When did you join the John Zink team?

I joined John Zink in January 2020. I was drawn to the company's focus on innovation, sustainability, and collaboration, as well as their commitment to customer needs and long-term value. The opportunity to work with a talented team and contribute to meaningful solutions made the decision an easy one. 

What is one thing about your job that might surprise people?

Order management might seem like simple data entry, but it’s much more than that. We collaborate with various teams to capture and communicate customer requests, ensuring their needs are met. This role gives us a complete view of the customer order lifecycle and allows us to work across departments to deliver on expectations as a team. 

How has your time at John Zink helped you grow professionally?

My time here has been transformative, both professionally and personally. The challenges, support, and opportunities have shaped me into a more skilled and well-rounded individual. Leading a team toward success motivates me to consistently pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully. 

A key growth experience was aligning a new system implementation with the needs of the commercial and order management teams for the aftermarket business. This complex project required communication, problem-solving, extensive testing, cross-department coordination, and managing a demanding schedule. It enhanced my technical proficiency, problem-solving skills, and understanding of collaboration, while expanding my network and confidence. 

How do you contribute to innovation and carry forward John Zink’s legacy?

For me, John Zink’s legacy represents our values, achievements, and the respect and care we show for employees, customers, and the community. We preserve this legacy through innovation, dedication, and teamwork, driven by our core values of integrity, principled entrepreneurship, and transformation. 

In my role on the order management team, I contribute by collaborating with sales, application engineers, project managers, and order execution teams to meet customer expectations and enhance performance. I help drive transformation by identifying inefficiencies, streamlining workflows, and improving interdepartmental handoffs. By continuously monitoring processes, enhancing systems, and proposing new initiatives, I help ensure we not only honor our legacy but also evolve to meet future challenges. 

How does being part of Koch Engineered Solutions (KES) enhance your experience and opportunities at John Zink?  

The KES network enriches my experience at John Zink by providing access to diverse knowledge and resources. It fosters a culture of collaboration and innovation, allowing me to learn from diverse perspectives, implement best practices, stay connected to new trends and goals of other groups, and enhance my skills in alignment with our core values, contributing to the John Zink vision.

Which PBM™ principle resonates with you the most?

While all PBM principles are important, Knowledge resonates with me the most. It empowers us to innovate, solve problems, and continuously improve by sharing ideas, learning, and thinking critically. 

In my role, I foster open dialogue where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and challenging assumptions. I focus on informed decision-making, building relationships to exchange perspectives, and dedicating time to learning and applying new insights. Constructive feedback, grounded in respect and humility, is key to achieving collective success. 

Reflecting on your time at John Zink, what makes you most proud to be part of this team?  

For me, the greatest pride comes from being part of a team with such diverse talents and a company that prioritizes both business success and the well-being of its employees and community. When asked what inspires me, I always say it’s the people, their history, knowledge, strength, dedication, and commitment. This inspiration drives us to learn and evolve continuously. At John Zink, we have a team with immense talent and knowledge, whose stories and experiences guide us towards a promising future of success. 

What’s your favorite John Zink tradition or event? 

My favorite tradition is John Zink Spooky Halloween. On this occasion, some employees decorate their workspaces to welcome their colleagues and their families. It is a great opportunity to interact with each other and watch the children participate in the work lives of their families. It is so cute to see the children dressed up in their costumes, accompanied by their family members, collecting candy for a few hours.

If you could swap roles with anyone at John Zink for a day, who would it be and why?

I would trade roles with someone from the manufacturing team. My work typically involves computers, spreadsheets, numbers, systems, and applications. I find it fascinating to witness the talent and skills required to transform a customer order into the final product, involving the analysis of drawings, work papers, systems operate machinery, ensures quality control, follows safety protocols, etc. I truly appreciate their work.  

What's one item on your bucket list that you hope to check off soon?

One of my objectives is to complete a half marathon. While I have always enjoyed running, I have generally focused on shorter distances. Running has consistently proved beneficial for me, offering both a challenge and a source of motivation.