Collaboration and communication is key to any good team. For Sarah Crossman, it’s the level of teamwork that Sentry Equipment’s employee ownership provides that keeps her excited to come to work every day.

When Sarah started in 2012, Sentry Equipment had two business units – one for power and one for process - with separate customer service teams for each. However, during Sarah's tenure in customer service, the two business units consolidated. Sarah helped to transition the two customer service departments into a single, cohesive unit.

“I don’t think that could have been done without my years of experience at Sentry Equipment and working with both the operations and service department,” she says. “My collaboration with a multitude of teams really gave me a strong view of the company then and in the future.”

Recently, she made the transition into her current role as Project Manager. Here, she continues to use her collaboration skills by working closely with our operations and engineering departments, as well as customers, ensuring manufacturing projects are completed on time and to customers’ specs.

Sarah Crossman

Project Manager

Three things she’d take on a deserted island: “All I need are my boys: Logan, Nic and Seth. I’ll figure the rest out.”

Why she chose to work at Sentry: “Sentry provides me with the work/life balance I need to be there for my three young kids.”

If you could be or do anything else, what would it be? “I would love to live the resort life. Exactly like you’re on vacation at an all-inclusive resort – beaches, music, tropical drinks and the occasional book.”

In addition to her career challenges, Sarah is also mom to three boys: Logan, 10, Nicolas, 8, and Seth, 6. And thanks to Sentry’s family-friendly culture, she can balance her active family and career. 

“Sentry Equipment provides me with the work/life balance I need,” she says. “As a mom of 3 young kids, I need flexibility in case one of my sons get sick. Sentry Equipment provides me that with nothing but understanding.”

employee-owner pride 

Sentry Equipment is a proud employee-owned company, and we believe that employee ownership makes a difference. Employee-owners share in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which means we share in the benefits of our hard work, positive results and continual improvement and innovation. 

For Sarah, being an employee-owner means she has the feelings of both security and freedom in her career.

“Sentry has a unique culture. We are more than employee-owners, we are family. I haven’t felt that at any other place I have worked,” 

“I feel that the opportunities at Sentry Equipment are limitless. If you would’ve told me five years ago that I would be a project manager today, I would’ve thought you were nuts. But here I am!” she says. “Sentry Equipment is a growing company with a diverse amount of products and markets. This diversity allows us, as a business and as employee owners, to continue to grow and evolve.”

The employee-owner model also offers her greater understanding of the company as a whole. “Sentry Equipment is one of the most open companies I have worked for,” she says. “From management on down, we are committed to making sure everyone is aware as to what is going on within the company.”

Having that company wide knowledge is a significant motivator for Sarah. It helps her see how she’s impacting customers people, processes and product safety. 

“What we do is extremely unique and valuable to so many companies around the world. I get to see the value we provide customers every day,” she says. “The importance a sampler has on a business is huge. And it's felt inside and outside of the Sentry Equipment walls.”

Looking ahead to 2020 and beyond, Sarah is anticipating great things for both the company and her career. “I’m looking forward to learning more and growing as a project manager,” she says. “We have some major growth planned by 2024, and I’m excited to see where it takes us.”

Employee-Owner Profiles is a regular feature that highlights members of our team. As an employee-owned company, Sentry Equipment believes that employee ownership makes a difference. Our employee-owners are dedicated to hard work, positive results and continual improvement and innovation to provide our customers the highest quality products and services.