Perseverance and Legacy

Recently, our Field Tech Representative for the Wisconsin territory, Ellie Deans, was promoted to Sales Representative for Minnesota. This isn’t just a promotion, it’s a legacy. One that Ellie is extremely proud of and is excited to continue what her dad had started. Below is a story on how Ellie got to where she is within Johns Manville and her amazing career experience.

"In November of 2016, my family lost our axis when my dad passed away, I was a junior in college and I had no idea where life would take me. That spring, I received a message from Pat Dunnigan, the Midwest Regional Sales Manager at that time, asking what my plans were for a summer internship and letting me know that he may be able to help set up an interview with the Johns Manville marketing team. A few days later, I had an interview and little did I know that that one phone call would lead me to so much more at JM.

I spent my summer of 2017 as an intern on the marketing team and continued as a part-time intern that winter while finishing out my senior year in college. After graduation, I moved to Denver to join the marketing team full-time in product and program marketing. After a little over a year of being on the marketing team, I felt I was ready for another challenge. Along came the opportunity to be a field technical representative. Knowing virtually nothing about the technical side of the business, I knew it would be a significant challenge, but deep down, I knew it was the right fit and I knew I would have my dad by my side every step of the way. I had an immense amount of support from the entire technical team while I was getting on my feet in the role, and the support never stopped. I learned so much from my colleagues, superiors, and contractors over the last two and a half years, which has ultimately led me to this opportunity in sales.

I have had an interest in joining the sales team ever since completing my internship, but never knew just how much it would mean to move into the sales territory that my dad had while at JM. I have known some of the contractors in Minnesota since I was a little kid, and it means the world to me to get to work with them every day going forward.

Since starting as an intern at JM, I have always kept some of my dad’s sales awards by my desk, and now more than ever, they are an inspiration for me to try every day to be as successful as he was. The stories told about my dad from contractors and my co-workers continuously make me smile and remind me that I have some very large shoes to fill. Growing up I never imagined myself following my dad’s footsteps and working in the commercial roofing industry, but as they say, it is a family business and once you’re in, you’re in! I have had amazing JM families along the way that have helped me get to where I am today and I always know that my best friend, my dad, is right beside me, helping me as I go.”

Ellie’s story isn’t only inspirational from following in her dad’s footsteps, but also for young women in the commercial roofing industry. Congratulations Ellie, you are truly an inspiration.