![5 minutes with Steve Egelhoff](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sanity.io%2Fimages%2Fu9kwsdm0%2Fproduction%2F3add0f52c5f5a478f561502f83e07af8997a0a70-410x314.jpg%3Ffit%3Dmax%26auto%3Dformat&w=3840&q=75)
5 minutes with Steve Egelhoff
04.20.23
ROCHEM Fyrewash Ltd
5-6 Sun Valley Business Park
Winnall Close, Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 0LB
ROCHEM Fyrewash Inc
23707 West Hardy Road
Spring
Texas
77373
04.20.23
joined Rochem in 1997 as the Northeast Sales Representative, bringing a wealth of experience with him.
Fast forward to 2023, Steve is one of Rochem's most valuable Sales Managers, responsible for growing sales in the Americas. We caught up with Steve to find out more about his journey over the last 26 years.
As a Senior Sales Manager with nearly 30 years of experience in the energy field, I use my knowledge and expertise to guide our salespeople and encourage them to strive for the best customer service while delivering high-quality products.
I generally start pretty early because our is in the UK. This allows me to respond to his questions and send emails or team messages to our production people for information.
We are expanding very rapidly in Mexico and Latin America and have teamed up with some really good distributors in these regions.
By starting early, I can support things that came in the night before and early in the morning and then work with our team here in the US. The great thing is that each day is different and never boring.
I put a lot of time into creating long-lasting relationships with . I’m really proud that I have had a lot of customers for 25-plus years and call many of them friends.
I’d like to think I am mentoring some of the younger people here at Rochem as well as learning what they think about sales and marketing, production, and customer support.
It’s a two-way street and I believe it keeps us all motivated to take the extra step to support our customers.
“No Donuts” I worked in the aviation industry for a few years. And this salesman told me a story about a guy calling on a major airline every Monday and taking him doughnuts.
There were probably four buyers in the office. One day the salesman’s contact was gone and had moved to another department and one of the other buyers was sitting at his desk.
The salesman went to introduce himself and the new buyer said I know who you are flipping through his Rolodex, you’re “no doughnuts” and showed the salesmen the door.
I think it is important to meet and greet everyone in the office and if you are bringing doughnuts, bring enough for everyone.
I think what we do is going to be around for a long time. There is a place for everything. Renewables like solar and wind are good, but will be here for a very long time supporting the grid.
I really believe some of the people in their 30s here will retire and Rochem will continue.
I still go out in the field quite a bit. There is nothing like walking around a big combined cycle plant, meeting new people, and running into people you haven’t seen in 20 years.
Talking about the “old days” for a few minutes can really bring back great memories. I still really like attending user groups and conferences which has been our bread and butter for meeting new people and plants for 20 years.
People don’t answer phones very often anymore and sometimes we lose that connection of conversation, but you can still get that at user groups and conferences.
People. We are a and working with people from the UK, Netherlands, and Mexico among other places gives us a chance to exchange ideas and see what works in different places and what doesn’t work.
In the last five years, we have had a new MD who has removed all the walls within our divisions where all ideas are welcome and there are open communications amongst all of us.
All trying to go in the same direction to improve. We have a great team here in America which I would like to think I helped put together and great distributors in Mexico and Latin America so working with all of these people and companies is a lot of fun.
Music has been a passion of mine for many years. I also love to cook and experiment in the kitchen.
Both my wife and I traveled for work for over 20 years, so we don’t go out much on the weekends when we are home.
She will come up with an idea and it is up to me to make it. Some are home runs and well, some are not but it is a lot of fun.
I have a few friends from school that we still get together and I enjoy spending time with my adult children.
Post written by Martin Howarth
An extensive knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering together with hands on experience with gas turbines provides a bedrock for his work at Rochem.
08.17.23