Meet Tommi Chartier, Customer Service Specialist at Standard Electric, Vision Control & Automation, and SE Automation. Based in Appleton, WI, Tommi shares her career journey, role in customer support, and passion for helping customers succeed.
What is your role and what do you specialize in?
I am a Customer Service Specialist for Vision Control and Automation, SE Automation, Standard Electric Supply Co., and on the E-Comm team. I enter quotes and orders for our customers and my accounts. I am also on the E-Comm team and answer emails, chats, and calls, as well as entering and processing orders for our E-Comm side of the business.
Could you share a brief introduction about yourself, including your role at Standard Electric and how long you’ve been with us?
I have worked in Customer Service for over 25 years in different businesses—business-to-business, dealer service rep where I was customer service for my wholesale accounts in a territory for apparel and footwear brands. Then I worked as a Sales Support Manager for a sales agency selling outdoor apparel and footwear to their sales territory in WI, MI, IL, IN, IA, OH, KY, PA, MN, ND, and SD. I started here on February 5, 2024.
What inspired you to pursue a career in your field, and how did your journey lead you to Standard Electric?
I love working with people and helping them with any questions or problems they have. Previously I was a Sales Support Manager for outdoor apparel brands and was looking for a customer service position. I have not worked in the electrical industry, but it’s great to learn about this ever-changing industry through our customers and what they use from us in their businesses.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day is very busy with entering quotes and orders for VCA, SEA, and Standard Electric accounts and answering E-Comm customers’ emails, phone calls, and processing orders. Every day is different depending on what projects I am working on for quotes and orders.
What do you love most about your job at Standard Electric? Is there a particular project or achievement that you’re especially proud of?
It is great working with a team to help customers build their business and help them with problems or any products they need to run their business.
How would you describe the culture at Standard Electric? What makes it unique or special to you?
It is great working with a team of engineers, sales managers, and customers working together to help our customers.
Working with a team often brings diverse perspectives. Can you share an example of how teamwork has led to success in a project or initiative at Standard Electric?
I usually have questions from customers, and I need to reach out to different engineers for different manufacturers to help answer the customers’ questions. Whether it’s on replacement products or what products they can use for their applications, it is great having people so knowledgeable to help answer these questions.
Moving beyond work, what do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or passions you’re willing to share?
Fishing for walleyes on the Bay of Green Bay, kayaking, enjoying the outdoors, reading, and gardening.
As you look to the future with Standard Electric, what are you most excited about or looking forward to in your role or the company’s direction?
Learning more about the products we sell and visiting our accounts to see how they use our products in their businesses. I like going to my accounts and meeting them face-to-face, building rapport, and seeing how their business is run and what products they use from us to build their business.