NEA C-Suite: Daniel McAdoo

How would you describe your company? Hytrol is more than a conveyor manufacturer, it is a company built on relationships and a commitment to serve others. Our mission is to create material handling technology and relationships that move the world. We do that by combining decades of expertise with a culture that prioritizes people and relationships first. 

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Leadership is about influence, trust, and service. To me, the most important skills for a leader are integrity, communication, and empathy. Integrity is foundational. If people cannot trust their leader to do what is right, no amount of strategy or technical expertise will matter.

If you could change one thing about your leadership style, what would it be and why? If I could change one thing about my leadership style, it would be to delegate more quickly and more often. By nature, I take ownership and want to ensure things are done well. While that has served me in many ways, it can sometimes lead to holding on to tasks longer than I should.  

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? Diverse teams help make stronger and more well-rounded decisions and identify opportunities others might overlook. It is an investment in our people that yields tangible returns for the business. Practically, this means ensuring that our hiring practices, training programs, and leadership development opportunities are accessible and equitable.    

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? I would direct it toward organizations that strengthen families and provide financial literacy education. Both areas have the power to transform lives in lasting ways. Equipping people with financial knowledge is one of the most impactful ways to uplift others. 

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? Artificial Intelligence is one of the most talked-about topics in business today, and for good reason. It has tremendous potential to change the way we work across industries, including manufacturing and material handling. At Hytrol, I don’t view AI as something that will take jobs away, but rather as a tool that can enhance how we do our work.

What is the most used app on your phone? The most used app on my phone is Charles Schwab.  

When you were growing up, what did you want to be? When I was growing up, I wanted to be a lot of different things — a gold prospector, a baseball player, in the military, a business owner, and even an astronaut.

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? As a man of faith, the best advice I’ve ever received comes from Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” This truth has guided me to approach every responsibility, personal or professional, with integrity, diligence, and purpose, knowing that my work should always seek to honor God, and serve a purpose greater than myself.

What’s your favorite television show? I don’t watch much television, but one series I have really enjoyed is “The Chosen.”

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? I would trade places with an astronaut on the International Space Station. I’ve always been interested in space and physics and to have the opportunity to see Earth from that vantage point would be awe-inspiring, and a reminder of how small our daily challenges are in the grand scheme of things.