In this staff feature, meet Joel Taylor, Territory Sales Manager for Berks, Daupin, Lancaster, and Lebanon Counties.
“I love music. Anyone who knows me will tell you of my wonderful voice as I sing in my truck. I like to play golf, draw and even paint from time to time.”
Joel Cortland Taylor was born in Cleveland, OH, and has three older sisters. He learned the value of family from a young age when they moved to Lancaster to be closer to extended family. He graduated from Manheim Township High School in 1998 and Penn State University in 2002 with a marketing degree.
“I've always been interested in business,” he said. “It fascinates me how Americans are able to follow their individual business pursuits which, in turn, drives our economy and our freedoms. In sales, I get the chance to interact with these unique people.”
Joel’s grandfather, Bill Snell, had a much-loved career at Highway in the 1980’s as a small equipment specialist. He ultimately introduced his grandson to the industry and the company. “The cool aspect about the construction industry is that most businesses are family businesses,” said Joel. “Family is very important to me.” He started in October 2002 as a Volvo Compact Specialist to help promote skid loaders, backhoes, and compact equipment.
Months away from his 15-year anniversary with Highway, Joel is very grateful to his grandfather for introducing him to a company with values and people he can get behind.
“One thing that makes Highway unique is our ability to be flexible in how we react to our customers’ needs. Every day brings different challenges to our customers: machine downtime, weather, job delays, economy, etc. The solutions to these various problems cannot be found in dealership bureaucracy and policy. It takes people. Our people are empowered to make decisions quickly to ensure our customers are productive and running.”
A family man from the beginning, Joel started his own with his wife, Brienne, and sons, 4-year-old Cortland and 2-year-old Willie. “My proudest personal accomplishment has been being a husband to my wife and a father to my two boys,” he said.
Lately, he spends a lot of his spare time keeping up the house they recently demolished and remodeled, but his truest interests are music and art.
Favorite Band: Dawes
Favorite Food: Spaghetti
Favorite Movie: Cool Hand Luke
Favorite Place: The lake
Favorite Team: Philadelphia Eagles