Christopher Michael Mottino grew up in Lancaster, California, in a close-knit family where faith, hard work, and sports shaped everyday life. From an early age, he stayed active in baseball, soccer, basketball, football, and golf. Those experiences taught him the value of discipline, teamwork, and showing up for others. At Paraclete High School, he helped lead both the football and golf teams to back-to-back CIF championships, creating memories that still influence how he approaches challenges today.
After graduating in 1999, Christopher attended Humboldt State University, now Cal Poly Humboldt, where he earned a degree in Kinesiology with a focus on Athletic Training. His education strengthened his interest in performance, preparation, and helping people succeed.
Christopher joined Ecolab in 2018 and steadily advanced through several leadership roles. He served as a District Manager before moving into Technical Account Management and later becoming a Corporate Account Manager for Facility Care in the Pacific Northwest. His dedication to clients and teammates earned him both the National Facility Care Corporate Account Manager Award and the Facility Care Team MVP Award in 2025.
Away from work, Christopher enjoys spending time with his family and cheering on his children at sporting events. He also loves golfing, hiking, camping, cooking, gardening, fishing, flying, and exploring new trails. Whether he is reading about astronomy, collecting vinyl records, or simply enjoying the outdoors, he approaches every interest with genuine curiosity. His journey reflects a lifelong commitment to learning, steady growth, and making the most of every opportunity.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
Most of my days start early. I like having a little quiet time before emails and meetings begin. I’ll take the dog for a walk, review my schedule, and decide on the three most important things I need to accomplish. As a Corporate Account Manager, every day is different. Some days I’m working with customers on long-term projects. Other days I’m solving problems that need immediate attention. I try to stay organized without becoming rigid. I also make time for family. Whether I’m coaching my kids, watching one of their games, or getting outside for a walk or a round of golf, those moments help me reset and come back with a clearer mind.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I usually start by asking questions instead of jumping to solutions. I’ve found that people often know what they need, but they haven’t had someone really listen. Once I understand the problem, I break it into smaller pieces and work through them one step at a time. That approach has worked whether I’m helping a customer, planning a family project in the backyard, or even learning a new hobby like flying drones.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m excited to see more companies recognizing that long-term relationships matter more than quick wins. Customers remember how you treated them long after they forget a sales presentation. Businesses that invest in trust and consistency are setting themselves up for success.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Writing things down. Every morning I make a simple list instead of trying to keep everything in my head. Crossing off small tasks keeps me moving and helps me stay focused on what matters most.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t worry so much about having everything figured out. When I graduated from Humboldt State with a degree in Kinesiology, I didn’t imagine I’d build a career in corporate account management. Every experience teaches you something useful if you’re willing to pay attention.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I think people spend too much time trying to optimize every minute of their day. Sometimes your best ideas come while you’re hiking a trail, cooking dinner, or listening to a record. Not every productive moment happens behind a desk.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Stay curious. Read about subjects outside your career. I’ve always enjoyed aviation and astronomy, even though neither has much to do with my job. Those interests keep my mind engaged and often give me a fresh way of looking at problems.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I go outside. A walk, a little time in the garden, or hitting a bucket of golf balls usually helps me slow down enough to think clearly again. I’ve learned that forcing yourself to sit at a computer rarely solves mental fatigue.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Following through on small commitments. Early in my career at Ecolab, I realized customers paid attention to the little things. If I promised an update by Friday, they got it by Friday. If I said I’d look into an issue, I followed up even if I didn’t have the final answer yet. Those habits built trust over time, and trust creates opportunities that no sales pitch can.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Earlier in my career, I thought I had to solve every problem myself. I took on too much because I wanted to prove I could handle it. Eventually, I realized that asking teammates for different perspectives usually led to better solutions. That shift made me a better partner and a better leader.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Create a simple “knowledge notebook” for every customer. Keep track of the little details they share, from business priorities to personal interests. When you remember those conversations months later, people know you value the relationship instead of just the transaction.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Microsoft OneNote has become one of my favorite tools. I use it to organize meeting notes, project updates, and action items in one place. It’s easy to search later, which saves me from digging through old emails.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
One book I return to is The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It’s a story about teamwork, resilience, and ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things together. Those ideas have always resonated with me because so much of my life has been shaped by sports and working with teams.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed Masters of the Air. Growing up with a father who worked at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works, I was always part of the conversations around our house. The series gave me a greater appreciation for the people behind aviation history and the teamwork required to accomplish difficult missions.
Key learnings
- Long-term success is often built through consistent follow-through on small commitments rather than one big achievement.
- Staying curious about interests outside of work can improve creativity and problem-solving.
- Strong customer relationships begin with listening carefully before offering solutions.
- Taking time to step away, get outside, and reset often leads to clearer thinking and better decisions.
- Teamwork grows stronger when people are willing to ask for help and learn from different perspectives.