and remember that kindness goes a long way. “Life is easier when you’re nice to people,” he says. That philosophy helped him succeed on the production floor — and now it’s guiding his transition into sales as he builds new relationships with CBS ArcSafe customers.
If you’re looking to boost safety at your facility contact Christian and the CBS ArcSafe team today.