Introducing Katryna Stegmeier, our new District Sales Manager in the USA!

Supporting our clients in the Northeast Region

Katryna Stegmeier has recently joined Poclain as our new District Sales Manager for the Northeast Region of the USA. With a decade of technical sales experience, Katryna will play a critical role in supporting our distributors and small to medium-sized OEMs in the Northeast Region, from Maryland to Maine. Her portfolio spans several industries including material handling, forestry, road and construction, industrial and agriculture.

As a District Sales Manager, Katryna works closely with distributors and assists local OEMs with their application design projects. Working hand in hand with our team of application engineers, she is part of our winning combination to provide customized solutions to our clients.

At home with the Poclain Team in a European company

With extensive training and the right resources to understand the wide range of customer applications, Katryna quickly felt at home with the Poclain teams. While visiting the Yorkville plant for training, she had the opportunity to work on the shopfloor and in the service area, building and repairing pumps and motors. "It's a great opportunity for anyone in a sales role to understand how the components work and be able to discuss that with customers," she said.

"I also had the opportunity to talk to a lot of different people on different lines, and everyone seemed very happy with the company and how it cares about its employees."

Today, after 2 months at Poclain, she appreciates the work culture of a European company. "I feel that in European companies, we want to make sure that you have all the tools to do your job, but also that you have the right mindset to do your best. Part of that is making sure that people feel good in their role and that the benefits that the company provides are sufficient. That's something I felt even during the interview," she said.

Mechanical Engineer from Penn State University

Katryna studied mechanical engineering at Penn State University. Her senior project showcased her ingenuity - building a pickup truck from scratch using parts from old vehicles and junkyards. She stood out in the program as one of only two female students.

Katryna's fascination with mechanical components stems from a funny and unusual story. At the age of 11, when she was dreaming of getting a horse, her parents decided to give her an easier and more affordable way to ride: a 1983 Suzuki SP125 Enduro dirt bike.  She got into the game and decided to take care of the bike the same way she would have taken care of a horse. So, at the age of 13, she found herself taking it apart and fixing it, sparking a lifelong interest in mechanics.

In high school, she delved into automotive work and purchased her first pickup truck, which she repaired herself, setting the stage for her hands-on approach to mechanical challenges. 
Fresh out of college, Katryna ventured into technical sales for an industrial automation distributor, attracted by the flexibility the job offered. A few years later, she decided to join a European automation controls company, taking on a role focused on helping customers design systems.

A return to mechanical engineering

After years in automation, Katryna's mechanical roots beckoned her back to her true passion. When Poclain approached her with an opportunity in the mechanical field, Katryna jumped at the chance. Intrigued by Poclain's customer base and interesting potential applications, she made the transition and began a new chapter in her career. This new experience with Poclain will allow her to expand her expertise into hydraulics and new applications.
 

A return to mechanical engineering joining Poclain? Well, not really. In fact, Katryna never gave up on mechanics. Best proof: her 1995 Mustang drag car, which she's converting to methanol and a procharger for next year's first race.