Family Legacy
His parents’ sacrifice years ago continues to present opportunities for Gino Liongson, his wife and their children
Gino Liongson and his family
If you think selling to physicians, materials managers or nursing directors is tough, try selling paints and stains to residential repaint contractors. It might mean sitting in a Lowe’s parking lot and jotting down phone numbers from contractors’ vans, or explaining a $5 difference between two cans of paint. Gino Liongson knows. Prior to becoming a district sales manager for MedPro Associates, he managed a Sherwin-Williams paint store for a year, and for two years served as a residential repaint sales rep.
“I have always said that Sherwin-Williams was an integral component in the rep I am today, says Liongson, who calls on customers in Indiana and Michigan. “The consultative sales training on developing a solution and adding value in a competitive landscape was the framework and foundation that I had as an early rep. If it weren’t for that platform, I never would be in the position I am today.”
Immigration
Liongson was born in the Philippines, but his family moved to California when he was just one year old. It was an act of courage, selflessness and faith that drove his parents – Joe and Claudette Liongson – to make the move with Gino and three sisters: Jodette, 16 years old at the time; Kristine, 12 years old; and Jamaica, 5 years old.
“My parents were very established in the Philippines, as my dad was a pharmaceutical sales rep and my mom was an English professor,” he says. “When my parents were petitioned, it took 12 years until they received the approval, and when they did, we had three months to decide if we were willing to leave everything behind to make the move.” They decided to go to the U.S. Each family member was allowed to bring just two boxes with them.
“I remember having the conversation vividly with my parents about the entire process and the motivation behind giving up everything they had,” he recalls. “Their response was so moving and continues to resonate deep within my values. They told me the No. 1 reason for the move was for my three sisters and myself. The possibility for their kids to have more opportunities to be successful and be more independent in the U.S. was the motivating factor that gave them the courage to change our family legacy. It is 31 years later, and they have never regretted their decision.”
When Gino was five, the family moved again, this time to Indiana, where Gino’s aunt lived. There, his father was able to get a job as a medical technologist, and his mother ultimately became head ombudsman for workers compensation in the state of Indiana.
Liongson attended Indiana University in Bloomington and graduated with a marketing degree. He had an internship with drug company Eli Lilly and aspired to become a pharmaceutical sales rep. But when the opportunity with Sherwin-Williams presented itself, he took it.
Medical sales
However, he always knew he wanted to be in the medical industry.
“I’ve always heard the different success stories of my friends’ parents, and I wanted to strive for that as well,” he says. “I remember having conversations with several of them about the medical sales arena, and all signs pointed to this direction.”
It so happened that his next-door neighbors – whom Liongson considers his second family – were the Bartels. His friend, Scott Bartel, ultimately became a district sales manager with MedPro. When the opportunity with MedPro in Michigan and Indiana presented itself, Bartel recommended Liongson for the job.
“I’m lucky to be a part of this organization,” he says. “Not a lot of people can say that they love their company, their company’s leadership, their company’s culture, and their company’s values. But … family means everything to me, and Bill Sparks, Manny Losada and everyone who is a part of this organization has built this culture [with] a true family feeling – a very competitive one at that! We continue to be a force with some of the leading manufacturers in this space, and I’m looking forward to many more successful years for our organization.”
More growth ahead
Liongson believes he has grown from many perspectives – that of a sales rep, as a person, as a spouse and as a father. And he sees plenty more opportunities for growth ahead.
As a medical sales rep, he has learned how to be more strategic, leveraging resources and relationships to provide the best solution for his customers. He has learned that success can be achieved through open lines of communication, visibility and teamwork.
As a family man, he and his wife, Bobbie Liongson, have found financial stability and growth by following the direction of Dave Ramsey, founder of Financial Peace University. After three years, they paid off their mortgage and hope to leave a legacy for future generations.
On a personal level, just about every day, Liongson goes to the gym, focusing on weight training. “I look forward to this time, as it gives me time to reflect and get in the right mindset,” he says. “I feel like it helps me stay motivated, driven, competitive, and it keeps my self-discipline at a high level.
“I want to continue to focus on a healthy lifestyle as my kids get older and more involved in sports or any other activities.” (The Liongsons have two boys, Landry and Braven.) “I’d love to coach and be out there building memories with my family, and I want to be able to do that for a long time.”
Liongson grew up fishing in neighborhood ponds, and in the past couple of years has fulfilled his dream to go deep-sea fishing, with fishing trips to Alaska (a MedPro award) and Florida. “Sleeping on a boat through different coves in Alaska is definitely not what I’m used to,” he says. “Moving forward, I definitely plan on taking my family on these trips. I don’t necessarily think we’ll sleep on the boat. But we’ll fish for sure!”
In the end, it’s all about family, he says.
“My better half, Bobbie, is the most beautiful, caring and selfless person I know, and I’m lucky to ‘do life’ with her.” Their three-and-a-half-year-old son Landry is an Avengers fan, while Braven, a year and a half old, prefers Mickey Mouse.
“My family is my heart, my world, my motivation…. my everything,” he says. “As long as I have them in my corner, I know I can achieve anything.”