As part of an organizational restructuring aimed at strengthening its sales presence in North America, LAVATEC has hired John Pabalan as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Southeast. Based in Florida, he will report directly to Mark Thrasher, President and CEO.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged everyone involved in our industry, and it gave me an opportunity to reassess what we could do better,” says Thrasher. “I determined that our sales territories needed to be reshaped so we can better service our customers. Hiring John is the first step in this new direction. I think his 23 years of experience in the commercial and industrial laundry industry will help us achieve our new set of goals.”
After serving his country during the Gulf War, Pabalan embarked on his career in the private sector. He spent 20 of the next 23 years at Kemco Systems, including the last 13 in various capacities. He began as a sales engineer in 1997 before joining American Laundry Systems in 2003 as the Vice President of Engineering. Pabalan says having earned a science degree in Engineering has helped at every level of his career.
“With an in-depth understanding of the purposing and engineering of laundry facility systems, I approach each challenge analytically,” he says. “This results in the development of viable, measurable solutions that save time, energy and water consumption.”
After he returned to Kemco in 2007 as a regional manager, he later was promoted to a leadership position. During this time he met and established a rapport with Mark Thrasher that would eventually lead to him joining LAVATEC. He believes those discussions have provided him with a better understanding about where LAVATEC stands in the marketplace.
“Seeing LAVATEC transition several years ago under Mark’s guidance, and his engagement with his team today, reflects a high level of entrepreneurship and a tenacity for achievement that sometimes gets overlooked in spreadsheets,” acknowledged Pabalan.
“The immediate challenge to the industry is the precautions that have evolved from COVID-19, impacting business interaction and producing a new normal. In the next six months, I intend to develop new customer partnerships and cultivate existing customer satisfaction. I plan to do it by refreshing an awareness of LAVATEC’s equipment lifecycle management and demonstrate how our offerings are the best solution.”
Pabalan has two adult-age children and being a resident of Florida’s west coast, he enjoys water sports, cooking and a recent hobby of gardening. He can be reached via email: j.pabalan@lavatec.com.
For more information, visit the company’s web site: LAVATEC
