Q&A with Water & Wastewater Market Manager, Jeremy Sukola
What initially drew you to the water and wastewater industry?
It was actually not planned at all and happened pretty much by chance. I had been in Alaska finishing up with a coating project at a wildlife research facility, and I was on my way back home to Seattle when I was offered a job in Atlanta with a small coatings manufacturer who happened to be supplying materials to us. So, I came to Atlanta, and a few days later went to my first job site here. And somebody opened up a manhole cover and said, "We're going down there." And that was the genesis for me. That was it. So, until then, I really had no idea how large and complex the water and wastewater industry was.
What are some of the greatest lessons you've learned from your previous roles, and how do you intend to apply them as the Water & Wastewater Market Manager?
I got my start in this industry almost 25 years ago. The first "real" job I ever had was actually in this industry—as an apprentice in an industrial blaster painter apprenticeship program. I worked for several years as a tradesman and went to school at night to become a journeyman industrial blaster painter. And then came that move to Atlanta I mentioned earlier.
So, I came from being out in the field working as a contractor to the manufacturer's world. I eventually moved into a technical service role solving problems for contractors from the manufacturer's point of view. 90% of that work was in the water and wastewater industry—with contractors lining manholes, pump stations, treatment, plants, tanks, etc.
After I left that small manufacturer, I worked as a contractor again and spent years going after work in the water and wastewater industry, bidding on work and being out in the field running crews and jobs.
In about 2014 or so, I started a family, had a very young child, my wife and I did, and I wanted to do something a little different. So, I went to work for one of the largest manufacturers in the world on the engineering sales side, working with owners and engineers and educating them on corrosion control principles. The goal there was to position ourselves on project specifications.
I went from being on the applicator's side to the manufacturer's technical service side, going back out as a contractor and business owner, working in the water and wastewater industry, and then moving into that engineering position at that large corporate manufacturer. So, I was seeing many things from many different perspectives from wearing those different hats.
When I left the large manufacturers, I landed at a small engineering firm as the senior coatings consultant. So now, I was doing failure analysis work and things like that, trying to drive their coatings consulting business. Again, it was another viewpoint that I had. So, when I would go and teach the AMPP coatings inspection courses, I was able to connect with the students because I've done a little bit of everything in the industry, and I've been able to see it from a lot of different viewpoints.
That's really the greatest lesson that I've learned from all the roles that I've had. I've worked with many different people on many different projects from many different viewpoints. When I came on board last year at Carboline, I had somebody ask me, "Don't you wish you would've come to Carboline 20 years ago?" The answer was no. It was working through all those previous roles and experiences that I had that helped me build up my knowledge and my expertise.
And my goal as the Market Manager for Water & Wastewater at Carboline is to use those experiences and the knowledge I've gained to help our Sales team solve problems for their customers and pass on some of what I've learned from others to the younger generations.
What excites you most about your new role as the Water & Wastewater Market Manager?
First and foremost, it's being able to work with a great team. I honestly feel like the team at Carboline right now and the one we're currently building is second to none in the industry.
What stands out about working for Carboline is the ability to use your knowledge and experiences to serve your customers knowing that management and the leadership team are right behind you. They essentially let you go and do what you think needs to be done to help your customers and put us in the best position possible.
And I think what excites me most is being able to use the diverse experiences I've gained in this segment to help our technical sales team solve the challenges their customers face.
It's also another opportunity to learn. There are a lot of new and exciting things happening in the coatings industry. Oftentimes, the water wastewater segment is what drives and leads these changes and new technologies. So, I'm excited to learn about all these new technologies and challenges we will face in the coming years and work to help solve them.
Is there a particular success or failure in your career that set you on your path or influenced it greatly?
When I look back, it's just the culmination of those gained experiences that really set me on my career path. I was very fortunate to have people around me early on in my career who pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone, take risks, and do challenging things. So, I think I look back on that time early on as what really influenced me.
