Someone You Should Know: Casey Cavender

Casey Cavender
CFO
Kensington Electronics

With so many ERA members, it is not easy to get to know every rep, manufacturer and distributor in the business.The “Someone You Should Know” Q&A gives readers the chance to learn about fellow ERA members, including how their time is spent both in and out of the office.

Meet Casey Cavender, CFO at Austin-based Kensington Electronics. Cavender stumbled into the electronics distribution business after college, but has stayed for 30 years after finding she liked the industry’s pace, the people and the problem-solving.

How long have you been in the distribution business and how did you become interested in the electronics industry?

I have been in the business 30+ years! I found my way into the electronics industry almost by accident while I was in college, and somewhere along the way it stopped feeling accidental. I like to joke that this industry is a little like the mob: once you’re in, you can’t get out, but the truth is I stayed because I came to love the people, the pace and the challenge of helping solve real problems. What started as chance turned into a career I’ve been proud to build.

What have you found to be most rewarding about the business?

What I’ve found most rewarding is that this business is really about people, problem-solving and constant evolution. Yes, we deal in components, lead times and supply chain challenges, but at its core, the work is about helping someone solve a problem, avoid a costly mistake or keep an important project moving. There’s a lot of satisfaction in being able to bring clarity and help when things get complicated. It’s also been very cool to grow up in this industry and watch how much technology has changed over the past 30 years. I’ve seen us go from paper files, fax machines and printed catalogs to digital sourcing, e-commerce and instant access to information. I’ve watched applications become smaller, smarter, faster and more demanding across medical, industrial and ruggedized environments. Just when you think the technology has gone as far as it can go, it keeps moving. What means the most to me is being part of an organization that has stayed true to its roots while still embracing change. The tools have changed, the pace has changed and the industry has changed, but the importance of relationships, product knowledge and taking care of customers has not. I think that balance is pretty special. You can evolve without losing the part of who you are that made people trust you in the first place.

Briefly describe your organization.

Kensington Electronics is a family-owned electronic components distributor and custom cable assembly partner based in Austin, Texas. We support customers in demanding markets by combining strong product knowledge, responsive service and value-add capabilities that help solve problems, not just ship parts. We’ve been in the industry a long time, and while we continue to evolve with technology and customer needs, we’ve stayed rooted in relationships, reliability and doing right by the people we serve.

What recent innovations, best practices and/or changes has your organization made?

One thing that has really shaped our recent thinking is that we do not believe in leading with, ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.’ In my experience, that mindset can make companies slow, comfortable and eventually irrelevant. We believe it’s healthier to keep evaluating how we work, where we can improve and what we need to do now to support where the business is going, not just where it has been. That has shown up in a few important ways. We are embracing AI and other modern tools in the workplace to help us work smarter, communicate better and create more efficiency internally. We are also paying close attention to the next generation of employees and what they need to be successful, because their expectations around communication, technology, flexibility and development are not always the same as the generations before them. I think good leadership means recognizing that and adapting instead of expecting everyone to fit an older model. At the same time, we continue to invest in staff and infrastructure to support growth. For us, that means being willing to strengthen the organization before the pressure forces it, not after. We are proud of our roots, but we also believe staying relevant requires curiosity, willingness to change, and the discipline to keep building for the future.

What have you learned and/or what contacts have you made through ERA that have had the greatest positive impacts on you and/or your business?

I have found real value in the relationships and conversations that come out of the annual ERA conference. Kensington has always believed that strong rep partnerships are part of the reason for our success, so one of the things I enjoy most is the opportunity to spend time with our reps while they are in Austin and strengthen those relationships face to face. I also really enjoy the breakout sessions. They tend to spark good internal conversations when I get back, and in some cases they have led to changes in how we think or how we operate. Sometimes the biggest value is simply being around other people in the industry who make you stop, reflect, and look at your own business a little differently.

What are some things you enjoy outside of the workplace?

Outside of work, much of my time is centered around the things that matter most to me personally. Raising my two children, my 12-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter, is at the heart of that and has shaped me in more ways than I could count. Being their mother has taught me a lot about resilience, perspective and the importance of showing up consistently, even on the hard days. I also care deeply about supporting and encouraging women. In an industry that is still very male-dominated, I think it matters that women see other women leading, building and creating meaningful things. Outside of business, I invest a great deal of energy into that through a women’s group I started called Gather and Grow and through my brand, Feel Good. Build Belief., which is centered on encouragement, honesty and helping women recognize their own strength. That work is very personal to me, because I know how powerful it can be when women feel seen, supported and reminded of what they are capable of. For me, those things are closely connected. Whether I’m raising my children, leading in business or building something meant to encourage women, it all comes back to creating stability, belief and a sense of possibility for other people.

What is one interesting fact that people may not know about you?

One thing people may not know about me is that I’m a twin, and my twin also works with me. That has added a unique dynamic to both my work and personal life. It has definitely made for some interesting moments over the years.