Serghei Busmachiu is the founder and CEO of Utilities One, a company he established in 2019. Originally from Moldova, Serghei emigrated to the United States in 2013, driven by a dream to build a company that would make a difference in the infrastructure sector. His vision began to materialize in 2016 when he founded his first company in the industry, ultimately leading to the creation of Utilities One. The company offers a comprehensive suite of infrastructure solutions, including construction, engineering, and fulfillment services. Utilities One partners with various sectors, such as telecommunications, electric utilities, water utilities, oil and gas, and wireless carriers, to provide high-quality, tailored solutions that meet each industry’s unique needs. Serghei’s goal is to elevate Utilities One to become the partner of choice for critical infrastructure solutions.
Serghei’s path to becoming a CEO was inspired by his experiences as an immigrant in America. He started with humble beginnings, working various jobs to support himself, including being a dishwasher at Johnny Rockets in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He took on a range of roles, from moving services and cleaning to manufacturing and even working at an ice factory in Alaska. His career took a significant turn when he secured a job as a cable technician. This role opened his eyes to the potential within the infrastructure sector and sparked his vision of starting his own company. Through hard work and determination, Serghei learned about the industry’s challenges and opportunities, which ultimately led him to establish Utilities One.
“Maintaining integrity and ethical standards is non-negotiable. Trust is the foundation of any successful business relationship.”
What sets Utilities One apart from others in the industry is its commitment to quality, a wide range of services, and a deep understanding of the infrastructure sector’s unique challenges. Serghei’s journey from the ground level has given him a firsthand appreciation for delivering reliable, high-quality solutions. Utilities One offers a full suite of services, including construction, engineering, technology deployment, and design/build services, all under one roof. This integrated approach allows the company to provide tailored solutions to meet each client’s specific needs. Serghei emphasizes building lasting relationships with clients, acting as a trusted partner in their success. The company’s ability to adapt quickly to evolving technologies and regulatory environments, along with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, positions Utilities One as a leader in the industry.
Looking ahead, Serghei envisions Utilities One expanding its presence both domestically and internationally over the next five years. He plans to leverage emerging technologies and seize new market opportunities to drive growth. Serghei is also committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and employee development, ensuring that his team remains motivated and well-equipped to tackle future challenges. By upholding the core values of quality, integrity, and client-centricity, Serghei believes Utilities One will continue to excel and contribute positively to the communities it serves. As CEO, Serghei has faced significant challenges, particularly in scaling Utilities One while maintaining high standards of quality and service. Balancing rapid expansion with the need to preserve the company’s core values has been crucial. To overcome these challenges, Serghei has focused on building a strong leadership team, investing in process improvements, and ensuring clear communication throughout the organization. His journey as an immigrant with humble beginnings has taught him the importance of resilience and adaptability. By staying informed, adapting quickly, and fostering a culture of innovation, Serghei has turned potential obstacles into opportunities for growth and development.
One of the notable challenges Serghei faced was acquiring new clients, as many were initially hesitant to trust a young entrepreneur. At 24 years old, Serghei often encountered skepticism regarding his experience and ability to deliver on promises. Overcoming this barrier required demonstrating his expertise and commitment to exceeding client expectations. Through hard work, professionalism, and a relentless drive to showcase the quality and reliability of Utilities One’s services, Serghei successfully earned the trust of clients and established his company as a trusted partner in the infrastructure industry.
Serghei Busmachiu considers his greatest achievement as CEO of Utilities One to be transforming the company from a startup into a trusted partner for critical infrastructure solutions across multiple industries. Despite beginning with limited resources, Serghei has successfully led Utilities One through significant growth, expanding its service offerings and building a reputation for quality and reliability. He takes pride in maintaining the company’s core values and client-focused approach, even as the business has scaled. Another key accomplishment for Serghei is the assembly of a diverse and talented team whose dedication and innovation drive the company’s continued success. As an immigrant who started from the ground up, Serghei finds great fulfillment in guiding Utilities One to its current position. Beyond the company’s growth, he is particularly proud of his efforts to mentor and develop the skills of other immigrants and employees. By offering training and opportunities for advancement, Serghei aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams and demonstrate that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. This commitment to empowering others is one of the most meaningful aspects of his leadership.
“Mentorship is not just about guiding others; it’s about growing together and learning from each other’s experiences.”
