WCP Employee Spotlight: Brooke Earling
For this Employee Spotlight, we are delighted to introduce you to Brooke Earling, the Credit Lead for our WCP Kent and Burlington Divisions… and Converse Connoisseur. With a background in customer service for paper and print, Brooke understands both the sales and billing sides of our business. Around the office, she is known for going the extra mile not only for her team but also for our customers. “She always goes above and beyond for us and with an especially cheerful and positive approach.” For these reasons, and many more, WCP is lucky to have someone as knowledgeable and uplifting as Brooke on our team.
Brooke’s WCP Story
Brooke is no stranger when it comes to the paper industry. Before joining WCP, she worked at a print shop. However, in 1998, the print shop was closing its doors, so she needed to find a new job. At the time, Rob, the print shop’s WCP Account Manager, convinced her to apply to become his inside sales rep. On her first visit to the division, Brooke was immediately drawn in by how inviting and welcoming everyone was. She thought to herself, “Now this is a place I want to work.” And we are glad she joined us!
After joining the company, Brooke spent 15 years in print inside sales before moving into her current position as Kent Credit Lead. Over time, she has also assisted Kent Envelope. “I help direct them on whom to go with for supplying the correct forms to fill out, processes to follow, and what email contacts to send to.” Through these roles, Brooke has trained and worked with numerous colleagues and supported various divisions. “I have seen people come and go, but the number of people that have longevity here is another reason I chose to work at WCP.”
What is a typical work day for Brooke, you ask? As the Kent Credit Lead, Brooke knows that no two days in the Credit Department are alike. Each day is different depending on what is in the works with the Account Managers. However, Brooke’s role goes beyond collecting payments, setting up accounts, and posting money. She also manages reseller permits, tax adjustments, equipment and custom order deposits, and customer portal uploads, just to name a few.
Brooke has over 35 pairs of converse one to match each outfit
More About Brooke
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Brooke grew up in West Seattle and spent her summers on Camano Island, where she found a love for fishing, crabbing, and digging clams. Brooke’s winters were spent in the mountains skiing until her son, Benny IV, came along. After that, she spent her time teaching him how to fish, crab, clam, and ski. To this day, the two of them still do it all, just not as often as they’d like now that he has a son of his own, Benny V. Now, Brooke’s world is all about her grandbaby, and she cannot wait until we can teach him how to fish next!
Brooke is known around the office for her footwear. “Just look for the low-top Converse, and it’ll probably be me!” She has over 35 different colors, a pair to match every outfit. “Some say it’s a problem because I can’t leave the house without matching my Converse to what I’m wearing, but I say it’s just me expressing my personality!”
But Brooke isn’t just the Converse Connoisseur. She’s also the Pickle Pro. Every late Summer, she gets to work pickling. “I’ve been called the pickle queen once or twice,” she laughs. She also makes bread and butter pickles, a jalapeño relish, and a variety of jams. Her most requested jam flavors are raspberry, strawberry rhubarb, and blueberry bourbon vanilla. Around the office, her dilly beans, pears, and Italian veggie mix are also big hits. “I love making people happy with home-processed goods.”
Q & A with Brooke
What is your favorite part of working at WCP?
My favorite part about working at WCP is the people I work with. It does not matter if I work with a different department here in Kent or a different branch; everyone is always willing to help out! We all understand that it takes a village working together to get the job done!
What is one lesson that your current position has taught you?
My current position has taught me that things are not always what they appear; having time to listen to what customers are going through sometimes is just what they need. Communication with our customers is key to developing good relationships. I always tell my customers we need them as much as they need us!
Do you have any advice for new people in the industry who are just starting their careers?
Credit is not just about collecting. It is also about building relationships. The Credit Department at WCP works with so many departments within WCP; it is fun being able to interact with all of them, as well as the customers. Our customers get to know us, and we know them, which makes for good, productive phone calls and or e-mails between the customers and us. It has been a fun journey learning this side of the business.
Can you share some of your favorite memories or stories while working at WCP?
A funny story from way back in the early 2000s…I had not been with WCP very long, and people were still getting to know me. Print Inside Sales, Print Merchandisers, and Outside Print Sales all went go-kart racing. Outside Sales is very competitive, no surprise there. So, I paired up with a fellow merchandiser coworker and knocked the socks off those reps! I took home 1st place and mad bragging rights. My dad used to say I should have been a race car driver!
Employee Compliments
We invited some of Brooke’s coworkers to share their thoughts, and the kind words came pouring in. Here are just a few of the responses.
“Brooke is an absolute dynamo! Her expertise gained from her time spent as an Inside Sales Representative, combined with her deep understanding of credit practices, creates a customer-focused approach that benefits everyone involved. She has a remarkable talent for working with customers to find solutions that work for all, making her an invaluable asset to our team. Not only is she a trusted professional, but she’s also a favorite in the office—known for her positivity, collaboration, and, of course, her incredible shoe collection! We’re truly lucky to have her.” – Steve Cole, WCP Kent Division Manager
“Brooke has been such a great help to the Kent Envelope division in the past year. She always goes above and beyond for us, and with an especially cheerful and positive approach. She brings such a wealth of knowledge to the business and is always willing to share that knowledge and help in any way she can. We all very much appreciate Brooke and are lucky to have her on our team!” – Wolfgang Hoener, WCP Kent Envelope General Manager, and Lotte Marzi, WCP Kent Envelope Administrative Assistant
“I work with Brooke often, usually speaking with her a few times each week. She embodies the culture that is WCP Solutions and has a wealth of information about credit, sales, and customers. She is kind, always willing to help a co-worker or a customer, and is focused on the best interests of WCP Solutions. She has a great sense of humor and is a pleasure to work with. We back each other up when needed so that the credit function continues seamlessly for our customers. I am grateful to call her my co-worker and my friend.” – Ray Patton, WCP Portland Credit Manager
“Brooke is always willing to help and she most certainly cares! We are very lucky to have her on the team!” – Adam Bieghler, WCP Burlington Division Manager
“I met Brooke in 1994 when I first started as an Account Manager, and she was an employee with one of our customers. Fortunately for us, a few years later, she joined West Coast Paper (our brand back then) as a member of our Inside Sales team. How lucky was I that she was teamed up with me! Our customers commented frequently that she cared about their success as if she were one of their own employees. She would not let an opportunity go without some sort of solution. So much of our success was due to her drive to take care of the customer. Friendships were formed with many of them. If a customer was considering doing business with us, and heard that Brooke could be their Inside rep, that was it, they were IN!” – Rob Routt, WCP Kent Account Manager
Join the WCP Team
Do you want to work alongside exceptional people like Brooke? Visit wcp.link/jobs to see current career opportunities across the company, learn about our employee benefits, and read other employee spotlights! You can also learn more about how we build strong customer relationships and our proud history of service by visiting our About page.
