Welcome to Faces of Hospitality, a new series from Eaton Essentials celebrating the people who make our industry so special. Each month, we'll spotlight the incredible individuals behind the manufacturers, dealer partners, end users, and Eaton team members who help shape hospitality every day.
Every career has a starting point, and for Jason Daigle, it began at just 14 years old as a busboy. What started as an after-school job eventually grew into a career spanning culinary arts, restaurant management, sales, and leadership, ultimately leading him to help build Eaton Essentials from the ground up.
As Vice President and one of the founders of Eaton Essentials, Jason still believes hospitality comes down to one simple idea.
"Hospitality means making others feel warm, welcomed, and comfortable."
It's a philosophy that guides every customer interaction and every relationship he builds.
Before leading a sales team, Jason trained in culinary arts and restaurant management, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges operators face every day.
That background allows him to understand customers from every angle because he's lived it himself.
One of his proudest professional accomplishments came in 2011 when he was named Salesman of the Year after building a territory from virtually nothing during his time at TriMark United East.
"It's something I'm incredibly proud of because it was built through consistency, relationships, and hard work."
When asked who had the biggest influence on his career, Jason doesn't point to a famous executive or mentor.
Instead, he credits the owner of a high-volume restaurant where he worked after culinary school.
"The pace and pressure weren't always easy, but it taught me exactly the kind of leader I wanted to become—and the kind I never wanted to be."
Those experiences helped shape his leadership philosophy today: challenge people to grow while creating a workplace built on respect, trust, and support.
The best advice Jason ever received has stayed with him throughout his career:
"Never wait to make an appointment—just cold call. Use the back door. The toughest people, the ones who don't want to see you often become your best accounts. Be consistent and keep trying."
Persistence and relationship-building remain at the center of everything he does.
When Jason helped found Eaton Essentials, he saw an opportunity.
"There was a need for a manufacturers' representative on the smallwares side that truly served dealers and end users well. We believed we could fill that gap and make a real impact."
Today, although his title is Vice President of Sales, Jason still stays closely connected to customers.
"I'm hands-on every day, actively working with dealers and end users."
One of the accomplishments he's most proud of is how quickly the Eaton Essentials division has grown.
"In the last eighteen months, we've expanded our product lines, strengthened relationships with dealers and end users, and welcomed incredible new team members."
Ask Jason what makes Eaton Essentials different, and his answer has nothing to do with products.
"It's our family culture. We're not answering to corporate hierarchies or outside ownership groups. We genuinely care about our people and take pride in helping them grow."
That people-first mindset extends beyond the office and into every partnership Eaton Essentials builds.
While technology continues to evolve, Jason believes relationships will always be the industry's greatest competitive advantage.
"In a world increasingly shaped by AI and online companies, I believe the sales teams built on real relationships will dominate. You can never fully replace human-to-human connection with a digital experience. We're already seeing people choose to buy locally from people they trust over impersonal online sources."
When asked what the one essential item is that he couldn't live without, Jason's answer wasn't a piece of equipment or tabletop item.
"It's not one item—it's the whole experience. The people, our test kitchens, our corporate chefs, our customers, and ultimately our customers' customers: the end user. That's the one essential tool you can't succeed without."
It's a fitting answer from someone who has built his career and Eaton Essentials around relationships.
One final fun fact? Jason is professionally trained in culinary arts and has a real talent in the kitchen, although he admits he doesn't advertise it much.