We’re excited to welcome Leo Hill to the Induron team in a Sales & Service position! Leo will focus on expanding Induron’s footprint in the northeast by developing water and wastewater specifications for regional engineering firms, water system owners and contractors. Leo will also strive to create new industrial coating customers with Induron’s new line of high-performance OEM production finish systems. To learn a little more about Leo, check out this Q&A.
Q: Tell us about your background and how you came to work for Induron.
A: My coating career began at PPG Industries as a technical service representative in 1982. I called on GM automotive assembly plants in Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Missouri.
In 1990, I joined the Tnemec Company and learned how to sell high-performance coating systems via the engineering and architectural specification sales process (identifying projects and calling on the specification source). I had a terrific mentor, George Shannon who taught me the ropes of the specification sales cycle, and I am forever grateful for him. In fact, George is the gentleman who referred me to Induron. So, I guess I’m grateful twice!
In late 2009, I left Tnemec and joined Carboline to bring the company into the water and wastewater treatment market in my multi-state region. With Carboline, I developed significant business by calling on and selling manufacturers servicing the developing Marcellus and Utica shale gas, oil tank and equipment markets in the Northeast.
I then joined Jones-Blair out of Dallas to develop business with OEM manufacturers in the oil and gas markets in addition to heavy duty equipment and truck trailer manufacturing markets.
The water and wastewater tank and water treatment markets are where I want to be. I’m very excited to join such a talented team at Induron. I sense a great opportunity, or “upside potential,” with Induron. I’m looking forward to being part of the team that brings Induron to the next level!!!
Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?
A: Interacting with smart-focused industry professionals and the direction, energy and enthusiasm that starts at the top with the company leaders and is shared by administration, production and sales.
Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?
A: Induron isn’t a well-known brand in the Northeast. I look at this as a challenge. My goal is to develop our company into a significant competitor in this region.
Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?
A: Being a technical resource for engineers and owners, creating strong relationships based on trust and reliability. Improving an engineer’s specification or improving a production process motivates me. For example, I strive to reduce life cycle cost (make coating systems last longer) and improve production efficiencies by reducing production costs (1 coat instead of 2 / wet on wet systems) etc.
Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.
A: A few years ago, I evaluated 22 water storage tanks for a prominent Central Pennsylvania consulting engineering firm. Their client, a private water company in Central Pennsylvania, wanted to prioritize the maintenance schedule for 22 out of their 39 storage tanks. The steel tank designs included bolted, riveted and welded, and several tanks were cast-in-place concrete. Plus, most of the tanks had either a checkered or non-existent paint history file so it was a challenge from the get go.
I visited the sites to determine which steel tanks could be over-coated with high-performance coating systems and which tanks needed to be contained and blasted. I also determined the correct repair process for the concrete interiors and exteriors. In a nut shell, I created over-coat “risk analysis” reports for each tank, which contained results from physical testing—ASTM 3359 Method B testing, average total exterior DFT, etc. Based the results, I confidently recommended which tanks could be over-coated and which tanks needed to be contained and blasted.
The owner also relied on me to secure a list of qualified contractors to bid each of the 3-4 tank bid packages and to recommend inspection firms to bid the “critical point inspection” scope. I had convinced the owner, in the sales process, about the value of “objective third party” inspection. Consequently, the projects all went like clockwork!!Though it was important to specify my products on these 22 tanks, it was just as important to solidify my relationships with the numerous tank contractors and inspection firms involved by recommending them as quality and capable firms to the engineer and water system owner.
Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: As I drove off to Detroit, Michigan to take over the business world in my new job as a Technical Services Representative for PPG in 1982, my father stopped me in the driveway and said, “Just remember, you have two things to guard with your life young man: your honor and integrity.” He said, “Integrity is very hard to gain and easy to lose!” He finished by saying “Remember kid, my name is on the back of your game jersey. Respect it!”
Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?
A: St. Paul. He was somewhat of a scoundrel before being knocked off his horse and then proceeded to change his lifestyle. He changed to became part of the solution, not part of the problem. His take on living life well, despite your mistakes, makes sense to me. His writings that explain his take on living, are powered down so simple guys like me can understand them.
St. Paul is quoted: “In every circumstance, and in all things, I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”
Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?
A: My father who passed away in 2010. My Dad came to Ellis Island in 1948 from Dublin, Ireland with about $25 in his pocket and his worldly possessions in a suitcase. He was a man of strong faith and incredible character. I never heard my father swear, never saw him drink or raise his voice against my mother.
He worked long days, day in day out. We always had food on the table and a nice home to live in. He worked very hard to put his six children through Catholic elementary and high schools.
My father wasn’t a bible beating fella, rather he set the bar for us through his words and actions. He led by example. While holding his hand when he was dying, I told my father “Dad, this isn’t fair as you have set the bar way too high for me”. He smiled, squeezed my hand and said, “Take care of your children, and take care of Mom.” Those were his last words to me. I can honestly say that I have done my best to do so.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: A little note my mother gave me when my first child was born, which is still on my bedroom mirror!!! “Anyone can be a Father…. It takes someone very special to be a Daddy”
Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.
A: I have four children, a daughter and three sons. Molly just graduated from college and is working at the University of Pittsburgh while pursuing a Masters in Psychology. She wants to be a counselor for troubled children. My oldest son Leo graduates from the University of Pittsburgh this year with degrees in Mechanical and Nuclear engineering. He will also graduate as an Officer in the US Army. He is going to Flight School after graduation to learn to fly Apache helicopters with a goal of becoming a Med-Evac pilot. My son Colin is a sophomore at Penn State University majoring in Computer Engineering. Colin was just awarded with the Penn State Schreyers Honors Engineering scholarship. Colin has accepted an internship for next summer at Northrop Grumman in Baltimore, MD. My youngest son Quinn, is a junior in high school. Quinny is a student athlete who excels at football and basketball. He is blessed to have what his brothers and father never had…. SPEED!! You can’t teach speed! His brothers are on him all the time about making the grades, as well.
My favorite hobby is fly fishing in the mountains of Central Pennsylvania. I also like target shooting at a local Pennsylvania state pistol range.
Q: Where is your favorite place to be?
A: Either in the woods with my springer spaniel or at the beach in North Carolina.
Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A: I imagine being a fighter pilot would be awesome.
Nicely put together, Leo. I loved reading your story. Welcome to Induron.