Rachel Batdorff
Manager, Training Solutions
What I do at Franklin Electric
In the age of digital, the mechanisms for writing and illustrating a concept, process, or narrative are endless. Add in the importance of organization, design, and creating for a changing attention span in an overcrowded market...it's not an easy feat.
I oversee a function dedicated to building a B2B brand and channel shaping the way Franklin Electric connects to our installing and servicing customers. Our angle? Online technical education. Our goal is to equip new and seasoned industry pros with the product and industry skills they need to succeed in their business efficiently and self-sufficiently, upskilling the next generation while reskilling the current workforce. What does this look like to the customer? FranklinTECH -- our spin on a university program.
I oversee a function dedicated to building a B2B brand and channel shaping the way Franklin Electric connects to our installing and servicing customers. Our angle? Online technical education. Our goal is to equip new and seasoned industry pros with the product and industry skills they need to succeed in their business efficiently and self-sufficiently, upskilling the next generation while reskilling the current workforce. What does this look like to the customer? FranklinTECH -- our spin on a university program.
Why Franklin Electric
First, Franklin Electric is growing quickly. Be a part of a large, global corporation while (if you're located at Headquarters) taking advantage of living in an affordable, friendly, up & coming small city.
Second, although growing quickly, our company has humble roots. Founded in 1944 in Bluffton, Indiana by two electrical engineers, E.J. (Ed) Schaefer and T.W. (Wayne) Kehoe, Franklin is still renowned for engineering the world's first reliable submersible electric motor for water systems. Our core values also remain--a key focus on customer support and delivering on our Key Factors for Success.
Third, Franklin Electric is responsible. For 2022, Franklin Electric was named to Newsweek's Most Responsible Companies list. This list examines the largest public corporations, examining their efforts contributing to environmental, social, and governance efforts.
Last, working at Franklin Electric gives you the satisfaction of knowing you're making a difference. Moving water has always been a challenge. It’s why ancient civilizations were located near water sources. Today, much of our water substructure is hidden underground, unconscious to the everyday life of the end-user. We are working for a life-sustaining resource.
See what the Franklin Electric campus has to offer HERE.
Second, although growing quickly, our company has humble roots. Founded in 1944 in Bluffton, Indiana by two electrical engineers, E.J. (Ed) Schaefer and T.W. (Wayne) Kehoe, Franklin is still renowned for engineering the world's first reliable submersible electric motor for water systems. Our core values also remain--a key focus on customer support and delivering on our Key Factors for Success.
Third, Franklin Electric is responsible. For 2022, Franklin Electric was named to Newsweek's Most Responsible Companies list. This list examines the largest public corporations, examining their efforts contributing to environmental, social, and governance efforts.
Last, working at Franklin Electric gives you the satisfaction of knowing you're making a difference. Moving water has always been a challenge. It’s why ancient civilizations were located near water sources. Today, much of our water substructure is hidden underground, unconscious to the everyday life of the end-user. We are working for a life-sustaining resource.
See what the Franklin Electric campus has to offer HERE.
Who am I?
My journey at Franklin Electric began with a vague request--"get training online." Prior to the project, training only existed as instructor-led classroom and field events. Evolving products, a new workforce, digital expectations, and travel limitations brought the need to build more quality, accessible, personalized content to reinforce and enhance instructor-led training--and fast.
We’ve since learned our project is a moving target. The mechanisms for visually showcasing and teaching a concept, process, or narrative are endless. In addition, we are creating for a changing attention span and increasing digital expectations, while aiming to yield business results such as customer retention and satisfaction, increased sales, and decreased FAQ calls to our support teams.
After evaluating the market opportunity, audience, tools, and similar programs in competitive and adjacent spaces, FranklinTECH Online was developed and launched during an industry trade show in 2019 as a resource to our Groundwater installing and servicing customers.
Franklin Electric’s vision remains being an indispensable partner to our customers. Service—one of our Key Factors for Success—is at the forefront of our initiative, assisting with the development of robust training programs and unwavering support and communication.
The FranklinTECH Online site, still in an early growth stage, turned two Dec. 3, 2021. Our strategy has evolved to now include most global learning options under one university umbrella—FranklinTECH. Our goal remains designing and pointing our installing and servicing customers toward the things worth learning, convincing them that they should invest the time, resources, and energy to learn.
We now have an opportunity and a challenge to support learning needs for all market segments--and this includes recruiting top-tier team members to grow this initiative.
We’ve since learned our project is a moving target. The mechanisms for visually showcasing and teaching a concept, process, or narrative are endless. In addition, we are creating for a changing attention span and increasing digital expectations, while aiming to yield business results such as customer retention and satisfaction, increased sales, and decreased FAQ calls to our support teams.
After evaluating the market opportunity, audience, tools, and similar programs in competitive and adjacent spaces, FranklinTECH Online was developed and launched during an industry trade show in 2019 as a resource to our Groundwater installing and servicing customers.
Franklin Electric’s vision remains being an indispensable partner to our customers. Service—one of our Key Factors for Success—is at the forefront of our initiative, assisting with the development of robust training programs and unwavering support and communication.
The FranklinTECH Online site, still in an early growth stage, turned two Dec. 3, 2021. Our strategy has evolved to now include most global learning options under one university umbrella—FranklinTECH. Our goal remains designing and pointing our installing and servicing customers toward the things worth learning, convincing them that they should invest the time, resources, and energy to learn.
We now have an opportunity and a challenge to support learning needs for all market segments--and this includes recruiting top-tier team members to grow this initiative.
Advice for prospective candidates
Be adaptable.
Franklin Electric is growing and changing quickly. We're in growth pains. Don't just point out problems, come with a solution.
And be service-minded.
Service is what sets us apart from the competition. Our goal is to provide industry-leading customer training programs. We must always keep in mind what best suits the customer.
Franklin Electric is growing and changing quickly. We're in growth pains. Don't just point out problems, come with a solution.
And be service-minded.
Service is what sets us apart from the competition. Our goal is to provide industry-leading customer training programs. We must always keep in mind what best suits the customer.