WIN@JM Interview Series: Meet Jill Gill

The Women’s Inclusive Network group (WIN@JM) at Johns Manville regularly publishes stories featuring women across the company. These women have technical responsibility for product lines in each of Johns Manville’s three core businesses.  

In this edition of our WIN@JM Spotlight, we feature Jill Gill, a Key Account Manager for EP Fibers, who has managed large accounts over the course of her time at Johns Manville. Read on to learn more. 

What is your background? Tell me about your career path?

Before joining Johns Manville, I worked at PPG Industries in several roles across different business units. I was relatively new to the fiberglass business at the time and had great leaders who took an interest in where I wanted to go and what excited me. When they asked about my interests, I mentioned that sales stood out to me, and it looked like a path with some really interesting opportunities.

They were incredibly supportive and set me up with mentors and opportunities to shadow salespeople, which I did for about a year and a half. When a sales role opened up, I was given that opportunity. I moved from Pittsburgh, Penn. to Charlotte, N.C. to manage the North and South Carolina territory, and later transitioned into the Mid‑Atlantic territory in Philadelphia, where I handled the five largest thermoplastics compounders.

After that, I took an opportunity in the coatings division as a Global Account Manager for Alcoa and moved back to Pittsburgh.  
 
How long have you been with the company? How did you end up at Johns Manville?  

This is my 20th year at Johns Manville, and I'm a Key Account Manager. I love being in a sales role and creating connections with people. I ended up at Johns Manville after an ex-colleague there told me about a sales position they were hoping to fill in Pittsburgh. She thought I’d be a good fit since it was a similar role to what I was doing at that time. After visiting Johns Manville headquarters, I gained a clear understanding of the business plan and the investment being made in the thermoplastics business to become an industry leader, and that vision really excited me. At the time, I had recently moved back to Pittsburgh, so starting a new position with Johns Manville was an easy transition.
 
Tell me about your role as a Key Account Manager.

When I first started in the Key Account Manager role, the focus was on growth. We were divided into market segments, and I was focused on 10-micron customers. My goal was to help shift Johns Manville from primarily a wet-chop supplier to a legitimate player in the dry-chop thermoplastics business. My job focused on identifying new opportunities, qualifying products and bringing new customers on board to strengthen Johns Manville’s position in the domestic fiberglass market.

As the business has grown and Johns Manville has become an established leader in the fiberglass industry, my role has evolved into true account management. Today, I focus on managing large accounts, executing annual contracts, renewing and retaining business, working through challenges and staying on top of industry trends, innovation and product development to make sure we continue delivering the best solutions for our customers.
 
Who were important mentors in your life and career?

My dad was my biggest role model and source of inspiration. He faced many challenges, but he always had the drive and people skills to make a real impact. He worked hard, found his place in sales and passed along some of the most practical, real-world wisdom I’ve learned. He had such a positive attitude and always believed that any situation could be turned into a teaching moment or something good. Growing up with that mindset really shaped how I interact with people every day and has had a huge influence on who I am.

My first boss in my very first sales job was also an incredible mentor to me. He taught me the fundamentals of sales: how to sell, run an effective sales call, show up professionally and treat customers. More than that, he taught me to think beyond the transaction and focus on the entire relationship by understanding the account from top to bottom, really getting to know the person you’re working with and understanding what keeps them up at night. Those lessons stuck with me, and the skills I still use to this day.
 
What advice would you give someone just starting their career in your field?

Don’t wait for the phone to ring; your customers aren’t going to call. You have to be proactive and make real connections with people, especially today when we’re more connected technically but less connected personally. The relationships you build and the trust you earn are the cornerstone of long‑term success. One of my accounts once told me, “People don’t buy from the company, they buy from the person.” That stuck with me and reinforced everything I’d been taught: build the relationship, dig deeper and make the call.
 
What aspect of the organization makes you proud to work here?  

Being part of the Berkshire Hathaway family is a big reason I’m proud to be at Johns Manville. It brings a level of stability, credibility and long‑term thinking that customers really identify with. I also strongly connect with the Johns Manville Experience and its four core values. They align with how I approach sales and how I want to show up for my customers every day.
 
What is your favorite food or cuisine?  

I love Italian food. Really, I love all food, but Italian is definitely my favorite!  
 
Describe your ideal weekend.  

Honestly, my ideal weekend is pretty simple. I love starting the day by grabbing coffee at our favorite spot with family or friends and just catching up. After that, I usually like to get outside for a walk, work in the garden a bit or do some shopping if I’m in the mood. If the weather cooperates, a beach day is always the best. My favorite time to be there is late in the day with a good book followed by dinner somewhere nice. We really enjoy dining out, and Charleston has become such an incredible food city that we’ve made it a goal to try every Michelin Star restaurant there.   

What is a fun fact about you that may surprise people?

A little‑known fact about me is that I was an exchange student twice during high school. I lived on my own in Chile for six months when I was 15 and then in Ecuador for a full year when I was 17. This was all before the internet, cell phones or email, which made the experience kind of crazy! I’m still amazed that my parents let me go, but I’m so glad they did. I’m still in touch with the families I lived with and the other students I shared those experiences with, and it truly changed my life. 

What is your favorite hobby, activity, or creative outlet?

I’m a bit of a health-nut! I love reading, learning and sharing as much as I can about alternative and holistic health. I like to try all the different modalities: red light, hyperbaric chamber, infrared sauna, rife, acupuncture, etc. Every summer I plant a garden and really enjoy cooking healthy food. Making a fresh green juice genuinely makes me happy!  I also enjoy writing, and I’m currently working on a book that I hope to have completed next year.   

What is your favorite memory from working here?

I’ve made so many great memories during my time at Johns Manville that it’s hard to pick just one. The people here really make it special. Whether we’re at a trade show, a sales meeting or a Johns Manville event like JM Academy, we always find a way to have fun! One memory that really stands out was a sales meeting in Prague. We were split into teams and sent on a city-wide scavenger hunt that took us to different cultural landmarks. We had to work together to solve clues and the first team to finish was declared the winner. JMers are definitely competitive! Some teams raced to the end, while others made a few pub stops along the way. It was such a fun way to explore the city, build camaraderie and get to know each other better.