At Suburban Manufacturing Group, we understand the value in promoting from within; which is why we invest in the necessary education and training to advance our employees both personally and professionally. One thing we've learned is the power in promoting our existing employees who embody perseverance and live-out our core values.
We recently sat down with someone who has done just that. Last month, Mike Kreklau took on a new role: National Sales Manager for Tsunami Compressed Air Solutions.
Congratulations on your promotion to sales manager! How do you feel about stepping into this leadership role, and what are you most excited about?
I am very excited about the opportunity to continue to grow my partnership with our fantastic customers and the great people that work at Suburban Manufacturing Group. From my first day I knew it was different here and the values of the company are unmatched. We truly live our mission statement in everything we do.
What brought you to Suburban?
Suburban has long standing relationships with very large OEM companies so when I had a conversation initially there was a strong interest. My background and experience gave me confidence that I could succeed within the role. Once I arrived at the office though, that was when the desire to join increased tenfold. The passion, energy, and the feeling of contributing significantly each day made the decision easy.
Can you share your journey within the company that led to this promotion? What do you think were the key factors that contributed to your advancement?
My initial role within Suburban gave me the opportunity to wear various hats. I was able to learn all the department processes and what drives the company each day. My specific sales role is very technical in nature and the knowledge I quickly built gave me the opportunity to build strong relationships with a lot of existing and new customers. Those were key reasons that led to the new challenge.
What excites you about the new role?
The new role brings an opportunity to know a lot more about the company and the impact my team and I can make. I also get the chance to work directly with more people that contribute exceptionally to Suburban’s continued success.
What are your long-term goals as a sales manager? How do you envision your team's growth and success under your leadership?
My number one long term goal would be to continue to succeed in doing it the right way as we have for over 40 years. We have built a reputation for American made quality and service that is unmatched and that is why customers continue to partner with us. Beyond that I want to grow with my internal teammates who have been so successful and lean on them as I get better in my role. The potential for Suburban is limitless with the foundation we have set.
What golden piece of advice would you give to anyone thinking of entering your line of work?
Sales in manufacturing requires a full team effort from top to bottom. Work closely with your internal partners and it will drive everyone’s passion to be successful.
When it comes to success, we find it within our people. Join a dedicated company that invests in it's employees. Visit our careers page to learn more and view our upcoming job openings!