Steve Dodge, sales and marketing manager, Vibram Disc Golf Products at Quabaug Corp.
Dodge
Quabaug Corp. in North Brookfield produces pet products, playground surfacing and footwear soling products. Now, it's hired Steve Dodge to help it build a disc golf line. Dodge is already steeped in the world of the niche sport, having owned his own disc golf shop and managed a disc golf course before taking the new job. In this Q&A, he talks about making the shift from self-employment and alternative career paths in mathematics and car racing.
Vital Stats:
Age: 41
Residence: Maple Hill Farm, Leicester
Family: Wife, Misty; two daughters: Audrey, 4 in February, and Rachael, 21 months
Education: Bachelor's in mathematics from Mary Washington College
Previous job: Owner of Prime Discs disc golf shop and manager of the Maple Hill Disc Golf course
Start date at new job: Jan. 4
Q. How are you settling in at your new office?
A. The people at Quabaug truly make this company great. Everyone is dedicated to developing and manufacturing quality products right here in Central Massachusetts. The team atmosphere comes through both when working on a project and when smiling during a break. I am impressed with the people and the atmosphere. As soon as I find the microwave, I'll be all set.
Q. What's the biggest surprise you've had in starting the job?
A. After having been self-employed over the past 14 years, I have learned to be self reliant in my thinking and creating. The biggest surprise so far would have to be the fact that there are dozens of crazy talented people to help think through ideas. I am blown away by how well this Quabaug team works together. Quabaug has an established consumer products side through My Good Dog, Vibram Hoof Pads and Quaboing and the support and guidance from this side of the team has improved my abilities immensely.
Q. What challenges do you see in your new position?
A. Vibram is new to the sport of disc golf. While they have a solid brand that is known for its quality, durability and traction in the shoe sole industry, I will need to ensure that this quality continues in the disc golf side and get that story to the customers. Building relationships with stores, developing the best golf discs and growing the sport are my three main focuses. As these tasks become accomplished, the Vibram brand will become a household name in the disc golf world.
Q. How different is this job from your previous position?
A. At Prime Discs I was it. Marketing, ordering, fulfillment, customer service, sweeping the floors. It was all me. Here, I've got a tremendous team to utilize. Perhaps my biggest challenge will actually be learning to rely on this team and their expertise. My position is the sales and marketing manager of Vibram Disc Golf. While I assist in the development of new disc golf products, my main focus is the marketing of the Vibram Disc Golf brand to the millions of discers playing our game. This is a shift that will allow me to focus and it is a change that I look forward to.
Q. How close is this to what you imagined in high school you'd end up doing?
A. When I sat down with my high school counselor and took his "What do you want to do" test, it spit out that I should become a racecar driver. My first job out of college was as a mathematician with the Navy debugging computer programs. Now I am in charge of marketing a disc golf company. While it's not driving race cars, I'd say I'm headed in the right direction.
Q. Where's the best place to get lunch near your new location?
A. Quabaug provides a great cafeteria and they serve breakfast all day so I am all set right there. I would like to see pancakes become our national food.
Q. What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
A. Exactly what I've been hired to do. When Kevin Donahue proposed the idea of me coming on board to develop Vibram Disc Golf, I told Misty (my wife), that this was the only job that would take me out of working for myself. I truly have landed my dream job.
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