professionals in a post-COVID-19 world? I think there needs to be more awareness of what is going on in the industry. This can be accomplished by getting out to college recruiting events, job fairs, and trade shows and highlighting current projects and applications. Young professionals are often looking to see a path for growth. Mapping out a plan for continual learning and development will keep people and continue to move the industry forward. Additionally, I have the ability to work remotely more frequently now, and due to my roles, I am still able to be in the office quite a bit. This has aligned well with my working style by allowing me to focus on specific tasks, and I value the flexibility a hybrid approach offers. What does it mean to you to receive this honor? It is truly an honor to be recognized for my knowledge, experience and contribution to the industry. It is inspiring to know that what I'm doing is making a difference, and I'm looking forward to continuing to take on new challenges.
John Glass Business Development Manager, SFA Saniflo
How did you enter a career in the PHCP industry? After I graduated from Montclair State University, I applied and interviewed with many companies. I felt that one company in particular within the plumbing industry, Ferguson Enterprises, was an unexpectedly great fit for me. I was a business major and didn't necessarily think I would end up working in the plumbing field. However, I've grown to have a true appreciation for the entire industry. What have been some of your career highlights so far? The greatest highlight of my career is having the opportunity to work in multiple locations. I've really enjoyed seeing how things work in targeting different markets. Now with Saniflo, I have the opportunity to cover the territory between Virginia and Maine. Because of this, I've been provided a great opportunity and am especially grateful to travel and build relationships. What are your thoughts on mentorship? Early in my career I learned a lot from two colleagues in wholesale plumbing. Currently, my superior is Kevin Schink, regional sales director for the East Coast for Saniflo. He's definitely a big role model in learning how to approach this type of product and pitch it to certain businesses, users, and contractors. What professional challenges did you experience during the COVID- 19 pandemic? When I first started with Saniflo, I was reaching out to contractors, and especially wholesalers. A big portion of my job is physically showing up to conduct events for our products and getting involved with them. The only challenge was to make sure that a relationship was built and maintained, so I can keep coming back to the wholesalers and work to make that selling process smooth. How do you think the industry can better recruit and retain young professionals in a post-COVID-19 world? Work-life balance is definitely huge. I think it's a fact that if an employee is happy, there are going to be better results. I do like that there is a lot of work-life balance throughout the entire work environment, across all industries. I think that itself has definitely grown, among the many other changes the pandemic has introduced. What does it mean to you to receive this honor? It definitely represents what I'm truly about - putting my best foot forward. It's great to achieve and gives me a lot of pride.
Taylor Martinez Profit Center Manager Moore Supply Co.
How did you enter a career in the PHCP industry? I was introduced to the industry and company my sophomore year of college and have been hooked on the fast-paced atmosphere ever since. I chose this industry because Hajoca was able to provide a career opportunity where I could lead a business in a stable market segment while helping both our customers and teammates reach their desired goals. What have been some of your career highlights so far? Having the opportunity to lead and grow a business at the age of 27 and developing our team so that we are able to provide a greater amount of value to the Northwest Houston market. What are your thoughts on mentorship? Jeff Knox, Hajoca South Texas Region manager, is a mentor of mine. Additionally, one of my key roles on a day-to-day basis is to develop and train my team in order to help them grow in both their professional and personal lives. What professional challenges did you experience during the COVID- 19 pandemic? The biggest challenge we faced during the pandemic was finding ways to ensure our team and customers' safety while still performing and operating at a level that meets the expectations of our customer base. We were able to create certain processes that allowed us to operate within the guidelines the CDC recommended, while also not creating any obstacles for our customers that inhibited them from doing business with us. How do you think the industry can better recruit and retain young professionals in a post-COVID-19 world? I believe that we should leverage our essentiality to society and the role that we play within the supply chain to keep the industry moving in a positive direction. What does it mean to you to receive this honor? This honor provides a sense of accomplishment that our hard work is paying off, while also motivating me to keep growing our business in order to increase our impact within the market.
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phc September 2021 www.phcppros.com
Glass Martinez
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