Senior Sales Engineer Jimmy Rodriguez has been a major part of Caplugs’ success over the last 15 years, personifying what our organization looks for in its employees and leaders.
Jimmy began his career at the California based masking company Shercon in 1999, and worked as a quality engineer, masking design engineer, and rubber and masking project coordinator during his tenure. Caplugs acquired Shercon in 2012, and Jimmy was brought on as a project estimator for the West Coast and Mexico.
“I was handling estimating for the western U.S. and Mexico for about 10 months before a technical sales engineer position opened up,” said Rodriguez.
He held the technical sales engineer role for six years, and briefly worked as an industrial account manager (IAM) in Southern California for close to a year, before jumping back into the sales engineer side of things.
“I started my current role in 2021 and focus on custom rubber solutions across North and South America,” Rodriguez stated. “I specialize in applications that stay in or are one-time use for the automotive and aerospace industries, or really any industry that has a need for rubber components.”
He balances his time between working directly with customers and supporting internal team members. “At the moment I’m the only one handling the rubber components on the technical side, so all the IAMs reach out to me when they need support,” he noted. “It’s a good balance between internal teamwork and being customer-facing.”
What sets Jimmy apart is his focus on service. “To me, it’s all about service and solutions,” Rodriguez said. “When you can prove that not just you, but the company, can deliver on quality and requirements, that’s really the key to being successful and earning more opportunities.”
Jimmy also takes a lot of pride in communication and being there for the customer.
“The way I work is I'm giving it 200%,” said Rodriguez. “If the customer sends a request, it means they need something. They need a part, they need a solution. I make sure we communicate well, providing the best service at the best price.”
Jimmy has many examples of this philosophy in practice, but there is one large-scale project with an automotive manufacturer that really stands out.
“They had a power steering recall and needed a solution fast,” Rodriguez recalled. “They called us in September and needed it done by the end of October.”
The automotive manufacturer needed a way to lubricate the power steering without interfering with other areas. In collaboration with the customer, Jimmy and the Caplugs team came up with a solution where a rubber plug with a small hole was fitted to the house of the power steering. This allowed for a syringe to be placed through the hole where it could safely distribute the lubricant.
“From the initial call to delivering the product was just over six weeks,” said Rodriguez. “We built 13 tools, produced over 3.6 million rubber plugs, and shipped them directly to the customer—on time and ready to go.”
Jimmy credits that kind of success to Caplugs’ capabilities and strong internal team. “We know what we can do, and we support each other to make it happen.”
That team mentality is one of the things Jimmy enjoys most about Caplugs. “I like the challenge of solving complex problems and working with a group that knows the process inside and out. I’m on calls with my team three or four times a week. Everyone knows their stuff, and we’re always helping each other out.”
As someone who’s been with the company for close to 25 years, Jimmy also shares advice for newer team members. “It’s all about staying driven. Learn the capabilities, keep the funnel full, and always support your IAMs and teammates," he noted. "If someone is at a customer site and needs help, you get on the call, even if you’ve only got five minutes. That kind of support goes a long way.”
Jimmy's passion for customer service and technical expertise has set a strong example for the Caplugs team. With decades of experience behind him, he still has a desire to provide his best for customers and team members, and continues to enjoy his role within the organization.
“I just like working with the people at Caplugs," said Rodriguez. "It's a good team, a good mix, we know each other. It comes from working all these years together, everyone knowing manufacturing, knowing the process, so it's a good team atmosphere.”
Jimmy also noted he continues to enjoy the challenges that come from new projects. “Working with various applications and providing solutions to the customer is what drives me to be honest. It’s just the way I am," he added.
Thank you, Jimmy, for all that you do. Caplugs wouldn’t be the same without your leadership, your experience and your commitment to both customers and team members!