Patrick Ely has been with EDI for more than 37 years, knowing just about everything there is to know about our parts and services.

Q: You started out working with EDI. How long have you been working with them now?   

A:I started with EDI right out of college in 1988 with a degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  I wanted to focus my career on environmental engineering in some fashion and EDI gave me that chance here in my hometown.   

Q: How did you get to the position you are in now? Have you always been in sales?  

A: I started my career with EDI in the engineering department working as an entry level project engineer.  I moved up to Engineering Manager for a time and then transitioned into more direct sales efforts with our representatives and thereby consulting engineers and contractors.  I remember being a bit put off by the term “salesman” or “salesperson” and didn’t want a career in sales.  But I was told, and later learned on my own, that everyone is really a “salesperson” in some form or fashion.  Most of us are trying to convince a customer/patient/client to value our products, or experience, our advice.   That means, in a broad sense, we are all salespeople. 

Q: What is your favorite part about EDI to talk about and why?  

A: That a small private company founded on the principle of a good, original idea (fine bubble air diffuser systems for lagoon treatment) and staffed by dedicated, honest and trustworthy people could grow to a global leader in diffused aeration.  It’s the blending of an innovative idea and the right people to promote the idea that has launched numerous successful organizations and EDI is no exception. 

Q: What do you wish others in the wastewater industry understood that isn’t talked about enough? 

A: That ours is a noble industry dedicated to providing clean water and thereby better living conditions for all of us.  We often get too tied up in profit margins to see the true benefit we provide and how lucky we are to do what we love and make it our profession.  Pray we don’t lose sight of that in our daily duties. 

Q: What project or technology have you worked on or completed recently that you’re most proud of and want to mention here?  

A: For EDI it would be the project in Missouri City, TX (Steep Bank/Flat Bank WWTP).  We demonstrated our respect for “voice of the customer” and developed an aeration system and construction sequence that best fit the project and made it a successful endeavor.  Our diverse product offering led to the ModuleAir retrievable system being deployed to keep the plant operating and within permits while under construction.