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February 2025 Highlight - Jeannine Zenobi, ebm-papst
What is your involvement with ECIA and what have you gained from your engagement with the association?
I’ve had the privilege of serving on two ECIA committees: First with the GIPC where our team helped develop best practices for distributor listings on manufacturers’ websites, and most recently with the Industry Recruiting Committee where we created a few different videos, and a “Best Practices” guide aimed at retaining existing talent and recruiting new talent. It’s been wonderful to meet others in the industry and get to work directly with them - exploring our ideas, experiences, and perspectives. I love learning new things and being able to share things I’ve learned. I think the ECIA does a great job of continually working to improve the industry from the inside out - identifying challenges and then bringing members with real-world experience together to find solutions.
What does your company do and what is your role in your company?
I am the Distributor Marketing Manager at ebm-papst. ebm-papst is the world’s leading manufacturer of fans and motors. We are an air technology company which basically means we know how to get air to work for you. Whether moving it (like in the case of an air purifier) or using it to cool things like people or electronics, we develop sustainable, intelligent, and tailor-made solutions for applications in virtually every industry. You’ll find our products everywhere – from the HVAC system in your home or office to the refrigerated cases in your local grocery store to medical devices in hospitals to the server rooms powering the latest and greatest in generative AI (and keeping all of your data safely stored in the cloud!). My role, in a nutshell, is to help our distributor partners understand who we are and what we do and collaborate with them to promote our products and services. From a tactical standpoint, I develop the overall marketing strategy for the channel; build and execute customized annual co-op marketing campaigns with each distributor (including ads, eblasts, videos, technical articles, etc.); launch our new products; maintain our supplier pages on the distributors’ websites; provide all of our product information / related collateral; and coordinate our participation in events like trainings and tradeshows. Pretty much if it has anything to do with distribution, I’m involved
What is your favorite thing about this industry?
That’s an easy one - the people!! I have met so many wonderful people through my daily work, at industry events, and by participating in different associations and committees. I have learned a ton and made some amazing friends along the way. I am lucky that I get to work with different people each day - throughout the country and across the globe. It has truly opened my eyes to so much. I was working on a global presentation with a colleague in China a couple of years ago, and with the time difference, we had some evening calls when I was at home. My daughter (now 8) kept asking why I was working so late, so I explained the different time zones and how we were 12 hours apart. To this day, she’ll randomly look at the clock and say, “It’s noon here, so it’s midnight in China right now!” (we haven’t gotten into the difference between standard time and daylight savings time yet haha)
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I love spending time with family and friends, reading, and being out in nature (hiking, playing in the snow, taking my daughter to the playground, etc.). We have a 5-year-old pit bull, so we take a lot of long walks around the neighborhood (weather permitting) and enjoy playing in our backyard. I am also involved in the preemie community as my daughter was born two and a half months early. It was a truly terrifying time, so I try to be a resource and advocate for others. I really enjoy talking to people in general, but (and this surprises a lot of people) I am an introvert at heart. I definitely need and appreciate alone time to think, rest, and recharge.
Are you currently binging any shows on Netflix, Hulu etc.?
My daughter and I have been watching Full House and Fuller House together (nostalgia!!). I’m about to finish The Resident (I’m a huge Grey’s Anatomy fan, so medical shows are always a hit), and my other recent favorites are Suits and Firefly Lane. I am actually looking for my next binge since I’m about to finish The Resident – open to suggestions please!
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