Faces of Lubricants: Jim Collette
Feb 08, 2018
Jim Collette has been with Ingevity for nearly three years. This senior account manager is a Virginia native and currently resides with his family and Australian shepherd in his hometown of Roanoke, VA. With an extensive career spanning more than 25 years in the oilfield, mineral and now chemical industry, Jim offers a breadth of knowledge to his customers and helps lead the additives and biofractions sales within the U.S. for the Industrial Specialties team. Jim currently focuses on large established accounts.
What’s one of your favorite memories from a Lubricants project?
I’ve enjoyed the challenge of cultivating relationships with former clients and reclaiming their business. My current favorite moment continues to be anytime I close a sale.
Name one thing about your work that gets you out of bed in the morning.
I absolutely love my job and being able to interact with customers on a daily basis. Ingevity is the best job I’ve ever had.
What does your typical day look like as an account manager for the Lubricants team?
My standard days consist of traveling within my territories or calling on accounts. I like to have frequent face-to-face time with my clients, so I make an effort to get in front of them as often as I can. Meeting with accounts helps me discover their needs and ensure we’re providing the best service possible.
What’s your idea of happiness?
My idea of happiness is simple – if my family is happy and healthy, I am blissfully content!
Do you have any particular hobbies you enjoy?
I’m an avid cycler with an extensive collection of road and mountain bikes. Living so close to the Appalachian Trail and Carvins Cove is a dream – I’m constantly spending time outdoors exploring new trails. I also love listening to live music and am a huge fan of bluegrass.
Who has inspired you throughout your career?
A previous coworker, a product manager, from US Gypsum greatly impacted my career by encouraging me to go into the chemical field. Without her advice, I may have never ended up in the specialty chemicals industry or at Ingevity.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I have my black belt in taekwondo and have played soccer for more than 20 years. Staying active is very important to me.
What are your keys to success?
I have two simple rules I live by when it comes to business: 1) ALWAYS return a call the same day and 2) never leave a meeting without asking for the sale.
