At Dairyland, we are dedicated to solving problems. We take pride in our resourcefulness and ability to connect with customers to develop innovative solutions for the toughest industry problems. That is why, in 2025, Dairyland created new Market Segment Manager roles within the company to build upon our relationships in the pipeline and electric utility industries. These positions are designed to create a tighter connection to the inner workings of each industry, bringing deeper knowledge of the challenges our customers face and ensuring Dairyland remains a trusted, informed partner in solving them.

Here, Phil Eggen, Market Segment Manager of Pipelines, and Mason Spang, Market Segment Manager of Electric Utilities, discuss their roles and explain how they deliver to customers the expertise needed to help solve their complex industry problems.

What exactly is a Market Segment Manager?

Mason: A Market Segment Manager (MSM) is a dedicated resource to Dairyland and the customers of a specific market. MSMs are able to take a step back from individual accounts and find what larger changes need to occur to best serve the entire market. Understanding what problems matter most to customers is the foundation. From there, MSMs work internally at Dairyland to build solutions.

Phil: Simply put, a Market Segment Manager represents the voice of the customer for a specific market. When an MSM is truly in tune with this voice, Dairyland will be able to deliver solutions for the right problems that customers are most concerned about.

How does this differ from the role of Dairyland’s Business Development team?

Phil: The Business Development (BD) team will coordinate and deliver solutions to our partners in the industry that our products can solve. BD builds meaningful relationships with distributors and individual accounts to ensure their needs are being met. They are connected to the industry through various conferences, in-person visits, and personalized training—and they keep tabs on larger projects that may need some direction of product selection or design support.

Market Segment Managers look at the market holistically to understand what common problems are shared between customers. We then work with internal teams to find a solution for that problem. This solution can range from something as significant as a new product launch or can be simpler in nature—but still impactful—such as clearer communication materials. MSMs also ensure that Dairyland products remain well positioned within each market and review feedback to determine if improvements are needed.

Why is Dairyland committed to better understanding the pipeline and electric utility industries?

Mason: In the electric utility market, Dairyland’s origins trace back to the relationships built within the industry — stemming from early work solving stray voltage issues on agricultural facilities. Fast forward to the present, where we’ve realized that now more than ever, electric utilities could benefit from our expertise in isolation and electrical interference solutions. As inverter-based resources continue to grow, right-of-way corridors become more congested, and demand for power increases, the company recognized that we are uniquely positioned to help.

Phil:  In the pipeline market, Dairyland has always strived to understand what problems our customers are facing and how we can help. It’s in our mission to be a trusted leader in specialized electrical solutions, and the pipeline industry is a large focus of our attention to be innovative for this market. Summed up in a few words we like to say: “We are here to help”.

How does Dairyland make sure the customer’s voice gets heard?

Mason:  Dairyland is very intentional about making sure the feedback from our customers and partners is heard. We attend dozens of tradeshows and conferences around the world to make it easy for customers to talk with us on their most pressing issues. At Dairyland, we strive to be great listeners and ask the right questions that get to the root of our customers’ problems.

Phil:  Dairyland is committed to working with our customers to find out their problems and then determine if our team of experts can provide a solution. We have recently rolled out a new internal process called Core Technology Innovation Development (CTID). This process starts from any idea that comes into Dairyland; evaluating it to see if it fits with our core design philosophy of providing specialized electrical solutions, and if it does, we work to develop the product. This is a joint effort, led by the MSM department, with input from business development and engineering departments. While Dairyland has been successful with developing solutions for our customers’ problems in the past, this new process puts more up-front emphasis on listening closely to truly understand the root of the issue. Once confirmed, we then work to provide a solution that meets their needs.

What is your background as it pertains to the market you oversee?

Phil:  I have been at Dairyland for almost six years, working with customers in numerous industries to apply our products for their various applications. In this time, I have come to appreciate the complexities that come from the variety of situations where decouplers can be used to help solve CP system issues.

Prior to joining Dairyland, I held a variety of roles within the pipeline industry. For nearly 15 years, I worked for a major gas utility company, where I gained an understanding of how transmission and distribution piping systems are operated and maintained. At the gas utility company, I was introduced to cathodic protection and have now been in the CP industry for over 17 years. Before joining Dairyland, I worked as a consultant in the CP industry, helping customers with AC mitigation and CP designs and surveys.

Mason:  I joined Dairyland in 2025 with a technical background in Engineering Physics and experience in asset management. Prior to Dairyland, I helped develop solutions alongside utilities to predict failures of circuit breakers, transformers, and back-up batteries. I am active in a variety of IEEE Power and Energy Society Committees related to electrical interference challenges. These include the IEEE 1695 Stray and Contact Voltage, IEEE 2746 AC Interference on Linear Facilities, and AMPP SC11 on Electric Power.

What do you do to keep a pulse and maintain credibility within your market?

Phil:  I try to be active in a variety of ways to stay in front of issues related to the pipeline market. The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP) offers numerous options to keep in touch with issues and allows input from operators, consultants, construction groups, and product manufacturers. I am active with my local AMPP chapter in Chicago, and also attend several AMPP conferences across the country. In addition, I keep apprised of the standards that AMPP maintains and I offer my opinion and expertise where necessary.

Mason:  People who are in the industry can attest that continuous education and awareness of emerging technologies is critical for success. I maintain credibility by attending conferences, participating in committees, and engaging in educational webinars to gather a variety of information and perspectives on our industries’ challenges. Most importantly, I maintain a pulse on the market by visiting with partners and customers to talk in real time about the challenges they face.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Mason:  Meeting customers where they are is at the core of what Dairyland does. Whether that means getting boots on the ground in your substation or simply picking up the phone, we are always ready to show up. Beyond solving problems, we are happy to bring value to your team by provided educational training sessions on topics such as DC electrical interference or AC mitigation. If this is of interest to you, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Phil:  I can’t emphasize enough the saying “We are here to help”. If you have something that has you scratching your head or a problem others can’t figure out, give us a call or reach out through our online portal and we’ll look into it.

If you’re wrestling with a problem, and would like to consult with Dairyland’s Market Segment Managers, please contact us here.

Contact Phil (Pipeline Market) Contact Mason (Electric Utility Market)