Jason Bartlett ChatterHigh Profile

Background

I grew up in South River, Newfoundland – population 200. It was about an hour from St. John's. I attended Memorial University of Newfoundland and got my Bachelor of Arts (double major in English and Religion). I really like to read and didn't know what else to do after high school.

I then decided that I needed something more practical − so I decided to enroll in a one-year Information Technology Certificate program. This led me to a job with an international technology company. I learned that I liked to talk and could build relationships well, so this company put me through their internal two-year sales school. That training, in addition to life experiences, set me on this career path in sales. 

While working for the tech company, I lived in Halifax and Saint John. When it was time to move again, California, Oregon, Washington, Vancouver and Toronto were all possibilities. However, Irving Oil approached me and I seized the opportunity to work for a new company, based in Saint John.

I completed my master’s in business administration (MBA) while with Irving and have had several sales and management roles over the last 17 years.

Career

I am responsible for the sales of unbranded gas, diesel and heating oil in Canada and USA. “Unbranded products” are the products that don’t go into our Irving stores. I am also responsible for the sales of specialty products such as jet fuel and asphalt in Canada and the United States, as well as marine gas oil or diesel that we sell to boats in Atlantic Canada. I have a team of about 80 people, and I spend a lot of time travelling, meeting customers and working with my team to continue to sell these products to our customers and/or find new products and new places to sell.  

My job has something different to do every day. It is also challenging, with lots of problem solving. I am never bored. That’s what I like most about my job − in addition to meeting lots of new people, seeing new places and having fun working with my team.