Derek
Birdsall
Strategic Accounts Manager
A Professional Timeline
Education
MBA, MS Finance, BS Electrical Engineering
Indiana University
MS Finance | 2018-2020
Indiana University
MBA | 2016-2018
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
BS Electrical Engineering | 2002-2004
SUNY Broome Community College
AAS Engineering Science | 2002
“Yes! It involved a lot of travel. I’ve been to every state except New Mexico. I’ve been to Japan many times. I pretty much lived in Southeast Asia for a while. I’ve also been to South Korea, China, Thailand, and India.”
Experience
Engineering Team Lead
Interek Testing Services
Cortland, NY | 2003-2010
- Responsible for the hiring, training, professional development, and performance management of team members
- Managed a team of five engineers & technicians
- Point of contact for customers regarding issues related to past or current projects
- Coordinated with Sales for the preparation of quotes
- Maintained and supervised quality control, equipment calibration, safety, and cleanliness to adhere to specified standards.
- Promoted and developed new business opportunities via upsell
“It was a smaller company, so the CEO was on the meetings. It was really great to get that kind of feedback; to just be able to listen to the way they communicate.”
Experience
Senior Field Quality Engineer
Daikin Applied
Auburn, NY | 2010-2015
- Planned and conducted activities concerned with the quality assurance of industrial processes, materials, and products
- Reviewed non-conformities discovered with purchased products or components to provide input on whether or not to accept the product
- Planned and conducted analysis, inspection, and testing to assure quality of finished products
- Investigated customer warranty issues
- Recorded essential data utilizes matrices such as statistical process control (SPC) and failure mode effects analysis (FMEA)
- Performed process capability studies to determine CpK
“It’s funny; when you tell people you’re in sales, they picture you selling door-to-door, but that’s not really what it is at all. It’s about 25% selling and 75% keeping customers happy.”
Experience
Technical Manager Strategic Account Manager
Carrier Corporation
Syracuse, NY | 2015-Present
- Have grown the vertical 912% over 4 years since taking the role
- Primary customer contact and technical leader to Fortune 500 Companies, commercial, institutional, educations, and hospitality accounts
- Generated sales for HVAC replacement and retrofit equipment, system upgrades, aftermarket parts, supplies, and accessories
- Work closely with national account team to ensure consistency in contracts and implement national group purchasing agreements
- Build and nurture a robust pipeline to ensure continued opportunities and sales growth, while managing a team of seven