Solutions Current Issues > Oct.Nov.Dec_2008 >COVER STORY
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NO "OFFSEASON"
When it comes to serving customers, this seasoned pro never takes a time out.
by John Hamill
The “offseason” is a concept that is unknown to Troy Scott. To him there is no such thing as “down time” and the closest thing to a pause in the action would be a seventh-inning stretch or an official time-out for a measurement.
Having earned an undergraduate degree in business from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, and an MBA from William Woods University in Fulton,Missouri, Troy credits his college coursework with helping to “lay the groundwork” for his professional life — learning business principles and theories that he puts into practice every day.
A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT When it comes to the practical application of life’s lessons, Troy says, “The work ethic I learned competing in athletics is crucial to my success in business.
”Growing up, that competition included football, wrestling and baseball. The sports season didn’t close with the end of school because Troy spent several summers on traveling teams — the realm of the athlete who excels. He continued as a varsity baseball player at Missouri Valley until surgery his senior year meant an end to his baseball ambitions.
His college career off the field, however, pointed to a successful business career — he was president of his fraternity and served in student government. It’s no accident that on the field his baseball position was catcher — the leader of the defense who is in action on every play.
GROWING UP IN THE BUSINESS While he was in high school, Troy started mowing the grass for a rubber manufacturer in his hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. That led to a summer job “doing everything from running presses, pulling parts, sweating out carbon black, working in the mixing plant and later helping engineering with new product startups.
“The general manager of the plant would often come up to me as the sweat was pouring off of me on a hot, humid summer day working at a press and ask if I was ready to go back to school. The answer was always yes.”
With that strong motivation,Troy completed his college education (earning his MBA while working) and entered the business on a full-time basis. “I’ve spent my entire adult career — twelve years — in the rubber and plastics business. I’ve been out in the field helping provide solutions for customers’ applications for the last eight,” says Troy.
His early start in the business is an asset. “Some of my earliest experiences working in the rubber plant during the summer have given me some of my most valuable lessons. I’ve been on the plant floor and have experience with the manufacturing side of the products.“
JOINING THE HUDSON TEAM Troy brought this his knowledge and experience to RL Hudson in 2004 and that, combined with the company’s approach to doing business, has compounded his effectiveness in serving customers.
“Our business model allows much more flexibility and many more opportunities. We are not limited, but are encouraged to be in front of our customers and understand what their needs are. Plus, the customer support structure of RLH — territory manager, product manager and account manager—provides a unique and unmatched level of support for our customers.”
Troy also notes, “One of the best things about my job is being part of a product from development through production — truly getting to see a product evolve from concept to reality. Often our components are a very small, but integral piece of a larger product. It is always fun to see the end product and although that component might not be visible, it is often a critical component in the function of the end product.“
Looking toward the future, Troy is optimistic, noting, “At RLH, we have great engineering resources, great materials technology and world class manufacturing. With our high level of technical expertise and resources, we must continue to listen to our customers’ needs, stay ahead of the curve, develop new and innovative solutions and continue delivering value.”
That kind of commitment truly means there’s no “offseason.” But, that fits Troy just fine because even his activities away from work reflect an athletic dedication.
Troy has been married for ten years to his college girlfriend, Andrea. They have two sons, Keaton who is five, and Cooper who is one. “After college, Andrea, who is an accomplished golfer, taught me how to play and we play together quite often. Plus, at five, Keaton is beginning to play — and Cooper has been known to accompany us by riding in the golf car.”
And so far as “offseason,” as anyone familiar with golf knows — as long as there a smidgen of cooperation from the weather, it’s a twelve month sport. Like Troy Scott’s approach to life.