Innovation is a cornerstone of Utilities One’s strategy and a key driver of its success. Serghei prioritizes innovation by fostering a culture where creativity and forward-thinking are encouraged at all levels of the organization. The company consistently explores new technologies and methodologies to enhance service offerings and improve efficiency, ensuring it stays ahead of industry trends. This commitment to innovation has enabled Utilities One to rapidly expand into multiple industries, including telecommunications, electric utilities, water utilities, and the oil and gas sector. By adapting to market demands and leveraging technological advancements, the company remains versatile and competitive. One of the strategic initiatives that have significantly contributed to Utilities One’s success is its focus on diversification and expansion into various industries. Recognizing the interconnected needs across different sectors, Serghei strategically developed the company’s capabilities to offer comprehensive infrastructure solutions tailored to each industry. This approach not only opened up new markets but also positioned Utilities One as a reliable and versatile partner for clients. By leveraging its expertise in construction, engineering, and technology deployment, the company delivers high-quality, integrated solutions that meet the unique challenges faced by each sector.
Serghei believes that technology plays a crucial role in the success of modern businesses by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and enabling scalability. At Utilities One, technology is leveraged to streamline operations, improve customer experiences, and gain insights through data analytics. By staying at the forefront of technological advancements, the company can anticipate market trends and respond proactively, maintaining a competitive edge in the industry. Fostering a positive company culture and maintaining employee morale are central to Serghei’s leadership at Utilities One. He emphasizes the importance of integrity, innovation, and inclusivity as core values that shape the company’s culture. Serghei believes that a strong, positive culture is essential for long-term success. To achieve this, Utilities One creates an environment where every team member feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute. The company focuses heavily on continuous learning and development, offering opportunities for employees to grow their skills and advance their careers. By investing in its people, Utilities One builds collective expertise and cultivates a strong sense of loyalty and pride within the team. Transparent communication is another key aspect of the company’s culture, ensuring that employees have a voice in decision-making processes through regular feedback sessions and open-door policies. This transparency helps everyone feel involved and appreciated.
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are integral to Utilities One’s business strategy. Serghei prioritizes these principles by ensuring that projects not only meet the needs of clients but also positively impact the environment and communities served. The company implements environmentally responsible practices across all operations, including using sustainable materials, reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency in construction and engineering processes. By adhering to industry standards and regulations, Utilities One aims to minimize its environmental impact while delivering high-quality infrastructure solutions.
In terms of CSR, Utilities One is committed to giving back to the communities where it operates. This commitment involves supporting local initiatives, participating in community development projects, and upholding ethical and socially responsible business practices. Serghei believes that by acting as a responsible corporate citizen, Utilities One can create long-term value for both its stakeholders and society. Integrating sustainability and CSR into core operations not only enhances the company’s reputation but also aligns its growth with the broader goal of making a positive impact on the world.
Serghei Busmachiu stays informed about industry trends through a proactive approach. He regularly engages with industry experts, attends conferences, and reads relevant publications. By encouraging his team to share insights and trends they observe, Serghei ensures that Utilities One can quickly adapt its strategies and stay ahead of the competition. The company also prioritizes attending industry events, expos, and trade shows, where they connect with industry leaders, explore new technologies, and gain valuable insights into market trends. This knowledge helps Utilities One stay ahead of the curve and integrate the latest trends into its business strategies.
One of the toughest decisions Serghei faced as CEO was letting go of several employees who were also close friends. These individuals had been with the company since its early days, sharing a deep history and mutual respect. However, as the company grew, it became clear that some team members no longer had the same drive and ambition critical to the company’s success. Serghei approached this difficult decision with transparency and compassion, having honest conversations about the company’s direction and the level of commitment needed to move forward. Despite the emotional and professional challenges, making these changes was necessary to maintain the high standards and ambitious goals of Utilities One. This decision allowed the company to bring in new talent aligned with its vision and eager to push the business forward, ensuring continued growth and success in a competitive industry.
For aspiring CEOs, Serghei offers the advice to stay true to their vision while being prepared for the tough decisions that come with leadership. Building and leading a company requires resilience, adaptability, and a clear sense of purpose. He emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with a team that shares the same passion and drive, and not being afraid to make difficult choices to maintain the integrity and direction of the business. Serghei also highlights the value of continuous learning and openness to new ideas, as the business landscape is constantly evolving. Attending industry events, seeking mentorship, and consistently refining skills and knowledge are essential for long-term success. Most importantly, Serghei believes in leading with integrity and empathy. A CEO must balance the needs of the business with the well-being of the team, as a positive company culture and high employee morale are crucial for sustained growth. He encourages aspiring leaders to lead by example and stay committed to the values that define them and their organizations.
“Leadership is about setting a clear vision and empowering your team to turn it into reality.”
