Noel Garcia Sr. (Decorative Sales Associates) Recognized as 2018 DPHA Representative Professional of the Year

Noel Garcia Sr. (Decorative Sales Associates) was honored as the 2018 DPHA Representative Professional of the Year at the 2018 DPHA annual conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. The Award recognizes a DPHA representative professional for his or her outstanding contributions to advance the decorative plumbing and hardware industry based on the following criteria:

• Degree of involvement in DPHA activities
• Personal achievements in the industry
• Pursuit of personal improvement and education
• Job performance and accomplishments
• Involvement in, and support of, other DPH-related organizations
• Public recognition of a deed or accomplishment, which may or may not pertain to the DPH industry but reflects favorably on the individual as a DPHA member.

In each of the criteria, Noel Garcia Sr. proves to be a deserving recipient. Noel began his career in plumbing in 1981, working for a plumbing wholesaler, which helped him build a solid understanding of what Noel refers to as "Plumbing 101." From there, he experienced different aspects of the DPH industry, including working as a sales and marketing director, owning and running his own showroom, and manufacturing and distributing plumbing fixtures.  Then in 1993, Noel decided to create Decorative Sales Associates, an independent manufacturer representative agency, at a time when decorative plumbing and hardware really didn't mean much to the general consumer (or as Noel likes to say, he was selling decorative plumbing and hardware products before most of us knew what to call it). The fact that his agency is still here and thriving 25 years later is just one of the many testaments to Noel's energy and vision.

 

Being involved at the different levels of what we now call the decorative plumbing industry has also given Noel the ability to go beyond the typical sale - he truly understands plumbing codes as well as product installation. As a "frustrated" engineer, Noel is very technical, which has helped him communicate effectively with plumbers while bridging the partnerships between them and DPH dealers.  Over the years, he has learned that even though the master plumbers would listen to Noel and attend his PK's, they weren't the ones who were actually in the field installing the products. Instead, over the past decade Noel has invested a tremendous amount of time in training the journeymen who actually install the products in the field. He welcomes their calling with issues, even if it's not a product that DSA represents, because he believes this ends up helping the entire industry in the long run. 

 

Decorative Sales Associates also calls on many specifiers to help drive business to their customers, while continuing to train showroom professionals throughout the year, not just when they get a new line or a new product offering. Noel's goal is to make sure all sales persons are knowledgeable and confident, not just with the products he represents but with the after-sale. Noel takes the time to do service calls when they are needed - any time there is an issue, or even a doubt or concern about something, he is on the job site and rectifies any and all problems that might have occurred.  

 

Noel's reputation among all industry segments is stellar, and he now has a second generation of family members proudly following in his footsteps. This not only brings an entirely new understanding of the evolving consumer to his agency, but shows that even at home, Noel has instilled in his family a firm belief as to what a great industry this is, and that indeed, a position in a DPH business can be more than a job - it can be a wonderful career path.

 

For these reasons and many more, Noel Garcia Sr. is indeed a most deserving recipient of the DPHA 2018 Representative Professional of the Year Award.