In the AMPP courses that I teach, I do have a story that I like to tell my students, and it's about the importance of education, and experience. When I received my, at the time, NACE Level 3 peer review, you would have to go to three courses and then do the peer review. I had just met the requirements to sit for my peer review with my field experience and by completing those courses. I believe I was about to turn 23 years old. So, I was 22, going to be 23, and I sat for my peer review, and I passed the first time out, which I thought was the greatest thing on earth, until I went to my first job site where a NACE 3 was needed and came across some guys who were in the industry a whole lot longer than I'd been alive. And I decided to stick my foot in my mouth and tell them how I was a NACE 3, and I knew everything there was to know about paint. And they set me straight pretty quick. I learned from that experience that moving forward, I would do everything I could to educate myself on what I was going to be speaking about, the materials, the applications, really the industry as a whole, so that never happened again. That was a pretty good life lesson for me.
Having served as an AMPP instructor for six years and having been part of NACE for 20 years, you clearly value education. How do you envision bringing education into your new position?
I would say that in this industry, education is key to everything we do. Carboline is known in the industry for being the leader in learning, so I plan to make sure that that approach to learning continues and grows, both internally and externally; with continuing education at Carboline and with the education we provide to our customers and clients. Educating ourselves, our clients, and the industry on the challenges of this market, what effective corrosion control is, and the value of asset preservation- that’s how we continue to provide value. So, I think it's vital to what we do now and moving forward.
What are some of the most significant challenges facing the water and wastewater industry today? What role do you see Carboline playing in helping to overcome these challenges?
First and foremost it’s the aging infrastructure and the lack of available dollars to address it adequately. There's an old saying, "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time." We've got a big elephant out there that must be addressed for most communities. So, I would say that's probably the biggest challenge we have right now.
The other one is a change in industry about how asset owners and engineers allocate resources when it comes to controlling corrosion. And by that, I mean, who's responsible for putting together adequate specifications, systems and approaches to the corrosion problem? Coating SMEs are becoming fewer and far between because everybody's super limited on those resources. How do I see Carboline playing a role in that? Well, in addition to the experienced contractors and the small number of consultants out there who provide resources, I really think it's up to the coatings manufacturers to help provide real, meaningful support to the owner and engineer community when it comes to trying to preserve these important assets instead of just trying to sell a service or product.
Is there a mentor who has influenced your career? What was the best advice they gave you?
Yeah, I've got a couple of individuals who have stood out as mentors to me. They're both still in the industry and people I consider personal friends, and we check in with each other occasionally.
The advice and influence they provided me over the last 20 years has revolved around just a couple of key elements. First and foremost, put the work into being as good as you can at what you do, no matter what that is. If it's on a job site, if it's giving a presentation, if it's education, whatever it is, give it your all. The second one is to always be upfront and honest in your approach with people in your life, again- that's personally and professionally. And that's one of those things that I have found hard at times because it's not easy delivering bad news to people. But sometimes, in the roles that I've had, I've found myself in that position. It really is your job to be honest and upfront with people, to give bad news sometimes, and to help people work through it. That's a personal and professional piece of advice I received long ago that I try to continue to follow.
We throw around the term "trusted resource" a lot. Well, that's how you ACTUALLY become that for the people who rely on you for information and guidance, is by being upfront and honest. So, "trusted resource" is not just a buzzword. That's something you work to become, and this was instilled in me a long time ago by these two people I would call mentors.
What would your walk-up song?
Almost any 90's grunge or rock music, preferably something Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, or Pearl Jam. I grew up in Seattle during that time, so these were my bands! But I'd say if I had to pick just one, I'd probably choose Soundgarden's "Outshined." There's just something about that song. Whenever it comes on, if it's on the radio, if somebody's listening to it, I'll stop and listen to it and crank it up if I get the chance.
What's something about you that people might find surprising?
I would say the one thing people probably don't know about me is I was pretty good at baseball once upon a time. I even had a tryout with the Seattle Mariners Triple A club. I don't think I'm surprising anybody here by saying "I didn't make it." But you know, that's probably the most interesting thing personally that has happened to me.
