2026 Q3 David Vander Pol
Sales Excellence Standings
Contributed by: Gerrit Foster, Sales Process Manager
As the leaves begin to change and football season takes center stage, our Sales Excellence competition is entering its own version of the fourth quarter.
Through three quarters of 2026, Account Managers across the system have continued to uncover new opportunities, strengthen Customer relationships, grow profitable revenue, and contribute to Oak Harbor’s overall success. Like a football team preparing for the stretch run, the work completed throughout the first nine months has positioned many competitors for a strong finish.
Of course, no championship season is built by individual stars alone.
Every sales opportunity depends on the collective effort of Drivers, Dockworkers, Customer Experience Team Members, Dispatchers, Mechanics, Rate Clerks, and countless others who deliver on the promises we make to our Customers every day. Just as championship football teams rely on all three phases of the game, sales growth relies on every department executing together. That teamwork continues to prove that sales success at Oak Harbor is truly a team effort.
Entering the Fourth Quarter
With only three months remaining in the competition, the race remains highly competitive. Current year-to-date standings are listed below:
Year to Date Leaders
Group One
Group Two
Finish Strong
Former NFL Head Coach Mike Holmgren once said:
“It’s not necessarily who starts the game, it’s who finishes it.”
That message applies perfectly to where we stand today.
The standings after three quarters show who has built an early lead, but championships are rarely decided before the season’s final stretch. Great teams separate themselves by maintaining focus, executing fundamentals, strong individual efforts, and finding ways to improve every week. The same is true in Sales.
A new account, a successful contract renewal, a Driver lead turned into new business, or a strengthened Customer relationship can quickly change the standings. With significant opportunity still available in the final quarter, every competitor remains capable of making a run. Just like football, momentum can change quickly, and the ones that finish strongest are those performing their best for four quarters in the final months.
Looking Ahead
As we enter the final quarter of 2026, the goal remains the same: Grow profitable revenue without sacrificing service or safety!
As last season’s Super Bowl winning Head Coach Mike Macdonald emphasizes:
"Success comes from doing the little things right week after week.”
The first three quarters have established the standings, but championships are not won in September. Those that reach the postseason and ultimately hoist the Lombardi Trophy are the ones that execute consistently when the stakes are highest.
The same opportunity lies ahead for our Sales team. Every prospecting call, sales presentation, pricing proposal and negotiation, added lane or volume, every sales win represents another chance to move the ball downfield. The fourth quarter of our season is officially underway.
| Group 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | LOC | YTD |
| Karen Risberg | POR | 1385 |
| Tom Baeten | PAT | 1170 |
| Mike Maltas | FON | 1103 |
| Craig Codrington | PHO | 926 |
| Tim Baird | STK | 881 |
| Jennifer Moreno | LAX | 856 |
| Elsa Lennon | CNO | 856 |
| Brent Browning | SLC | 803 |
| Martin Esparza | REN | 565 |
| Doreen Cook | AUB | 515 |
| John Steinke | POR | 509 |
| Chrissy Bates | AUB | 383 |
| Karen Phillips | LVS | 229 |
| Laurie Dove | POR | 112 |
| Group 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Name | LOC | YTD |
| Candace Wheeler | OLY | 951 |
| Cody Moore | SAC | 674 |
| Mark Hood | EUG | 632 |
| Sean Baird | NBY | 622 |
| Roberto Polan | SND | 619 |
| Gilbert Pena | FRE | 594 |
| Chris Gosnell | BOI | 587 |
| Mike Apodaca | SPO | 544 |
| Raj Dilawari | SBY | 542 |
| Branon Smith | SPO | 469 |
| Skylar Harrison | SPO | 459 |
| Anthony Juette | PAS | 359 |
| John Lockman | SLM | 338 |
