Because the US office is still relatively small and growing fast, his role goes far beyond traditional sales engineering. “I wear a lot of different hats. Besides sales support, I mentor interns, contribute to marketing activities and help create content for webinars and articles. I enjoy the variety.”
The story of Jorgen Gilbertson
Meet Jorgen Gilbertson, our USA Sales Engineer
Four years ago, Jorgen Gilbertson joined HoSt Group as one of the first employees in the company’s US office. At the time, the American team consisted of just six people. Today, the office has grown to around 35 colleagues and continues to expand alongside the US biogas market.
As a Sales Engineer within HoSt Bioenergy Systems North America, Jorgen supports the front-end sales process by developing technical models, preparing budgets and working closely with customers. “I enjoy both the technical side and the people side of the role. I like helping customers understand the technology, but I also genuinely enjoy building relationships.”
One of Jorgen’s first experiences with HoSt Group immediately left a strong impression. Just three weeks after joining, he and his wife were invited to the company’s 30th anniversary celebration in the Netherlands.
A warm welcome into the company
Jorgen about the 30th anniversary event: “It was my first real experience with the company culture. We were staying in a hotel in The Hague and met two people at breakfast with HoSt badges. They spent the morning talking with us and asking about our lives in the US.” Only later did he realize he had been speaking with founders Herman and Mariette Klein Teesselink. “They were incredibly down-to-earth. That really stayed with me.”
The same trip also introduced him to the broader vision behind HoSt Group. “I listened to CEO Jelle speaking about renewable energy, hydrogen and future technologies. What he said has stuck with me: ‘Only the fool stands at the bottom of the mountain and criticizes anyone who attempts to make it to the top. We do not know which path will take us to the top but are committed to being part of the solution.’”
Bringing European expertise to the US
According to Jorgen, the US biogas market is developing rapidly, but still trails Europe in several areas. “In Europe, the transition from waste treatment to renewable gas production accelerated earlier. In the US, we are probably ten to fifteen years behind.”
That mindset is now changing. “People are starting to look differently at waste streams. Not just asking: what is the cheapest way to dispose of waste? But also: is there a smarter and more sustainable way to use it?” HoSt Group recognized that opportunity early and established a local presence in the market. “We understand the culture, the geography and the local industry. That matters in a country this large.”
A project close to home
One project in particular has become personally meaningful for Jorgen. HoSt Group is currently developing a large biogas project in eastern Washington, close to the rural farming community where he grew up.
“I come from a small agricultural town in Eastern Washington. Two years ago, a Developer approached us with a project in that exact region. I knew the area well because I used to ride dirt bikes there.”
The project involves a dairy farm with five digesters, a large upgrading system and a CO₂ liquefaction installation. It is potentially one of the largest projects within the HoSt Group’s portfolio. “The renewable gas will be injected into the local gas grid. Friends and family in the area could literally end up using energy produced by this project. This is why I became an engineer.”
Learning through people and cultures
What originally attracted Jorgen to HoSt Group was not only the technology, but also the international culture. Before joining the company, he and his wife had already spent time living abroad, including two years in West Africa.
Today, he works daily with colleagues from countries including Poland, Ecuador, India and the UK. “We all share similar goals, but everyone brings a different background and perspective. My circle of friends and experiences has grown enormously because of this job.”
One moment in Enschede particularly stood out to him. “I walked into a meeting room where everyone was speaking Dutch. The moment they saw me enter, the entire room immediately switched to English. That says a lot about the culture here. People work hard, but they also genuinely care about each other.”
Employees Testimonials
Hear directly from our dedicated employees who contribute to our success each day.
“I work on both individual sub-installations and complete systems. That keeps the work varied and technically interesting.”
Kaspars Lāmanis-JēgersonsCommissioning Engineer
"You really get the opportunity to develop yourself. You are given responsibility and the space to take initiative. HoSt Group has truly become part of my life."
Saskia StratingProject Manager
“Here, you work on real problems and see results quickly. In the R&D within a company, you can go from concept to something in the field within a short period."
Thomas BrouwerProduct Manager
