SuperSealer Evan Stark

This month’s SuperSealer brings over two decades of expertise to his leadership role. In this interview, he discusses the evolution of the Canadian market, how Trelleborg’s resources are solving customer challenges, and what he sees for the future of infrastructure maintenance.

Who are you?

My name is Evan Stark. I’m 40 years old, I live in Ancaster, Ontario, and I’m responsible for the Canadian Pipe Repair business at Trelleborg Seals & Profiles.

How long have you worked in this position, and what are your key duties?

I’ve been in my current role for six years now. My journey began unexpectedly in 2019 while I was working as a contractor, and IST Canada reached out asking me to represent their products and manage their Canadian operations. Later, when Trelleborg acquired IST, I transitioned into my current role.

My duties involve running and managing our fantastic team while serving our ever-growing network of customers across Canada. We also provide equipment and materials through daily shipping and receiving operations, and we welcome customers for in-person pickups. I spend a lot of time focused on growing the business throughout Canada, which involves a lot of meetings both in person and online.

I think what sets me apart is my ability to provide comprehensive training, support and problem diagnostics for all our products. Everything we sell, I know how to operate.

How long have you been with Trelleborg in total, and what do you enjoy about working here?

I’ve been part of the Trelleborg Group for three years, and it’s been an incredible experience as we’re always expanding as a business and improving our products.

What impresses me most is Trelleborg’s extensive resources, which allow us to provide a solution for almost every challenge our customers face. The combination of high-quality products and knowledgeable employees creates the complete package that drives our success.

What are the key challenges you face in your job?

Our biggest challenges center around supply chain delays and logistics, especially when shipping overseas. High costs and delays create obstacles for our operations. In North America, the pace is relentless. Everything is go, go, go, and now, now, now!

How do you think the business in your area is going to evolve in the future?

Infrastructure requires constant repair and maintenance; underground infrastructure even more so. Underground utilities worldwide are reaching, and often exceeding, their expected lifecycle, but this is where our products, solutions and technologies shine.

We can repair existing infrastructure without the need for digging and replacing, providing water-tight solutions that extend infrastructure life by 50 years or more. This trenchless approach isn’t just more efficient; I see it as the future of infrastructure maintenance. We’re preparing by investing in new technologies and expanding our capabilities to meet this growing challenge.

What do you do in your free time?

First and foremost, spending quality time with family and friends. I also love to travel and explore different parts of this beautiful world, and I’m always seeking new experiences and perspectives.

I’m heavily active in sports (hockey, golf, tennis, baseball, skiing, and fishing, to name a few), enjoy the sun and beach whenever possible, and consider myself quite the foodie. I’m always eager to try new cuisines and flavors. Gardening and spending time outdoors round out my interests, giving me a chance to connect with nature and find balance away from the fast-paced business world.