Everyday I looked forward to going to work and chatting with my techs. Dispatching at Associated was the 1st job I had where I felt like I could say, "I like what I do!" when I was happy to get up and go to work everyday. That's when I knew I made the right decision.

12 years ago I joined the Associated Dispatch team, with some already pretty seasoned dispatchers. I learned a lot from each of them and, with that guidance and all the experience I gained, I am now proud to say, I have been supervising our team of amazing dispatchers at our Germantown, WI location for the past 4 years.

We have such a great dispatch team at Germantown. Each member of our team brings with them an essential part of what makes us successful. Everyone is dependable, hardworking, and cares about the work they put forth and cares about each other. We are not only co-workers, friends!

I guess I am a bit of a "Poster Child" for progression. I started as a Parts Correspondent in our Ft Wayne Branch. I was the only employee who worked inside the branch, so I guess I was a bit of a Parts Correspondent, Parts Picker, Dock Worker, and Rental Administrator at the time.

After a few years, I was given an opportunity to be a Customer Support Representative in Ft Wayne and South Bend. I did this a few years and added additional responsibilities for Parts and Service Leadership of the Ft Wayne area.

In 2001, I moved to Indianapolis where I was appointed SE Division Aftermarket Manager - responsible for Parts, Service, Rental, RENEWED, and Shop for the Region. I held this position until 2011.

In 2011, I moved to Chicago as General Manager, Central Region. I held that position for a number of years, and, as the organization changed structured, I transitioned into my role as Vice President, Operations.

This company is a fine blend of being big enough to have competitive benefits, but you are not a number. People are still people. I like that.

I see so much "No Excuse Devotion". So many people are driven to make the company successful. That is not true in many companies; it shows a commitment to Care and the Overall Team.

1. 1. The potential for growth within the company.
2. 2. The stability of the organization.
3. 3. Benefits.
4. 4. Culture.

Once I was able to know my co-workers, I knew it was going to be a good fit. The first team I started working with took extra time out to teach me about the company and industry. Each team I have been a part of since has been great too.

Within the Marketing Department I moved from: Marketing Coordinator to Marketing Specialist to Marketing Supervisor to Marketing Manager. With Associated’s support and programs for continuing education, it helped me grow.

Early on in my career it was the people who worked for Associated that made the difference for me. It was a very friendly atmosphere where people always were willing to help others. Many times I would sit down with various departments so I could learn their role in the company, and give me a better understanding of what we did. I had many mentors in the sales team who took me under their wing to teach me the business, not because they had to, but because they cared enough about this place and cared enough for me and wanted to help me succeed.

When I was hired, it was go door-to-door cold calling for the sales team. I would spend my days driving around, walking in the back doors of businesses, handing out brochures, and taking notes for the salesman whose area I was in that day. After 3 months I received a call that a territory had opened up, and that I was going to take it over. I worked that territory for over 8 years. When I started in it, the territory was generating $600,000 in annual sales, and when I left the territory in 2015 it was a $5,000,000 territory. In 2015 I was promoted to a Strategic Account Manager with a list of 15 accounts to call on. I did that job for 3 years, when in 2018 I was promoted to a National Account Manager, where I reside today.

I have been recognized for my performance on 2 separate occasions. Both of these came in the year 2016. I was awarded the "Salesman Of the Year", and more importantly than that, I and Associated were awarded the "Vendor Of the Year" by Ferrara Candy. This was the first year that Ferrara decided to recognize their vendors for their outstanding support, and to win this honor was something that meant more to me than anything else. To be selected by someone who chooses to do business with us is a great honor!

That year we designed a racking layout for a new 1,000,000 SQFT DC, installed the racking, implemented over 80 new pieces of equipment, performed full maintenance on all of it, and installed iWarehouse on their entire fleet. Now on the surface the award was presented to myself and Associated, but behind the scenes this honor touched every single department in the company. None of this would have been possible without the entire Associated team at the time being involved.