During these passing decades, two special employees have played key roles and this year, celebrated their 30 year anniversaries with Kaeser Australia.
In 1993, Mark Dudman was employed as a Sales Engineer for KAESER Australia. Based in the Sydney branch office, Mark progressed to the role of Branch Manager then National Sales Manager.
In that same year, Craig Firth started with KAESER as a storeperson at the Australian head office in Dandenong South. Gradually moving through various roles into Service Support, Craig has learnt every aspect of the service and technical side of the business.
Peter praised the two for their attitude and commitment over three decades, “we are grateful for your dedication and long-standing loyalty to the company as well as the industry. It is unusual these days for people to remain with one employer for such a long period. For a person to reach 30 years of service is absolutely outstanding. Thank you!”
So, how did Mark and Craig achieve this milestone? Perhaps we can find the answer if we delve down a little, and find out what makes these two gentlemen tick …
MARK DUDMAN, National Sales Manager
Decades of experience mean Mark is well-known and respected in compressed air circles. Asked about his time in the industry, Mark says the key to navigating the ever-changing market is to focus on the customers and always check that the product solves the problem.
What was your favorite subject in school? Mathematics
Do you play any sports or have any hobbies? Flying, one day I will pick this up again
What is your favorite animal? Dogs - Great Danes to Designer dogs I have owned them
Are you a coffee or tea person? Coffee. And I’m fussy, one cup a day - it’s got to be good, not second best.
Have you ever met anyone famous? Being famous is not the same as being important. A lot of important people aren't famous, and a lot of famous people aren't important.
Can you speak more than one language? I tried French & Japanese, and realised I’m not multilingual.
What was your first paying job? Engineering.
Do you have any mentors in your professional life? My mistakes have been my greatest mentors
What sort of duties do you have at work? I wear a number of caps, but one size fits all!
What’s the most exciting part of your job? It’s not about the most exciting part of our job, but the excitement of working with others. “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.”
What’s your most-used productivity hack? Value Proposition: Focus on users & check our product solves the problem
What’s something you find challenging about your work? The question isn’t who’s going to let me, it’s who is going to stop me
What motivates you at work? A little more persistence, a little more effort and what seemed hopeless failure may turn into success
What’s your idea of a perfect work day? Give every day the chance to be the perfect day
What’s your favorite memory of the last 30 years at Kaeser? The best thing about memories is making them
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? My comment to this is, make sure you can say that you choose your life, you didn’t settle for it.
CRAIG FIRTH, Service Support
Peter recalls, “Craig started with Kaeser straight from high school. He was a muso in a band, with long hair and earrings all the way down his ears.” Always wearing a cheery smile, Craig is now an integral part of the Dandenong site and his technical knowledge is invaluable.
What was your favorite subject in school? Definitely PE (Physical Education)
Do you play any sports or have any hobbies? I enjoy music, both listening to and badly playing/learning. And getting outdoors.
What is your favorite animal? Meercats - gotta love Sergei!
Are you a coffee or tea person? Both
Have you ever met anyone famous? Humphrey B Bear at Parkmore Shopping Center - Awesome!
Can you speak more than one language? English and Australian - Yes they are different ;-)
What was your first paying job? Very typical, a paper round delivering the Springvale locals their news (pre-Google)!
Do you have any mentors in your professional life? I always like to understand things via my colleagues
What sort of duties do you have at work? Wow, you name it! Technical support, Service Admin support, Parts support, Facility support… Supporting actor lol
What’s the most exciting part of your job? Helping to ensure successful outcomes
What’s your most-used productivity hack? The handball ;-) ……..Just kidding
What’s something you find challenging about your work? Keeping up with it all, both the volume of it and the technical aspects.
What motivates you at work? The feeling of helping to make positive outcomes.
What’s your idea of a perfect work day? A good mix, I enjoy daily variety in a happy and healthy environment
What’s your favorite memory of the last 30 years at Kaeser? Meeting and socializing with so many colleagues, KPs (Kaeser Partners) and customers at the various functions and trips, particularly the trips to Germany.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I have been here for 30 years, I’ll give you 1 guess!
Here’s to many more years ahead and thank you, Mark and Craig, from all of us at Kaeser Australia!