MANSFIELD — Mansfield became a global hub for IDEAL Electric’s sales team last week.
Founded in 1903, the IDEAL Electric Company specializes in electric motors and generators for military equipment, oil platforms and power supplies.
IDEAL welcomed more than 20 international sales associates to Mansfield for its first all-hands global sales summit. Ambassadors based across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe and Asia gathered in Mansfield on Sept. 24 and 25.
“Our international team does come to our Ohio Works a few times a year, this was just unique to have them here together,” said IDEAL Vice President Nic Phillips. “It was the first time many of them were able to meet each other because they’re usually on alternating schedules.”
Phillips said the company has hired many new employees across the past few months who were able to celebrate IDEAL’s accomplishments and discuss the company’s growth.
The company collaborated with Destination Mansfield to put together gift bags for its team members. They also visited Exithis escape rooms, Wokano and the Phoenix Brewing Company’s spirit room for a farewell dinner by Gertz Culinary.
“A core value of IDEAL is our passion for fun and laughter,” said IDEAL vice president of sales Stephen Waite. “We were able to connect through laughter and great stories.
“The energy at our sales summit was electric. We’re charged up and ready to power through the rest of 2024 and into 2025 with unstoppable momentum.”
IDEAL advancing defense equipment, renewable energy projects
IDEAL employs about 100 people worldwide and over 70 workers in Mansfield. It is in its eighth year of independent, family ownership under Jim Petersen.
Phillips said the sales summit was an opportunity to celebrate IDEAL’s resurgence and success worldwide.
“We’ve been growing with the best people distributed in the best places to support our global goals,” he said. “However, with all the tech in the world, there is still no substitute for face-to-face connections.”
The sales summit included discussions of sustainability, sales strategies and leadership development, as well as advancing technology skills. An engineer also shared a presentation on what different IDEAL machines and parts are doing now.
“It might not come to mind when you’re putting something together that this is going to solve a huge problem, but it will,” Phillips said.
Phillips said IDEAL has a healthy accumulation of orders for motors, generators and more.
“We have steel coming in every day, which is always a good sign,” he said. “We’re focusing on organic, sustainable growth.”
Phillips estimated that about half of their orders are for projects in the United States and another half are international exports.
Sales associates can offer customers parts, new machines, repairs and replacement machines.
“Our sales team has the whole of our products and services to offer,” Phillips said. “We do have some international team members solely focused on solar gas turbines or defense because that one person knows those complex, high-demand products.”
Phillips said the company plans to make the sales summit an annual event.
“This event was super beneficial and it was so great to ensure our team experienced the warmth and vitality of the Mansfield community,” he said. “We’re confident that this is going to invigorate our team to drive IDEAL to new heights.”
