PPB September 2021

Kristen Filzer Age 29 Account Manager The Image Group Holland, Ohio W hile working in her first job as an IT specialist, Kristen Filzer realized she was in the wrong career. The job seemed like the right choice after earning a degree in human resource management and information systems, and an MBA in information systems in 2015. But within a few years, she wasn’t getting the job satisfaction she desired. “I started looking for something that was a better fit, and I was introduced to The Image Group through a mutual connection,” she says. Filzer began at the distributor as assistant account manager in late 2018 and made an immediate impression on her clients and colleagues, including the company president, Zack Ottenstein, who nominated her for this honor. “Kristen quickly demonstrated Rising Star potential,” says Ottenstein, a PPB Rising Star himself in 2018. During Filzer’s tenure, she led the day-to-day activities that grew the distributor’s largest client from $250,000 in annual sales in 2018 to more than $10 million in 2020, making her No. 1 in sales for all account managers in 2020. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Toledo program, which balances community service with personal growth. “Kristen is magnetic and fearless. There is no initiative too big and no challenge beyond her,” he says. “With only 10 months of time in the organization, Kristen worked on a major rebranding effort for a client with a total value of more than $1 million. Throughout the project, she faced challenges and tackled unfamiliar problems. She never backed down.” He adds, “Moreover, Kristen is beloved by her colleagues and her clients. I marvel at the relationships she has built in such a short period of time. Her clients go out of their way to share personally about their lives. They care about her and she cares about them. From associate-level buyers to senior executives, Kristen treats everyone the same. She is cheerful, adventurous and funny. And Kristen is smart—really smart.” Biggest challenge in the past year: The biggest challenge I faced this year was relearning all the many roles I play in my life. We all had to learn how to be great virtual team members while staying connected with our colleagues, customers and peers. Then we had to learn the same things in our personal lives: how to be a great family member, friend, partner, etc. The most important thing for me through all of it was to remember the importance of a positive attitude. How you approach a situation has a huge impact on the outcome. I learned the importance of giving others grace, remaining flexible even when it’s hard and supporting those around you the best you can while taking care of yourself. Proudest career accomplishment: About two-and-a-half years ago, I was in a role I had no passion for with a company I saw no future with. I’m proud of myself for having the courage to leave both behind and start on a completely new path. While it was scary to start over, I am so grateful I did. Almost three short years in this industry and I see a bright future. I show up every day excited to help my customers accomplish their goals. I am passionate about the abundance of ways I can contribute to the growth and success of this company and the industry. I’m excited for the future. Most optimistic about for the industry’s future: I’m continually blown away by the people in this industry. I am optimistic about the incredible blend we have of young professionals who are passionate about innovating and the seasoned industry vets willing to take the time to mentor and further develop strategies. Together, this group will work to develop technical and nontechnical solutions that will allow us to better serve customers, expand our services and become indispensable partners. Biggest concern for the industry’s future: My biggest concern is the ability for distributors and suppliers to work together efficiently as we continue to grow. We need to take steps to standardize our communications, processes and order management across the entire Continued on page 28 Rising Stars | FEATURE | SEPTEMBER 2021 | 17