John (Chris) Eckart

Sales Professional in the Flow Control Industry for 30+ years!

I have a remarkably diverse background! With various positions within  Distributors and Factories, I have worked with virtually every valve category, utilizing all actuator types, and in most industries. Factories and Distributors have mutual goals, but very different  perspectives. Having represented both is a key advantage for me to effectively work with or for either side.

From my first Outside Sales position immediately after college with Automated Valve Specialties, Inc. (AVSI) to my current position as a Regional Manager for the Actuators & Controls Division of Pentair Flow Control, I have always successfully specified and sold automation for all valves.

2017 - Present   Remington Valve - Houston, TX        Sales Manager

Remington Valve is a mfg. of Severe Service Ball Valves (SSBV's). From steam isolation to the toughest mining slurry, Remington offers a solution. With the durability of metal, with the sealing capability of a soft  seat, Severe Service Ball Valves are a unique category of valve!

2003 - 2017   Emerson Actuation Technology (formerly Pentair Actuation & Controls / Tyco)   Regional Sales Manager

Pentair has an impressive range of products that significantly expanded  the diversity of applications I engaged in within various industries,  Power in particular. Started with the Grinnell Div. of Tyco; then a Technical Sales Representative, and now with the Actuation &  Controls group representing Biffi, Morin, & Westlock (BM&W). Between the brands, there are very few applications above a valve stem  that we can't offer solutions to.Need to stroke a valve in 250 ms., and be repeatable?!! ... with SIL 3 certification!? The specialty  controls available today were unimaginable when I first started selling  automation. There is always more to learn!

1995 - 2002      Bray Valves & Controls - Houston, TX     Product Manager

Expanded my worldview by working across the country and some International travel as the Lined Valve and Hi-Performance BFV Specialist. It certainly expanded the range of Titles I've worked with, from CEO's to Field Maintenance, and expanded the range of industries even further. The myriad of industries is what makes the Flow Control industry fun and ever changing.

1988 - 1995      Amri - Houston, TX     Regional Mgr. - Texas and Northeast USA

First Regional Sales Position, focused on fully lined valves and High  Corrosion / High Purity markets. Offering a PFA lined product vs. the conventional PTFE lined competition taught me to highlight and 'fight"  for technical differences. I'm still amused by strong opinions of PTFE vs. PFA when the processing is at least as significant at the resin itself.  Breaking into the IBM account during the heyday of the semiconductor industry was just fun!

1981 - 1988      AVSI (Automated Valve Specialties, Inc.)  Houston, TX     Outside Sales

There could not have been a better foundation for a career in the Flow Control industry than with such a diverse, nationally known & respected leader in valve automation! AVSI was a distributor & VAC for Durco (now Flowserve), Bettis, Hills McCanna, Cameron,  Rotork electrics, Kitz were just the leading brands represented (anyone remember the AVScon?). I was the first in the world to sell the Bettis "Fire-Fox" actuator; technology quickly made it obsolete, but was exciting at the time. 

University of Houston - Bachelor of Science Manufacturing Technology