Balancing short-term goals with a long-term vision is a critical aspect of Serghei’s leadership at Utilities One. In the decision-making process, he ensures that short-term objectives align with the company’s overarching long-term goals. This alignment helps the company stay on course, even when facing immediate challenges and opportunities. Serghei emphasizes the importance of adaptability within this framework, remaining flexible and willing to adjust short-term plans if they no longer serve the long-term vision. Regular strategy sessions and open communication within the leadership team are key to ensuring alignment and the ability to pivot when necessary without losing sight of the ultimate goals.
Looking to the future, Serghei’s professional goal is to continue driving the growth and evolution of Utilities One, establishing it as a leading partner for critical infrastructure solutions across various industries. He aims to expand the company’s capabilities, enter new markets, and further strengthen its reputation for quality and innovation. Serghei is also committed to fostering a strong, positive company culture that empowers his team and supports the company’s long-term vision. Personally, he aspires to grow as a leader by continuously learning and adapting to the changing business landscape. Serghei is dedicated to refining his ability to make strategic decisions that balance both short-term needs and long-term goals. He also aims to mentor the next generation of leaders within Utilities One, helping them develop the skills and mindset necessary for success.
Ultimately, Serghei hopes to achieve a balance where his professional endeavors and personal growth align with the core values of integrity, innovation, and excellence that have guided him throughout his career. By staying true to these principles, he believes he can contribute meaningfully to both the success of Utilities One and the broader business community. Mentorship plays a key role in Serghei Busmachiu’s leadership style, particularly in how he develops his team. Although he hasn’t had formal mentors himself, Serghei understands the immense value that guidance and support can provide. This belief has shaped his commitment to mentoring others within Utilities One. Serghei actively mentors his team members, helping them develop the skills and mindset needed to succeed. By sharing his own experiences and lessons learned, he aims to equip his team with the tools they need to navigate their careers. Mentorship not only strengthens the team but also ensures that Utilities One continues to grow with leaders who align with its values and vision. These mentoring relationships have profoundly impacted Serghei’s career, allowing him to see the business from different perspectives and reinforcing the importance of continuous learning. Seeing his mentees grow and succeed is one of the most rewarding aspects of his role as CEO, motivating him to keep pushing both himself and the company forward.
As a CEO, Serghei dedicates 90% of his time to Utilities One, intertwining his personal and professional life. The demands of his role often require his full attention, but he embraces this commitment because growing the company is not just a job—it’s his passion. However, he recognizes the importance of maintaining some level of work-life balance for long-term sustainability. Serghei makes a conscious effort to carve out moments for personal activities that help him recharge, such as spending time with family or pursuing a hobby. These brief moments are essential for keeping him energized and focused. To manage the intense demands of his role, Serghei relies on effective time management and delegation. He has built a strong leadership team he trusts to handle day-to-day operations, allowing him to focus on strategic aspects without feeling overwhelmed. By empowering his team, he ensures that Utilities One continues to thrive while he maintains his own well-being.
Serghei believes his leadership has directly impacted the growth and direction of Utilities One by setting a clear vision and fostering a culture of innovation, resilience, and excellence. From the beginning, he has been deeply involved in every aspect of the business, dedicating himself to aligning strategies with long-term goals and ensuring continuous progress. One of the key impacts of his leadership has been the strategic expansion of services across multiple industries, including telecommunications, electric utilities, water utilities, and oil & gas. By driving this diversification, Serghei has positioned Utilities One as a versatile and reliable partner for critical infrastructure solutions, opening up new markets and accelerating growth. His emphasis on building a strong, capable team and empowering them to take ownership of their roles has also been instrumental in the company’s success. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptability, Serghei has ensured that Utilities One remains agile and responsive to industry trends, maintaining its competitive edge. His personal commitment to the company’s mission and values has helped keep a consistent focus on quality and client satisfaction, further establishing Utilities One as a trusted name in the industry.
“Success is built on resilience and the willingness to adapt. In a changing world, flexibility is your greatest asset.”
To be a successful CEO in today’s fast-paced business environment, Serghei believes there are several key qualities every leader should possess. Vision and strategic thinking are essential, as a CEO must have a clear vision for the company’s future and align short-term goals to stay on course. Resilience and determination are crucial for overcoming challenges and driving the company forward, especially during difficult times. Adaptability is key in a rapidly changing business landscape, as a CEO must be open to new ideas and capable of leading the organization through change. Integrity and ethics are non-negotiable, as leading with integrity builds trust with employees, clients, and stakeholders, which is fundamental to long-term success. Empowerment and team building are vital, as a CEO must recognize that the company’s success depends on the strength of its team. Investing in employee development and fostering a positive company culture create a motivated and capable workforce. Finally, commitment and passion are necessary, as a deeply committed CEO inspires the team and drives the energy needed to achieve ambitious goals. Serghei’s dedication to Utilities One reflects his belief that strong leadership is the foundation of the company’s success.