Someone You Should Know: Félix Cabañas
With so many ERA members, it is not easy to get to know every rep, manufacturer and distributor in the business.“Someone You Should Know” is The Representor department that gives readers the chance to learn about fellow ERA members, including how their time is spent both in and out of the office. Meet Félix Cabañas, Director, LATAM, at Kruvand Associates, Inc., and president of the new Mexico ERA chapter. The Representor asked Cabañas a few questions about his time in the rep business and his experiences with ERA. Here is what he had to say.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m the youngest of three siblings, with two older sisters. I grew up in the border town of Ciudad Juarez and, like many in this area, attended college across the border at the University of Texas at El Paso. I’ve been married for 25 years to my beautiful wife, Diana, and I’m the father of a 21-year-old son, who is a junior in college, and a 17-year-old daughter, who is a senior in high school. I started my career in electronics on the purchasing side with Snap-On Tools, before transitioning to Insight Electronics, and later worked for Memec United and Avnet. Thirteen years ago, I joined Kruvand Associates, Inc.
What are some things you enjoy outside the workplace?
I love sports, both watching and participating in them. I enjoy watching live baseball probably because I played for many years when I was younger, but I later took up cycling, which has become my favorite sport to practice for the last 18 years.
How long have you been an ERA and how long in the rep business?
Kruvand has been an ERA member for a long time, probably since the beginning of the ERA. The company has been in business for 53 years, and I have been in the industry for 24 years.
What have you found to be the most rewarding about the business?
The electronics industry has been good to me. My background as a distributor provided a great foundation for my career. Working with a rep firm has introduced new levels of engagement with manufacturers, distribution partners and customers. It has allowed me to expand my reach and collaborate with amazing people from different parts of the world.
Briefly describe your rep firm.
We are a family style of company. While we are all focused on the success of the business side, we never lose sight of supporting each team member, both professionally and personally. We work hard, but we recognize that behind every member is a family and loved ones, and that’s what truly matters in the end. We want every individual in Kruvand to thrive and become their best version.
What recent innovations, best practices and/or changes has your organization made?
Recently, we upgraded our CRM platform, incorporating Power BI for improved data analysis. A few years ago, we also created a dedicated social media team to help us use LinkedIn and other social media tools efficiently in our industry.
What have you learned and/or what contacts have you made through ERA that have had the greatest positive impacts on you and/or your business?
Walter Tobin and his ERA team have been an invaluable source of knowledge and experience for me. Through ERA, I’ve also had the opportunity to interact with great leaders from other rep firms, distributors and manufacturers across Mexico, the U.S. and even South America, which has greatly enriched my network and myself as a person.
What is one interesting fact that people may not know about you?
As a kid, and even through college, my biggest fears were public speaking and leadership. I would go out of my way to avoid speaking in public or taking on leadership roles in class projects. However, life, destiny or whatever you want to call it, continually puts these challenges in front of me. I’m still not fully comfortable with public speaking, but I do it to the best of my abilities. I also question my leadership skills at times, but I always strive to do my best. Over the years, I’ve learned that our greatest opportunities often lie in facing our fears, and that fear itself isn’t a bad thing—as long as we keep moving forward.