Meet Dale Costello, a self-proclaimed “people person” and member of Engrave-A-Crete's Sales Department. After talking with Dale a few minutes, it's easy to see that while he wants to make a sale, his top priority is meeting the best interests of his clients.
“I think of myself as a catalyst,” Dale says. “That means I help others bring about changes in their lives. I love helping people and making them happy. Smiles are one of my rewards.”
Dale finds that often people know very little about the concrete industry, and he enjoys educating them about the vast opportunities available with the Engrave-A-Crete decorative concrete systems and products.
“A lot of people don't understand what decorative concrete engraving is. They think concrete is gray, it's heavy, it cracks, but they don't understand what they can do with concrete. So when I get the chance to talk with someone, I can give them the advantages of what they can do and how it will enhance their personal and business life. It's teaching others, helping them get established in the business, and helping them to achieve their personal goals. I've had some very successful individuals come into this business and I'm happy to share those stories with others who may not know about this field. What I get out of it is creating happiness for someone that might otherwise not have known anything about decorative concrete.”
Dale enjoys connecting, and he especially likes using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as a way to interact electronically with many people in a short amount of time, whether it be for business or pleasure.
“I'm not really physically involved in any social groups where I go to meetings, but I'm actively involved in Internet groups” Dale says. “I talk with people in my own community, around the country and around the world. I've met some of my very good friends through the Internet.”
That same love for interacting with others played a role in Dale's early life as he made career choices.
“I went to Indiana University and majored in accounting,” Dale says. “But after a couple of years I found out that I wasn't too happy working with numbers and figures and things like that because there was very little interaction with people. So I kind of changed my direction and got into other fields that allowed me to come in contact with others on a daily basis, and that gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
When Dale isn't busy with customers, he enjoys the outdoors. Fishing, boating and sailing are his top choices for leisure activities.
“I'm a real sailing nut,” Dale says. “I've sailed the Caribbean a couple of times and off the coast of Honduras. I single-handed the boat myself. One of my goals is to sail across the Atlantic on a small boat, one 40 foot or less. I haven't sailed to Somalia, though,” Dale continues with a laugh. “I've had some real strong, clear advice to stay away from those waters.”
Dale can be reached by email at the address on the Engrave-A-Crete website, or by calling his cell phone at 417-536-9197. Once he's met you, chances are you'll hear from him again.
“If you don't call me,” Dale says, “then I'll be calling you, because your success is my success.”