Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

Walter (Wally) Valentin is celebrating 21 years in our Production/Assembly department! Wally is a master at bringing our customer's visions to life and he loves what he does. A true problem-solver, Wally is a valuable asset to the team. Congratulations on 21 years, Wally!

Name: Walter Valentin (aka Wally)
Department: Production/Assembly 
Title: Technician
Years at Knotts: 21 

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Celebrating 22 years with The Knott's Company, today we're celebrating Customer Service Manager, Ivette Sanchez! Ivette plays a key role in answering customer questions and keeping operations running smoothly. Congratulations on this milestone, Ivette! We're so happy to have you as part of the Knotts family.

Name: Ivette Sanchez
Title: Customer Service Manager
Years at Knotts: 22

Topics: The Knotts Company, The Knotts Co

After starting out many years ago in Customer Service and becoming an expert on Knott's wide variety of products, Christopher Logie transitioned into his current Business Development role and is now celebrating his 24th year with us! Congratulations to Chris on this milestone.

Name: Christopher Logie
Department: Business Development
Years at Knotts: 24

Tell us about what you do:  
My main responsibility is to provide product information and advice of The Knotts Company capabilities to potential customer from leads received direct from manufacturers or from our website. I also manage the needs of established customers to ensure that their required applications are met. Part of my responsibilities involve on-site visits at customer locations to understand their  application/equipment needs and consulting with colleagues to develop solutions utilizing the materials that The Knotts Company sells. I also provide expert technical assistance to our Customer Service Representatives when a customer inquiries or requests additional information and I provide assistance to walk-in customers looking for products, system development, etc. I specialize in compressor and vacuum pumps.

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We don't see Steve as often as we'd like as he's often out on site with clients in New York. 30 years of service is a great reason to celebrate someone who has dedicated so much to our company and its customers over the years! Congratulations to Steve on this milestone.

Name: Steve Harrold
Department: Sales
Title: Strategic Account Manager, Long Island/NYC
Years at Knotts: 30

Tell us about what you do:  
I sell to OEMs ( original equipment manufacturers) and users on LI and in NYC helping to make their businesses more profitable.

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We have another Knotts team member with 32 years of service! Carol remarks that our work in the manufacturing sector keeps "the economy moving and growing." We'd also argue that Carol's great work ethic, industry knowledge, and long tenure has proven that she keeps The Knotts Company "moving and growing" too!

Name: Carol Kulevich
Department: Customer Service Department
Title: Customer Service Representative
Years at Knotts: 32

Tell us about what you do:  
Customer Service is a marvelous interaction with customers, vendors and colleagues in order to satisfy a customer's needs. It involves talking with customers, to identify what they need, and then,
after entering orders, it means expediting material with our suppliers. Sometimes there are returns to handle, or ruffled feathers to smooth, or mysteries to decipher. Communication and problem-solving skills definitely help me do my job.

Topics: The Knotts Company, The Knotts Co

It's an honor to highlight another team member who has invested his entire career so far with The Knotts Company! The fact that Rich has earned Salesperson of the Year multiple times during his tenure reflects his commitment to his clients and his love of devising solutions to complex automation challenges. He's a colleague we can turn to with questions since with more than three decades of experience he's likely to have the answer!

Name: Richard Eckhard
Department: Sales
Title: Strategic Account Manager,
Northern/Central New Jersey
Years at Knotts: 32

Tell us about what you do:  
I am an outside Sales Rep for the full line of pneumatic and automation products that we sell.

Topics: The Knotts Company, The Knotts Co

Ted has given us 20 years of service!  It is bittersweet for us that he will soon retire. We wish him well and will very much miss seeing him every day. 

Rick Howe, Knotts' President, explains "for 20 years Ted has been a mainstay in customer service at The Knotts Company. His work ethic and devotion to customers has been exemplary."

 And Ivette Sanchez, Customer Service Manager, shares “it has been a pleasure working with and getting to know Ted over the past  20 years. He has been an invaluable member of the Knotts gang and more importantly a great person and friend. His vigilant work ethic and can-do attitude made him a key part of our customer service team. I am sure I speak for everyone when I wish him and his lovely wife, Nina, the very best in their retirement plans. Save some Florida sun for us! ”

We know many of you have spoken with Ted over the years. He's a little more background about him. 

Topics: The Knotts Company, The Knotts Co

We have a number of teammates who have been with Knotts for several decades. Among them is Donna Borrelli. We are grateful to have Donna in our Knotts family, as she is essential to keep our company running smoothly. She makes sure we are paid on time and works with customers when payment issues or questions arise. Her head for numbers and her customer focus are very much appreciated!

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Knotts leader, Rick Howe, worked his way up the ladder starting his career here back in 1979.  Today, he is the Owner & CEO!  Many of our Partners and companies have worked with Rick over decades , so it seems logical to turn the Knotts Employee Spotlight on to Rick this month.  As someone who has devoted his professional work to helping our customers increase productivity and grow their businesses, he's also the steward of The Knotts Company, where he's expanded our offerings and grown the team since he became owner in 2004.

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As we continue to share the rock stars of The Knotts Company, we thought to profile Joe Maresca who is the man who makes those fast shipments of replacement parts possible for all our customers. He may be "behind the scenes" to our clients,  but for us around the office he is ever present and our "go to person" for so many things. We are incredibly grateful he has spent his career with Knotts. 

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