Get to Know Us - Faces Behind Filtrexx

Get to know: Jeff Opel, Southeast Sales Manager

What is your role at Filtrexx?

My main responsibility is to support, and train our sales force that serve the Southeast and Central United States. In addition to that role, I focus on the development of our products, supporting the stream restoration and coastal restoration industries.

What do you like most about working for Filtrexx?

Since I found Filtrexx 17 years ago when I was a regulator in Maryland, I was, and still am impressed about the energy, creativity, and support we provide the industry. I firmly believe we are focused on solutions over “just selling a product”. That ethic separates us from the rest as we are partners with those who design and install all of our products.

What do you find is the most challenging about working for Filtrexx?

That’s simple: Getting the point across that what humans have been doing for the last 30+ years in sediment control has not worked and that products like Filtrexx represent the next 30 years.

What has been one of your most favorite projects?

That’s a hard one. This may sound corny, but it’s not a project in the pure sense, but working with team members that are new to Filtrexx and selling and watching them grow as a person and a professional. Having been in the environmental business for over 40 years it’s important for me to transfer all that I have learned to the next generation of professionals.

What have you learned that you did not know before becoming a Filtrexx employee?

How not to sell a product, but to help guide customers to see the value of Filtrexx.

What are your hobbies outside of Filtrexx?

Fishing, although I’m not catching much. I do spend a fortune on bait with little success. Learning to carve duck decoys, spending time at the beach, and spending time with friends.

Any random facts we should know about you?

At one time, I was one of the largest Shiitake mushroom producers in Maryland.

Jeff Opel has 30 years of experience in the natural resources industry. Many of those years were served as District Manager of several Soil Conservation Districts in Maryland.As District Manager Jeff was responsible for advancing new and innovative sediment and erosion control technology used during the construction process. Jeff also administered the State of Maryland’s Living Shoreline program in several Counties in the state and participated in the development of several stream restoration projects. New advanced technologies used included the use of Flocculating agents to increase the efficiency of existing sediment control techniques. Jeff also created designs for multi chamber sediment basins incorporating bio filters to increase trapping efficiency. It was at this position that Jeff became familiar with Filtrexx which was used with great success. Since leaving the government service after 20 years Jeff ran a field office for a civil engineering firm in Delaware, as well as several landscape companies, before coming to Filtrexx. With Filtrexx Jeff has worked in business development for the mid-Atlantic, and in Technical Sales support for the Southeast region. Presently Jeff represents Filtrexx as the Southeast Regional Sales Manager and is actively developing Filtrexx initiatives related to stream restoration and living shorelines.