Her Story
About Candice
Candice Ervin is a Business Development Manager in the oil and gas industry, specializing in business development, outside sales, customer relationships, and industrial lubricant solutions. In her current role with Jet-Lube, she manages business development across approximately 17 states west of the Mississippi, focusing on key oil and gas markets. Her work involves developing new business, supporting distributors and customers, presenting product solutions, answering questions, solving customer problems, and maintaining strong relationships throughout her territory. Her highly active approach includes extensive travel to remain visible and accessible to the customers and distributors she serves. Ervin entered the workforce immediately after high school, beginning her career as a correctional officer. That experience established a foundation of professionalism, accountability, and adherence to policies and procedures. She later transitioned into insurance customer service, where she developed strong communication and problem-solving skills while assisting customers with issues, explaining decisions, and helping resolve concerns. Her career then shifted into the oil and gas industry when she was given an opportunity to work in business development and outside sales for a smaller company in West Texas. Although she entered the industry without previous oil and gas experience, she embraced the opportunity to learn, listen to experienced professionals, and build her knowledge. Her continued industry training, courses, and conferences have supported her ongoing professional development. A relationship-driven approach is central to Ervin's success. She believes in staying active in the field, maintaining consistent communication, understanding customers' businesses before proposing solutions, and following through on every commitment. One of her proudest accomplishments has been helping a newly opened supply-store customer establish a direct manufacturer relationship and grow from a new account into her largest distributor of her product line. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated industry, she has approached challenges with confidence, humility, and a willingness to learn from those with greater experience. Outside of work, Ervin is a mother of three who enjoys running, yoga, hunting, boating, and spending time with her family.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Candice
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying active, visible, consistent, and willing to put in the work. Although my role is described as a 50/50 remote and travel position, I would estimate that I spend approximately 80% of my time traveling because maintaining a strong presence with customers is important to me. I want my customers to continually see that I am there to support them.
I also make it a priority to remain available when customers have questions or need help solving problems with our products. I stay on top of those needs rather than allowing them to slip. Being a go-getter, having confidence, and knowing my products are also extremely valuable. Being comfortable explaining what a product does, why it may work better than another option, and how it can address a customer's needs is a valuable tool for building credibility and trust.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to never compromise my integrity or authenticity to fit into a room. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I’ve often found myself as the only woman sitting at the table. I learned early on that I didn’t need to change who I was to earn my seat there. I needed to know my business, stand behind my word, and support the people around me by putting myself in their shoes to understand challenges they face and how I could become their building block for success.
Integrity builds trust, and genuine support builds relationships. Titles may open doors, but how you treat people and the reputation you build are what keep those doors open. I’ve learned to walk into every room with confidence, stay true to my values, and never be afraid to take up the space I’ve earned.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women to hold their heads high and be confident. When you are starting out, learn as much as possible about the product or service you are representing before your first client meeting. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable and confident you will feel when questions arise.
I would also encourage them to listen. It is normal to feel nervous when you are beginning, and I believe nervousness can be a good thing because it means you care and genuinely want to succeed. Take the time to understand the person you are speaking with, learn about their company and what they do, and listen carefully to their needs.
You will not always have every answer, and that is okay. If you do not know something, be honest and say, “I don't know that, but I'll find out and get back to you.” Then make sure you follow through. Preparation, confidence, active listening, honesty, and follow-through can take you a long way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The oil and gas industry has traditionally been male-dominated, although over approximately the past five years, I have seen many more women entering the industry. We now have multiple seats at the round table. When I first started, that environment could be intimidating. I was often walking into conversations with men who had decades of experience in oil and gas, and I knew they had much more industry knowledge than I did. I chose to approach that challenge by being a sponge and absorbing everything experienced professionals were willing to share with me. I was honest about being new to the industry and acknowledged that they knew more than I did. Instead of allowing that difference in experience to discourage me, I listened and took what I learned and added it to my toolbox. That willingness to learn from experienced professionals became an important part of my development and, ultimately, my success. I believe the increasing presence of women in the industry represents an important opportunity for continued growth and greater representation. My greatest lifelong achievement in this industry would be to honor and carry forward the legacy of those who came before me, those who dedicated their lives to building and shaping the oil and gas industry, and to leave a legacy of my own for the next generation.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are relationships and trust. A client will continue working with you when they feel comfortable enough to put their guard down and genuinely trust you.
Trust comes from doing what you say you are going to do. If I tell a customer that I am going to take care of something, I follow through. I believe consistency, reliability, and keeping my commitments are essential to building relationships that last.
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