SALT LAKE -- There's not a lot of mystery about Jarl Jacobson. What you see is what you get.

Steady, reliable and focused on the customer.

Jarl Jacobson, right, listens as a visitor makes a point during the National Association of Home Builders show held earlier this year in Las Vegas. Jacobson has been representing Martin Door for approximately 22 years. He is a regional sales manager for Martin Door.

Much like the garage door company he represents, Jacobson focuses on the little things that make the difference between legitimate value and passing fad.

Martin Garage Doors and Jacobson are a good match.

"When you get a quality product it's something I can get excited about. It's easy to sell. When I look at other products I would have a difficult time trying to sell them because the quality isn't there, the warranty isn't there and the safety isn't there," Jacobson said.

Jacobson, now in his 22nd year at Martin Door, came to sales of Martin garage doors through the back door. He began as an installer and serviceman at Crawford Doors and was then hired by Martin Doors to help the company's service business expand.

David Haslam, National Director of Sales at Martin Door, said he pursued Jacobson, because he knew Jarl could fill a need. He has been filling many needs ever since. "Jarl is very diligent and his dealers really enjoy working with him. He follows through in great detail and does an outstanding job," Haslam said.
		Jarl and his wife, Ruth, are shown prior to a recent Martin Door banquet.

Jarl said that his exposure to the technical side of the business helped him immensely as he made the transition to sales. He has worked in almost all positions in national sales, but recently took the position of regional sales manager responsible for Utah, Nevada, Canada and the eastern part of the U.S. Not so coincidentally, sales in Utah have gone up significantly since Jacobson began to oversee sales in the state, according to Haslam.

Jacobson's broad territory gives him exposure to a wide range of dealers and experiences. In 2002 he was among featured guests on a Canadian TV show that focused on Martin's copper doors.

Jarl is a man of detail as well. He sees himself as one who looks after the small things for a dealer.

Jarl loves to fish in his spare time and takes immense pride in his family. He and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of five children. The Jacobsons have been married for 28 years. They have four grandchildren.