142 days and counting
Today marks my 142nd day with FinishMaster. After 18 years with the same company, I am excited to talk about why the FinishMaster family was the right fit for me.
Before joining the team, I reflected back over the 20 years I have worked in this industry and the many great people I have met on the journey. One of those great people is David Zelner, FinishMaster's Vice President, National Operations. David and I met 15 years ago while working together at another company in the industry.
As with many work relationships, David and I were peers and attended many of the same company meetings and functions. Over the years, we stayed connected both on a personal and professional level. This past year, David called me to catch up on life. While talking, he asked if I was satisfied and happy in my career. A smile came to my face because a conversation took place just a week prior within my family about the next steps in my career. David talked about the exciting growth FinishMaster had achieved and why he believed the company was well positioned for the future.
David’s passion and enthusiasm for FinishMaster were contagious. I recall wishing I had the same conviction in my current role. Little did I know I would soon be leaving a company I had been with for 18 years.
For nearly two decades, FinishMaster was known only as a competitor, not a company or even a family. As I started talking to people in my network, I became aware many of their contacts were working for competitors, several of them at FinishMaster. Researching the company, I found FinishMaster’s Vision Statement to be in line with my own vision for my work and Core Values to match many of my own. The national footprint of branches and products and services offered, including the largest brands in the industry, are unmatched. Understanding the foundation for the company, I researched FinishMaster’s customer base which includes many of the largest players in the industry.
It became obvious to me FinishMaster was best positioned for the fast-paced, changing landscape of the automotive aftermarket industry.
When asked to join the FinishMaster family, there was no hesitation. I was excited about the vision for the company and the region I would be helping to manage when I was hired. My excitement has grown every day on the job. FinishMaster has a proven track record, established partnerships, and a strategy for growth, but most refreshing for me is its flexibility to move with the changes of the industry.
Before I wrap up, I want to talk about my most memorable moment since joining the team – my first week of orientation at FinishMaster’s Home Office in Indianapolis. After the first day, it felt like I had worked for the company one year, not one day. Everyone I met was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. They even took time out of their personal lives to take me out to dinner and show me around the city. Returning home, I have felt the same helpfulness and knowledge with my Sales and Operations counterparts. Our Vice President, National Sales Herb Butler and Regional Vice President, Craig Stevenson, along with my local teammates, have all gone the extra mile to make me feel like a part of the team.