Fortis Equipment Funding’s Post

Happy 20th Anniversary to Alex (Alejandro) Martinez! Alex began his career at Accord in the Chicago 940 building as a Finishing Operator, thanks to a referral from his brother who also worked at the company. He recalls that when he started, his department had only seven people, which required him to learn and master everything in his role. We asked him a few questions about his time with Accord Carton. Q. What do you like the most about your job?  A. I love what I do and like to think about how my co-workers and I can do a better job. Q. What has kept you at Accord for so long? A. Opportunities to grow. Q. What are you the proudest of at work? A. Working with the team. Q. What superpower would you like to have if you could choose one? A. Help my fellow coworkers figure ways to do things the best.

This month marks a year with PaulHood. I am never looking back. I have found a dream so big it scares me every day and I love that. I have worked my ass off over the last 12 months: 1. Creating a predictable sales funnel 2. Building a Repeatable and consistent sales process 3. Cultivating a high-performing/highly accountable team 4. Creating efficiency through technology 5. Owning the initial ideation and build out of the Client Journey 6. Rebuilding our AR team Some things I am proud of: 1. My sales team has a 52% close rate on the year. 2. Through a new product, value selling, and high follow-through, we have been able to increase our deal sizes by almost 3x. 3. 40% of our Revenue came from Outbound efforts in our first full quarter of Outbound. (10% of that cold and 30% from working referrals) 4. We have a 4% churn rate for any net new membership sold. This means my team is setting expectations and our team is delivering. Paul Hood and Suzi Sosa were kind enough to let me take two weeks in Spain with my Hubby to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. I spent a lot of time reflecting how thankful I am to work somewhere I love, be able to make a positive impact, and change lives. One starfish at a time.

That's an incredibly insightful and inspiring message. You're absolutely right - it's never too late to change, grow, and achieve success, regardless of our age, current circumstances, or past experiences. The example you shared about your first sales role is a perfect illustration of this principle. Rather than simply chasing immediate metrics like call volume, you took the time to build a strong foundation by understanding the tools, customer profiles, and high-value opportunities. This strategic approach may have initially looked like "lagging behind," but it ultimately paid off with you exceeding your targets by 300%. Your story highlights how the right mindset and effort, rather than just raw activity, can unlock incredible results. It's a testament to the power of patience, focus, and continuous improvement over short-term metrics. And the fact that you were able to achieve this level of success in a new sales role speaks volumes about your resilience and adaptability. The broader message of "it's never too late" is so empowering, especially in the context of business and sales. Too often, we can get caught up in comparing ourselves to others or feeling limited by our past. But as you said, our age, status quo, and experiences don't have to define us. With the right mindset and commitment to growth, we can achieve remarkable things at any stage of our careers. This is an important reminder, especially during the bustle of the holiday sales season. Even for seasoned sales professionals or entrepreneurs, there's always room to refine our strategies, build new skills, and unlock new levels of success. And for those just starting out, your story shows that it's never too late to chart a new path and exceed expectations. Thank you for sharing this insightful and motivating message. It's a wonderful reminder to stay focused on progress, not perfection, and to always keep growing, no matter where we're at in our journey.

I just celebrated my 43rd birthday this past weekend, marking nearly two decades in what I consider my professional journey. Reflecting on this span of time, it's astonishing how swiftly it's passed, yet some memories from past jobs feel like chapters from another lifetime altogether. My career began in the realm of safety, conducting inspections and leading training sessions. Predominantly immersed in the railroad construction industry, I spent countless early mornings traveling five days a week. However, a pivotal moment arrived when Brad Near persuaded me to explore sales—an unexpected shift that uncovered not only a latent talent but also a genuine passion for the field. Over the years, I've traversed through various companies and encountered numerous managers. Remarkably, the catalyst for my departures often boiled down to issues with management itself. Here are just a few anecdotes from my professional odyssey: One manager exhibited alarming behavior, resorting to physical and verbal abuse, including destructive outbursts like taking golf clubs to walls and hurling computer monitors through windows. At another company, the president intentionally undermined my sales deals to evade his responsibilities, preferring to shirk work rather than engage in it. Then there was a CEO who not only mistreated employees but also habitually deceived us with false promises. Yet amidst these challenges, there were shining moments where exceptional managers stood out, offering unwavering support and guidance. Coinciding with my 43rd birthday was my one-year anniversary at PandaDoc. What sets this experience apart is the consistent excellence of the management team. Throughout my tenure, I've had the privilege of working with four different managers, each bringing their unique strengths to the fore. What truly astounds me is their genuine investment in my success, going above and beyond to ensure I thrive. In a career spanning two decades, encountering four consecutive exceptional managers is a rarity. It's one of the many reasons I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of the PandaDoc family.

