Felling Trailers has been proudly manufacturing trailers for over 45 years, join us as we take a look back and see how much our company, along with our employees, has grown. Many of you may already know the story of how Felling Trailers started as a small fabrication shop in downtown Sauk Centre in 1974. Continuing to add to this story, we invite you to read our “Grow with Us Series – 11.” Here you will meet the people of Felling; we will share a bit about the people that have played a part in what our company is today and where we will be tomorrow. Some of the people you will meet have been with us for many years, some decades, and then others are just starting their careers with us. To continue our series, we would like you to meet Jacob “Jake” Meyer, Inside Trailer Sales Consultant at Felling Trailers, Inc., Sauk Centre.
Jake Meyer, Inside Trailer Sales Consultant
Name: Jake Meyer
Status: 10 Years
Title: Inside Trailer Sales Consultant
Jake joined the Felling Trailers team in the spring of 2006, working with the Finishing team as his summer job during high school and part of college. “I started here when my Uncle Brad asked if I would come work with them. I started in the finishing department working on decking and electrical, ” said Jake. While part of the Finishing team, Jake learned the final assembly process of well over half of the 140 different models that Felling manufactures. In finishing, assemblers are the last step in the build process of a trailer, following the assembly checklists and drawings; this is where a trailer receives the wiring, lighting, decking, and any bolt-on accessories.
Moving Onward
Jake left Felling to attend college at North Dakota State University (NDSU), earning his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Systems Management and a Minor in Business Administration. After graduation, Jake worked in grain procurement for a local agricultural cooperative for a little over a year, but it wasn’t the right fit for him. In July of 2013, Jake returned to Felling after learning that they were expanding the Parts department and looking to hire an additional Parts & Service Associate. “At that time, I chose to come back to Felling as the company was better for my life. It had endless possibilities for growth, but also had good people and a good flexible work schedule,” said Jake. Once part of the Parts & Service, Jake was responsible for assisting customers with trailer parts sales, which included via email, phone calls, the online parts web store (Store.Felling.com), along with walk-in customers. On the service side, he prepared estimates for repairs and coordinated the service and repair of trailers.
Possibilities for Growth
In the fall of 2014, Jake applied for the position of Sales Coordinator. As a sales coordinator, he assisted the sales team with tasks, including; order submission, custom option pricing, worked with the scheduling department on questions and fielded inquiries from dealers and customers in a timely fashion. “I also helped with the overflow of phone calls and quoting of trailers,” he said. Keeping an eye out for opportunities to advance, Jake said, “It’s been said that if you’re not growing, you’re dying. In all of my position/role changes, I was looking for a way to try new things and take on new challenges, all while increasing my value personally and professionally. Also, most position changes and advancements usually equal more money, which is nice too.” One year later, in Sept. of 2015, Jake transitioned from Sales Coordinator to Inside Trailer Sales Consultant. “Inside sales were consuming more of my job, and I had less time for the sales coordinator duties, so we made the transition complete. Since then and today, I work as an inside sales representative, where I work with customers and dealers from across the country to fulfill their trailer needs.”
“It’s been said that if you’re not growing, you’re dying. In all of my position/role changes, I was looking for a way to try new things and take on new challenges, all while increasing my value personally and professionally. Also, most position changes and advancements usually equal more money, which is nice too.”
When asked why Jake chose Felling to be where he worked, he said, “Felling for me started as a part-time job in summers. In the summer of 2011, I was working in Finishing alongside my cousin Josh. We would jokingly pick on each other that the other would be a “lifer” at Felling Trailers. Both of us finished schooling, and both of us are happily employed at Felling Trailers. Felling has been a great fit for me. It is fun to be a part of a business that has grown so much, and yet is still Family Owned and located in my hometown. Working in Sales for Felling Trailers, I am able to work with great people from across the country, but yet I am able to leave work and go home to the ranch every day.”
” Working in Sales for Felling Trailers, I am able to work with great people from across the country, but yet I am able to leave work and go home to the ranch every day.”
Since Jake joined the Felling Trailers team over ten years ago as a summer job, he has seen and been a part of much of the company’s growth. “At 16 years old, FT seemed huge to me, but when I walk through the shop today, it is hard to imagine where it was. Back when I started, it was still possible to know everyone in the company, but nowadays, that is rather impossible. It is simply amazing looking back at all the expansions and additions to the factory in the last ten years. What I find to be more exciting is imagining how this place will look after another ten years of Growth!” We are glad to have Jake as part of our team, thank you, Jake!
Are you interested in becoming part of the Felling Team? Learn more about a career at Felling Trailers and grow with us!
This is the eleventh feature in our “Grow with Us” series. Read the other stories about Bob Vangstad, Painter, Chad Steinhofer, Lead Welder, Benji Hudalla, Final Inspector, Nathan Uphus, Sales, Sheri Leonard, Human Resource & Safety Coordinator, and Kristie Moritz, Scheduling Coordinator.
