The best part of my job is meeting customers one-on-one. CEF has 1,500 sales reps who work with over 105,000 customers in 24 countries, and we all hold one-on-ones as often as possible. We gain a direct, true sense of what customers need to compete effectively and grow. That helps us create innovative solutions that truly match their needs.

 We're always learning. Take Del Monte, the largest producer of canned fruits and vegetables in the U.S., and a long-time customer with more than 20 plants full of leased equipment. In one meeting, we learned how much work Del Monte does to track lease schedules and manage the related paperwork. If an expiration date passes, it's a missed opportunity to save money.

 We're helping Del Monte digitize the whole process. The information is online and accessible, and there are automatic reminders of lease expiration dates. A true productivity gain, with no guessing involved – we heard it directly from the source.