Martin Riley

About

I am the Technical Service Expert – East Coast, US (apparently, the east coast stretches as far as Minnesota!) for Water Solutions. I report into marketing, so in addition to customer visits, problem solving and product trials; I also watch the market for beneficial innovations, prospect, keep up with trade publications and attend conferences.

I regularly partner with sales, providing technical support to three territory managers, a salesman and our distributors. Additionally, I pass on my expertise in the form of training courses for new hires as well as being called on for advice from our lab and my western counterpart.

The technical aspects of my job boil down to matching and then implementing solutions with customers’ problems as they arise.

This is a very competitive market, margins are tight, pressures are high and outcomes can be brutal. A thick skin and the ability to roll with the punches are requirements. You also need a sense of humor and to be prepared for anything, although, nothing really prepares you for the night shift at a municipal treatment plant.

 

My job provides me with variety. I meet and know a lot of interesting people. I travel extensively and above all, I get to solve problems as they pertain to waste water. If competition is a challenge in this market, I am well equipped for out-of-the box thinking that surpasses their vanilla because “ Your number 2 is our number 1 .”

 

I joined BASF through acquisition but then, didn’t we all? My career in the chemical industry began with Allied Colloids in 1995 after I attained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a master’s from Cranfield University (both UK). Working in Pollution Control, my duties although diverse were menial. Funny thing is, I enjoyed it and thrived. In 1996, I was offered a chemist’s position and within three months was making calls on many of Allied’s largest customers

Ownership passed to Ciba in 1998 but for me, working with customers, little changed. My expertise grew as I visited rendering plants, dye houses, coal mines and quarries. Such glamor! In 2002 I was offered a new position, “just for 6 months” they said, in the US.  Twelve years later, I’m still here. I have worked in about 40 of the 50 states as well as Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica and St Croix.

My professional training has been extensive but specifics on waste water treatment are harder to come by. Learn by experience has been the reality and no matter how smelly, always seize your opportunities!

Information

Industry experience

Education: Masters

Seniority: Expert, Engineer, Consultant

Years of experience: 20 years or above

Work experience

Taxonomy