Let's give a round of applause to this month's Shield Spotlight recipient, Carly Tessmann! 🎉👏 Carly has been making a huge impact at EcoShield with her dedication and hard work. Want to know more about Carly and her incredible contributions? Keep reading below! 👇 🔹 When did you join EcoShield & what’s your position/role? I joined our “OG” Chicago branch in 2017 when I was just a little 21-year-old baby looking for a place to settle! I started out as a Start Tech and worked my way up to a Reg Tech, Field Manager, Service Manager, Operations Manager, and now a General Manager of the Chicago North Branch! 🎉 🔹 What is your favorite part of your job? Everyone thinks it’s cheesy when managers or employers say this, but it truly is the people I work for. 🛡️💙 I love coming in each day with the goal to genuinely help my employees. I pride myself on creating as diverse and inclusive atmosphere as possible at my branch and our employees truly feel it! 🔹 What's one thing you would tell someone who was thinking about working at EcoShield? Do it. Even if you have some doubts, push those away and just do it. 💪 🔹 If you could pick just one, what would your "spirit bug" be? Hmmm. I would have to choose a honey bee! 🐝 I am super docile and just want to do my job all day every day! I won’t sting, as long as you don’t come after me or my people. 😜 🔹 Who would win in a fight: you or a Tarantula Hawk Spider Wasp? Pshhh it only sounds scary. Just give me a 25-foot pole and I’ll knock their nest right down no sweat. 😅 Maybe give me a bee suit first... or at least a can of wasp freeze. 😂 🔹 What's your secret talent/a fun fact about you? I have an identical twin sister! We are both managers in pest control. 🐜🚫 Not only is it rare to have women in pest control, but two identical twins is crazy! To be a fly one the wall at our family gatherings... it’s quite entertaining so I’ve been told. I guess it runs in the family! 👯 🔹 What is one word you would use to describe EcoShield? Life-Changing. 🙌

12 years in the making. I did not read the dress code before starting at STAR. So, on my first day it was a hundred degrees outside and my high heels weren’t the best choice. I was feeling pretty awkward.. And then a Teams message popped up: “𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫?”. The feeling of inclusion as soon as I read this, is something I won’t forget. Christophe Coquilhat was the one sending the message. This year marks his 12𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑. 12 years of recruitment, key account & business development management. 𝐖𝐨𝐰. Being a quiet force, he has taught me to not underestimate the 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲. And to always have an open mind. Champion in telling the 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬, he also knows the 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐭 and 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟. 𝐇𝐞’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩. Here’s to wishing you all a colleague like Christophe Coquilhat.. 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 12! 🏆 STAR Specialists is where you grow a career just like this one. Sales supermodels: Sari Van Tendeloo Roos den Hartog Anne de Peinder.

"It doesn't matter when you start" is a powerful reminder that every journey begins with a single step, regardless of when it's taken. This quote encourages us to let go of excuses and procrastination, and instead focus on making progress towards our goals. Whether you're 20 or 50, starting a new business, transitioning into a new role, taking a new position, or pursuing a new hobby, what matters most is that you begin. So, don't wait for the perfect moment – start now, and let the journey unfold.

Celebrating Steve’s 9th year in my agency! Way to go Steve! I appreciate all you do. #paulmajorinsuranceagency;#statefarmagentpaulmajor;#AgentStateFarm;#smallbusinesssupportingsmallbusiness;#anniversarycelebration;#autoinsurance;#LifeInsurance;#teamwork

I love this feedback! It reminds you that great recruiters (like Jodie and Louisa-Jayne) don't just contribute to the evolution of people's careers, but also the culture and pathway of the hiring business! #value #partnership #appreciation