Department/Title: Product Line Manager – Cleaning and Conditioning, Filtration
Worked at Kadant Solutions Since: 2 years in North America and 20 years in South America

Tell me about your career path and how you got to Kadant.
After graduating from university as a mechanical engineer, I had lined up an internship in Germany but needed a job to pay travel expenses. I took a summer position with CBTI (now Kadant South America) to earn the money needed for my trip to Germany and ended up staying with Kadant in Brazil and more recently moved to the U.S. in my current role. I started in the customer service department quoting so I could learn the products. Over the years, I have helped grow the doctoring and shower business in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
I like the travel and working with different people. Helping customers through the entire cycle of facing a challenge, developing solution options, and finding the fix is what I like best. I enjoy the entire process.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
Don’t give up on the customer. It may take a couple options to find the best solution, so work the entire process.

What trends do you see in filtration?
There is constant evolution in filtration. Each customer may have a slightly different need, so being innovative and staying on top of the need is crucial.

Tell me about your transition to the U.S. market and how it differs from Brazil.
I spent 20 years in South America gaining product knowledge and establishing relationships in the mills. When I came to the U.S. I had the product knowledge, but didn’t know the people. In a way, it was like starting over to show my expertise in cleaning, conditioning, and filtration.

Tell me about your family.
My wife and I have two boys (16 and 23). My oldest son still lives in Brazil and recently graduated as a chemical engineer. My youngest son attends high school in the U.S. and has started playing American football. As a family, we are working on improving our English and continuing to adapt (especially to the snow).

What do you like to do in your free time and why?
It’s a different lifestyle in the U.S., so my family spends time reading, studying, and exploring the area on weekends. I love hiking, so whenever I get the chance I try to get outside and hike.

Do you have any hidden talents?
I can draw and enjoy making caricatures.

Do you have a favorite sports team? How did you become a fan?
Back in Brazil, my favorite football (soccer) team is the Corithians. I played basketball in high school and college and followed the NBA. Now that my son is playing American football, we follow the New England Patriots.