Mike Seichter – Account Manager
Meet… Mike Seichter! Mike is an Account Manager working out of our Eau Claire, WI location. Get to know Mike!
Could you share a brief introduction about yourself, including your role at Standard Electric and how long you’ve been with us?
I’m an Account Manager and I’m located at our Eau Claire branch. I’ve been with Standard Electric for 6 years as of this October. I’ve been in the engineering/electrical industry since 2011 and was an active-duty Combat Engineer in the Marines before that.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your field, and how did your journey lead you to Standard Electric?
After getting out of the Marines, I pursued Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to do something more technical, and not the back busting labor like the military. I shifted gears in 2015 and went to Chippewa Valley Tech College in Eau Claire for a 2-year Electromechanical Technology degree (Now Automation Engineering Technology). I was a maintenance technician for a while turning wrenches, and then an electrical controls designer at one of my largest account before taking this job.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I don’t think Account Managers have a typical day. Some days we are in office putting together quotes, reviewing numbers, and catching up on emails. Other days we are out with customers on site promoting our products and services. Most often you see us running around in between those two things on our phone with customers or talking with our suppliers to make deals happen and get product where it’s needed. And of course, a typical day starts with coffee.
What do you love most about your job at Standard Electric? Is there a particular project or achievement that you’re especially proud of?
Working with people. Being an Account Manager is an extremely social job that requires thick skin. So, I think it’s the challenging and competitive nature of the job that draws me to it. It’s also the variety, and the feeling you get when a customer thanks you because they are pleased with the work you’ve done. Lastly, our company is a great place to work for, full of great people. From the top down, Standard Electric cares as much about its associates as it does its customers.
How would you describe the culture at Standard Electric? What makes it unique or special to you?
The culture is great. We have things in place that are always pushing us to improve, like Associate Council. Things that keep us connected and updated, like the “Livewire” newsletter and quarterly manager update. And things that make us feel appreciated like annual awards celebrations, sales goal celebrations, performers club, etc.
Working with a team often brings diverse perspectives. Can you share an example of how teamwork has led to success in a project or initiative at Standard Electric?
Every order we get and every new piece of business we earn is a team effort. Us Account Managers are engaging customers directly to sell what we do as a team more so than the products themselves. Customers often times consider taking business direct to the manufacturer, but we sell the benefits of using distribution by highlighting our customer service, our warehouse/stocking capabilities, our engineering support, having an account with terms with us, and many other benefits we have because of our great teams.
Moving beyond work, what do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or passions you’re willing to share?
I often tell myself that I pick up more hobbies than I truly have time for. I enjoy hunting, fishing, working on engines and stuff in the garage, competitive shooting, and lifting weights. In the winter I play guitar but not as much in the summer. We just bought a new house with some land, so yard work and property maintenance has basically pushed all of those things aside for now. We also now have 25 chickens.
Do you have any skills or talents that most people at work might not know about? How do these contribute to your personal or professional life?
I like to think of myself as a Jack of all trades, master of none. I have a variety of experience, skills, and things I am good at. But I don’t tend to fixate on one skill to a masterful level. I used to spend a lot of time fixing cars and working on engines, and I was a maintenance technician for a while. So, I’m good at fixing things. In college, I was in an engineering program and got good at complex math and tutored other students. Other than that, I have good people skills and good problem solving skills which is a big help in my position.
As you look to the future with Standard Electric, what are you most excited about or looking forward to in your role or the company’s direction?
Growth. I’m excited to see us grow in this Eau Claire territory and more often be on the minds of our customers and suppliers out here for new opportunities. We have strong competition out here, but we continue to remind our suppliers and customers why it makes sense to work with us. Any time we win a large new piece of business, it’s a great feeling.