“I knew I wanted to work somewhere that I could make real career progression…and work with people who I like and respect!” This is Madeline Calder, Inside Sales Manager at high pressure gas vessel and trailer manufacturer, FIBA Technologies. Madeline is in her twelfth year at FIBA and still eager to learn more every day.
“It’s really important to me to work somewhere that colleagues are helpful and friendly. I have made great strides in my career to date, but I still have a lot to learn, so it’s good that I can easily ask questions and not be made to feel foolish.”
Madeline already oversees each stage of the service and repair of high pressure gas trailers sent to any one of FIBA’s five service centers across the US. And she has ambitions to gain knowledge about other product lines, including cryogenic trailers.
Promotion Brings Responsibilities
Joining FIBA in 2013, Madeline already had two BSc qualifications, in accounting and business. It was the accounting department she joined and spent five happy years there.
But in 2018, under the guidance of her mentor Dan McCall, Madeline moved to the sales team.
“We’re all encouraged to stretch ourselves at FIBA,” she explains, “and moving to sales meant I could learn about a lot more of what happens here: about the trailers we work on; about customers and their needs; and about what we actually do to meet those needs. Before I joined sales I confess I didn’t even know what a valve was! Now I know all about what we do and why.
“I also saw that I could travel with my job and that really appealed.”
All this has paid off. In early 2023, Madeline was promoted to her current role.
With the new position came new responsibilities and Madeline set about learning more about the industry as a whole, immersing herself in the details of what the gas majors and distributors do and their relationships with FIBA. She talks with customers all day, every day, so she has to have a huge knowledge of their businesses and of the gas industry.
“I am involved in every stage of the service and repair of the trailers that come into our five service centers,” Madeline says. “Colleagues from all five centers send me a report with photos, detailing each aspect of the job. From this I construct an estimate for the plant managers to carry out a detailed inspection and to finesse the estimate.
“This all goes onto the database that tracks the progress of each trailer.
“I review each estimate and talk it through with the customer. Turnaround is super important to them – they need their trailer back on the road as soon as possible. So we work to the agreed spec and timetable and deliver to the highest standard possible.
“I sincerely believe that the fact FIBA will not compromise on standards is key to why gas distributors and gas majors – across the US and in the other territories where we work, such as Taiwan – trust us as their service and repair partner.”
Communication is Primary
A further responsibility that Madeline has grown into is keeping customers up to speed with the status of each job as it progresses through the shop. Whereas previously she had little or no direct customer contact, she now thrives on the communication.
“We’re working for very significant gas transportation companies, often the gas majors themselves, and each step of the process is vital. They need to know that their trailers will be handled with the utmost care and be back with them quickly, so it’s my responsibility to ensure they’re kept abreast of the status of every job,” says Madeline.
Family is Key to Enjoying Work
Madeline hails from New Philadelphia, just six miles down the road from FIBA’s Ohio plant in Midvale, living there with her husband and two young sons. Family is incredibly important to her and she praises FIBA for its family focus.
“FIBA is owned and run by the same family that started the business around 60 years ago,” she comments. “So there is a deep understanding of the importance of family to every single one of the 300 or so people who work here. This creates a very friendly working atmosphere – we’re all busy but we also have time to help each other.”