Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Kasperek.
Hi Ryan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and grew up to be a huge Houston sports fan of the Rockets, Astros, and Texans. Houston has been and will always be home. My professional journey started right out of high school when I joined the Cy Fair Volunteer Fire Department, now known as the Cy – Fair Fire Department. Growing up, my family was in the oil and gas industry, and I had no passion at the time in getting into that, so joining the fire department really opened my eyes to blue-collar, shift-work style professions. I officially joined the fire department in 2012, where I began my journeys at FF1 and quickly grew to love everything about the profession. After five years, I decided to move on to the medical side of the industry. With the brotherhood and sisterhood of the fire department so deep, I was able to make some of the best relationships with people professionally and personally that still are active today. Those connections led me to my next step in my career, including prehospital settings like urgent cares as well as hospital emergency rooms like Memorial Hermann. In 2018, I left to go work in Harris County on their Incident Response Team, where I then finished my time working for the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office. After ten years of shift work, I was ready to settle down and start a “normal” eight-to-five schedule and have a family. I knew I wanted to work in an industry that was always changing, and landed a job as Associate Sales Representive at CH. Robinson. CH Robinson is the largest third-party logistics company in the United States and moves freight for customers all across the world by ground, sea, and air 24/365. At CH Robinson, I have been able to use my people skills, as well as my ability to work with people in “people first mentality”. As my skills and industry knowledge grew, I quickly became the 3x sales leader in my division and was able to take the next step in my career where I am now a Carrier Account Portfolio Sales Representative. Every day I work with companies of all sizes and assets, managing their shipments, growing their book of business, and moving freight all across the United States.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I have definitely had my challenges along the way, both personally and professionally. Spending years in the medical industry can be extremely difficult on your body as well as your mental health long term. Working shift work, missing family events, birthdays, and other important things etc, grows taxing and gets harder every day. I credit my wife Kayla for continuously pushing me and seeing the big picture, even on days that dragged on. I firmly believe that we can overcome anything we put our mind to, and it starts with inside you to be the best version of yourself that you can be every day. I have learned that you will get knocked down, sometimes more than once, but it is okay to take a leap of faith learn and grow new skills, and even start new careers and jobs. I am thankful for my colleges and boss that continue to push me yet make my job and company the best place that I have ever worked.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a “3-2″ The Achiever and The Helper” – I am a passionate, dedicated, ambitious, and electric sales leader that builds relationships and achieves overall success with companies. Every day I get the opportunity to help move goods and supplies around the United States. I manage a portfolio of about 30-45 companies for our North America Surface Transportation team (NAST) flatbed division and all of them rely and partner with me for their business needs to stay profitable. My everyday involves phone calls, sales calls, discussing strategic opportunities and action plans on how we are going to separate themselves from the competition. Our customers and customer service is our number one priority, and without them we are nothing. It takes a team to get things done, and without several different groups and divisions partnering together, I would not be as successful in my day-to-day without them. This business can be challenging, and at times, it can even be very stressful, as so many rely on you to make sure they have what they need and want. I have seen this industry at extreme highs and extreme lows, but every day I show up and work hard for the people that I represent and manage. I often get calls, texts, and emails from people that have been referred to me by others that have worked in the past, and I think that is what separates me. I have a lengthy record of proven success with a customer service and people-first mindset. In my first six months in my previous role, I was a 3x sales leader for my division and a 2x sales leader in my current role. As JJ Watt says, “Dream Big, Work Hard,” and all things are possible.
Any big plans?
My future plans can be summed up in one sentence: to make a great, long-lasting career in this international corporation. Obviously, this will take time, but I have several positions in mind that would allow me to take my skills and talents to the next level. Right now, the goal is to continue to learn the ins and outs of the business, prove my skills and dedication to my company, and finish my Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.chrobinson.com/en-us/about-us/our-company/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-kasperek-8292b2b0/
