Industry Profile: Holden Account Relations/Logistics Nate Betteker

Job Title: Account Relations/Logistics
Employer: Holden Outerwear
Years on snow: 17
Days on snow: This season. Ha. One. Sadly
Currently Riding: 1970’s Red Raleigh with a basket
Currently I am: Putting the last touches on my backyard chicken coop

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Photo:  Yobeat Halloween Spectacular

Shay: Tell us a little bit about yourself
Nate: I am an aries male that enjoys working on my house, gardening and cooking with a mix of bike rides and sunsets on Mt Tabor with a bottle of wine.

Shay: How has snowboarding changed your life?
Nate: Without snowboarding I would not have been able to learn and experience everything that I have. From soggy cross country car rides to staying up for 3 days straight to make sure product gets to dealers in time.

Shay: How did you get your start in the industry, who or what opened up more opportunities for you?
Nate: I got my start working at a shop back in good old Ohio during high school. Worked for some reps, which then progressed into coaching at an academy. Then working in house for the biggest and now working for the best.

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Shay: How has your previous education or work experience helped you in your current job?
Nate: I think my experiences shaped me more then education has. From working in a shop for years you learn the ins and outs of customers and the end product to now I am at the beginning of the product lifecycle where my direct influences can be seen back again at the end customer.

Shay: Tell us about your role at Holden and a description of the work you do?
Nate: Easiest way. I handle and watch the product from when it leaves the factories to when someone is trying it on at a store. So this means I work with freight companies from the factories to get the product into containers and to our warehouse. Then make sure all the boxes get packed correctly and shipped to the correct place. Then all the little things that go along with that like invoicing, allocations, order entry, collections, putting out fires and handing out hi fives.

Shay: What’s an average day like at work for you?
Nate: Email, phone calls and freak outs. Deal with Europe emails because they are still up. Coffee. Then deal with North America email and phone calls. Coffee. After that Asia starts to wake up and come online, so email with them. Go home and be happy that I only had a few freak outs today.

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Shay: What are some memorable experiences from working in the industry?
Nate: SIA Vegas. Spending the shipping season sleeping at the office.

Shay: What do you think are the biggest challenges that the snowboard industry faces and what changes would you like to see for the future?
Nate: Rising prices for Asian made goods. Materials, construction, and transportation are all inflating. It would be amazing to see production come back to the USA. Not just in our industry, but in most of our goods that were once produced here.

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Shay: Education vs Experience…which do you think is more important?
Nate: For what I do, experience. So many things come up day to day that they can not teach you in school. Being well rounded to handle issues when they come up are worth more high fives then how many beers you could bong in college.

Shay: What advice would you give to people wanting to work in the industry?
Nate: Start at the bottom. Get that job at your local shop. You will learn more there by seeing, touching and talking about the product more to the end customer. Talk to your in-house contacts and who knows, they might have something open.

Find out more at:

Facebook: Holden Outerwear or Nate Betteker
Twitter: @oakaquarium and @partytimenate
Website: www.holdenouterwear.com