People are the driving force behind Leeco Steel’s success, and it is important to us that our people lead fulfilling careers. At Leeco, we cultivate a work environment that encourages career development, allowing our team to pursue their interests.

“As Jason Fredstrom [Executive Vice President, Leeco Steel] and I moved into our leadership roles, we built and prioritized a supportive and fulfilling culture for all team members,” said Denton Nordhues, President & CEO of Leeco Steel. “As a result, our people come to work every day motivated to better Leeco, their peers and themselves.”

Several members of Leeco’s management team grew into their roles because of this culture. Learn about how Leeco fosters career development in the following areas:

  • Sales
  • Operations
  • Administrative

People and facilities at Leeco Steel

Career Development in Sales Roles

Most salespeople join Leeco with little-to-no experience in either sales or the steel industry. Leeco has a year-long sales training program designed to teach all new sales team members about the steel industry, selling strategies and Leeco’s history from senior members of the sales team.

The program also includes on-site training sessions for new sales team members at Leeco’s Lisle, IL headquarters, giving them the chance to learn alongside their peers. These sessions allow attendees to learn and grow while building a network they can lean on for support.

In addition to a formal training program, Leeco has a clear career track for those wishing to advance their sales career. This helps team members understand what skills and achievements are needed to advance into new roles within the department.

Should someone realize that their long-term career goals lie outside of sales, Leeco fully supports and encourages a move to another department. Former members of the sales team successfully transitioned to leadership roles in other areas – such as purchasing and project management– utilizing the skills and knowledge they gained in sales.

Through opportunities to learn and develop new skills – and a supportive team that encourages people to do so – several people who started out in entry-level sales roles are now members of Leeco’s sales leadership team, including Leeco’s Vice President of Sales, John Purcell, and Director of Sales, Tim Quinlan.

Career Development in Operations Roles

Operations teams are of immense importance at Leeco; they’re responsible for getting steel out the door safely! Because of that, we invest heavily in the training and development of operations team members, many of whom have no experience in operations or steel.

Leeco’s hands-on environment provides several opportunities to learn new skills, and all operations team members – whether it is their first day or 20th year at the company – are encouraged to explore different job functions.

Depending on where their interests lie, operations team members have the chance work in various operational areas, such as shipping and receiving or crane operation. This exploration then opens the door to career growth opportunities.

Some team members find a specific area they are passionate about and expand their role there. For example, those who enjoy running Leeco’s steel plate processing equipment can undergo formal training on those machines and take the lead on teaching newer employees about the equipment.

Other warehouse team members utilize their broad skillset to move into supervisor or lead roles, where they manage the warehouse team and oversee day-to-day warehouse operations.

Career Development in Administrative Roles

Close-knit and small – but mighty – administrative teams foster an encouraging environment that supports learning and career development.

Ranging in areas from marketing to finance to sales support, administrative team members are encouraged to take the lead on projects and initiatives of interest, allowing them to learn new skills and grow as a leader within their department. They work alongside industry veterans, who help developing leaders implement new ideas and improvements.

Additionally, administrative team members are encouraged to gain new skills by taking professional development courses. Oftentimes, members of these teams will also participate in steel industry organizations, where they learn more about the industry and develop leadership and organization skills crucial to their roles.

Some of the most significant and important improvements made in Leeco Steel’s administrative processes are direct results of team members leading change from within. This encouraging, learning-focused environment enabled several team members to grow into senior or managerial positions within their department. 

Grow Your Career at Leeco Steel

Whether it be professional development courses, internal training or participation in new initiatives, Leeco has a supportive, growth-oriented culture that encompasses all its departments.

“Leeco is always supportive of those who want to grow their career within the company,” said Mary Latronica, Human Resource Manager at Leeco Steel. “This culture has helped several of our team members move into leadership roles and lead fulfilling careers.”

Ready to grow your career with Leeco? Browse open positions and apply today!