Faces of Lubricants: James Klein
Jul 31, 2019
Oilfield and Lubricants Key Account Manager James Klein is dedicated, resilient and personable. He has been with Ingevity for more than 13 years serving various roles on the Oilfield commercial team. Recently adding Lubricants products to his portfolio, James will leverage his experience with our oil and gas customers to draw out unique opportunities with current and potential lubricant customers. James is a Charleston native who graduated from The College of Charleston with a degree in biology. He now resides in Dallas-Fort Worth with his wife and two kids.
Tell us about the experience you bring to your role and what you do at Ingevity.
I bring over 10 years of professional sales experience coupled with four years of lab experience to my new role as key account manager with our Oilfield and Lubricants business. During my sales career, I learned how to develop relationships at all levels and how to use them to ensure that we maximize the value that Ingevity brings to our customers.
How did you make the transition into helping with Lubricants?
When I was asked to join our Lubricants business, I had been selling oilfield products for five years. In that role, I worked with customers who use Ingevity products to alter the rheological properties of their drilling fluids. We supply high value raw materials as lubricants in some “down hole” applications, so it was a smooth transition into lubricants sales.
What are you most excited about for the future of the Lubricants team?
I am most excited to leverage my experience with our oil and gas customers to draw out unique opportunities with our lubricant customers and vice versa. I expect my exposure to our lubricant customers to make me a better sales professional and greater asset to Ingevity.
Name your favorite thing about working at Ingevity.
Since Ingevity is headquartered in the same place I grew up, it’s amazing to see the good work that Ingevity does for the Charleston community.
What does your typical day look like as an account manager for the OFL team?
A typical day consists of an open order review followed by customer engagement to better understand upcoming demand requirements. It never fails that there will be fires that need to be put out (some bigger than others) which usually require engagement with our customer service and/or technical team. I try to spend some time each day reading articles specific to our customers and markets that we supply, as well as planning for upcoming customer meetings from both a logistical and material preparation standpoint.
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
As the father of two young children I am typically herding kids all weekend long and doing my best to keep them from hurting themselves or each other. We spend a lot of time at the pool, playground and riding bikes. I love to cook for my family and since I travel a lot during the week, I find myself on the grill or in the kitchen during the weekend.
Who inspires you to be better?
My children. Having kids is like nothing else I’ve experienced and the love is indescribable. The responsibility associated with caring for someone who cannot care for themselves is tremendous and drives me to be a better person every day.
What is your life motto?
“Persistence pays off.” My wife Kristen can attest to this as it took some time to convince her that she needed to go on a date with me. When it came to having our first child it took a long time, years even, and ultimately a few rounds of IUI to bring Camryn into the world. Also, those that work with me know that I love a challenge and will not give up until the desired outcome is reached.
What is your favorite thing about where you currently live?
In one word, accessibility. Las Colinas is a 12,000-acre master-planned urban center in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex providing a big city atmosphere with a small-town feel. I’m not sure if we would like to live anywhere else.
