Top of the Chain with Linda Sheehan

CEO OF TRIDENT ENTERPRISES

Linda Sheehan was named CEO of Trident Enterprises on her dad’s 82nd birthday, March 2, 2021. The company was founded in 1984 by her parents. Growing up in the business, Linda is now at the helm, directing it into new growth. Her people-first commitment is evident among employees and customers alike.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CEO OF TRIDENT ENTERPRISES?

My parents started the business almost 40 years ago. My father ran the business until he named me CEO on his 82nd birthday, March 2, 2021, just a few months before he passed away, a little over three years ago.

WHAT WAS YOUR POSITION IN THE COMPANY PRIOR TO THAT?

I’ve been part of the business from the day it began, when I was about eight years old. I have been working around or participating in the fencing business my entire life. My MBA and professional experience in human resources allowed me to assist our small business with functions such as payroll and benefits administration before the company was large enough to justify a dedicated full-time employee to handle these responsibilities.

WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER PATH?

I attended the University of Florida and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an MBA. Over the course of my career, I have worked in the transportation industry, for a defense contractor, and in executive and university recruiting, all the while running a small business consulting firm on the side.

As Trident grew, I knew it was likely that I would be given the opportunity to take over and lead the company, which appealed to my entrepreneurial side, and I welcomed the opportunity.

HOW DID THE NAME TRIDENT COME ABOUT?

The name Trident originated from my father's background as a Navy man who initially worked on Trident Nuclear Submarines. The name stuck, carrying with it a legacy of dedication and precision, qualities that we strive to uphold in our company's ethos.

Trident Enterprises has ventured into new growth throughout its 40-year history. What has been the evolution?

It was originally established as a livestock fencing installation company and led the way as a wildlife exclusion expert company for over 35 years. Our knowledge of installation and distribution gave us the expertise to develop our own line of deer fencing accessories.

We’re proud to work with diverse groups and landowners throughout the U.S. and Canada to safely protect gardens and outdoor spaces from animal intrusion. We’ve worked with vineyards, garden centers, federal agencies, and wildlife conservation groups, as well as animal rescue organizations.

WHAT ARE A FEW BUSINESS-RELATED CHALLENGES THAT YOU’VE FACED AND OVERCOME?

Navigating the challenges of leadership transition wasn’t just about fitting into the traditional mold of business owners. Leading through this transition, I faced the challenge of not fitting the traditional mold of business owners in our industry. This was mirrored internally as our team wasn't accustomed to having a woman at the helm of our organizational chart.

I spent the first two years restructuring the company foundation in a way that was most important to me: people first. Culture changes take time and aren’t always smooth or easy. However, three years into my CEO role, I believe my team now trusts me to guide the business toward continued growth and to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience.

One of the most significant challenges we faced during this time was overcoming supply chain issues, particularly amidst rapid growth and external disruptions like the pandemic and the more recent disruptions affecting major shipping routes such as the Suez and Panama Canals, as well as the Port of Baltimore closure. Despite these hurdles, we leveraged our broad network of suppliers, adapted sourcing strategies, diversified our supply chain, and implemented agile logistics solutions. By maintaining close communication with our partners and proactively addressing potential bottlenecks, we successfully mitigated the impact of these disruptions.

To address rising shipping costs, we took proactive steps by launching our Logistics division, leveraging our volume to negotiate continuing discounts with carriers, and ensuring efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions for our operations.

WHAT IS THE ORGANIZATION FLOW OF TRIDENT ENTERPRISES AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES?

Trident Enterprises is the corporation behind Trident Fence, DeerBusters and Easy Pet Fence Brands, as well as Trident Logistics. We sell wholesale to contractors and fence installers through our TridentFence.com site, and direct to the public via our retail sites: Deerbusters.com and Easypetfence.com. We ship across the U.S. and Canada.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

I learn something new every day. I enjoy watching employees grow and take on the challenge of developing our product offerings to meet customer needs. This is something we have always done well: listening to our customers and working hard to develop product solutions that meet their needs. I have a bird’s-eye view of the fencing industry, and I am fascinated by its continuing innovations.

WHAT IS A TYPICAL WEEK FOR YOU?

It involves a lot of meetings, reviewing financials and executive administration. But I regularly take the opportunity to travel and attend tradeshows across the country to meet with our customers face-to-face.

We’ve recently partnered with a few “influencers” to find ways to give back to our communities on a national scale. We already support our local humane societies and rescues and were looking for ways to expand those efforts for a greater reach. A large team from Trident recently traveled to Oklahoma to volunteer to help with the Beagle Freedom Project and in May we are headed to California to support Milo’s Sanctuary as they build new facilities and celebrate their 20th anniversary serving the community.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THE FENCING INDUSTRY?

Most people in and around the fencing industry are environmentalists at heart. They love nature and being outdoors and work hard to preserve natural resources. It is a common thread that is a passion of mine, as well. I appreciate the opportunity to support these diverse efforts across the nation.

HOW DO YOU MENTOR YOUR EMPLOYEES?

When I took over as CEO, I focused a great deal of energy on employee retention. We currently have 27 employees who are experts in their fields. Product knowledge and continuous customer interactions are so important to our success. Some of the ways we retain our best employees are by offering employee-sponsored healthcare plans, a matching 401(k), and a generous profit-sharing program. For a small business, we work hard to offer our employees thoughtful, comprehensive benefits programs.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

A challenge. I have a responsibility to my employees and stakeholders to continue challenging the status quo to bring about greatness in our organization. Knowing they rely on our ability to navigate obstacles with determination and creativity inspires me to continually seek out challenges and turn them into opportunities for growth and success.