Colleague Spotlight: Sam Crooks, Internal Sales Manager
What is your role at The Tibbetts Group?
“As Internal Sales Manager at Powell Gee, I’m responsible for our internal sales team, facilitating all of our customers’ orders, helping with quotation requests, directing our customers to the best items in our range that match their requirements and liaising with our external sales team and other departments to best meet the needs of the customer.”
How long have you worked at The Tibbetts Group?
“I’ve been here just five months now and it already feels like home. The whole team has been so welcoming. It’s such an exciting time to join The Tibbetts Group. There’s so much enthusiasm across all divisions, I really thrive on that.”
What is your favourite aspect of your role?
“A lot of talented people have been generous in sharing their expertise with me over the years both in terms of technical knowledge and best service practice. That learning process and then playing my part in passing on that accrued expertise to others is what gives me the most satisfaction as it truly benefits the whole industry.”
Are there any significant projects which you have been working on?
“My main focus has been the integration of CFT into the Group. It’s such a pleasure to talk to so many new people around the UK and Ireland. We’re working on a lot of very exciting projects to develop our range of products and services.
“We’ve also integrated FedEx as our new parcel delivery partner, increased our powder coating capacity, invested in advanced Engel moulding machines with hot running technology for nylon moulding, and more.”
What are your future projects or goals?
“I’m looking forward to working with the product ranges with which I don’t have as much prior experience, such as our rainwater brackets. I also have a wealth of people across The Tibbetts Group to learn from, so I’m looking forward to improving my managerial skills further.”
Have you worked in this role throughout your career?
“I started my career with CFT, back in 2002, and have been in the roofing and cladding fastener industry ever since.”
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
“I watch a lot of sport such as football, cricket, baseball and American football. I try to see as much live music as I can and I’m also trying to get back into golf, as I’ve not played for years.”
Do you have a particularly interesting hobby?
“I’m really into 20th century architecture – modernist and brutalist buildings. I love to learn about this period of design by reading about and visiting them. I’m passionate about the preservation of the best examples of this period of architecture and am involved in the campaign to protect a prominent building in Birmingham.”
Do you follow a sports team?
“I’m an Aston Villa fan and usually make it to Villa Park a few times a year. I follow the England cricket team and am a big Boston Red Sox fan too.”
What is your favourite film or television genre?
“I enjoy TV quizzes and documentaries, for films it’s usually dramas and thrillers.”
What’s your favourite holiday destination?
“I like the south of France very much and as my wife is American I enjoy heading all over the US and ticking off as many different places as possible. The quest is to see all 30 Major League ballparks (baseball). I’m five down and have 25 to go!
“We really enjoy visiting the US national parks as well, Yosemite is my favourite so far.”
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
“I’ve always wanted to play the piano. I’ve tried before but with very little success, it would be great to have another try.”