2018 Young Achiever Award - Winner
David Hamilton, Morley Canvas
Congratulations David!
Here is a little about David:
Key roles and responsibilities: David is now responsible for the overall operations Morley Canvas - with a staff of 6 – he is responsible for Client Relations and Sales - Purchasing - production scheduling - product development - production coordination - management fo staff and training - quality control and general administration.
Contributions, milesones in his work role or outside? David saw the benefit for the business in becoming involved with the the industry association - seeing that the association provided a platform for businesses to be provided with details of industry trends - and as a forum through which further understanding of the industry was possible - and keeping in touch with what it was doing and where it was headed. After attending a few STA events – David felt that being involved within the association would be a great opportunity to network within the industry - and develop key interests in ensuring a viable industry with training supporting the trade. Following this course – David volunteerd to join Counicl of Management. David is also an active member of the Army reserves and the Scout movement together with persuing extensvie advance training in Scuba Diving.
Examples of a couple of projects David has been involved in:
Casa Biani Italian Alfresco Area
Project Summary: The nominee was responsible from initial contact with the client, and ultimately project managed the installation of 12 Zip track blinds He designed and assisted in the installation and completion of this $19k Project without incident and reaffirmed to me his ability to design and manage and produce projects from initial enquiry through to completion - with exact product knowledge
David was involved in:
• Design
• Installation
• Fabrication of fabric
• Fabrication of framework
Caretta Australia
Summary of project: What aspect of the project was the nominee involved in: The nominee was the first point of Contact with the client - and successfully completed samples of annexes to suit their unique units. Many have and continue to be produced based on David's grasp of the customers’ requirements and unique ability to train existing factory staff to produce a quality product for our clients.
• Design
• Installation
• Fabrication (fabric)
• Fabrications of framework
David has been involved in numerous projects within the buisness and ongoing work has been developed to production and sale stage by his ability to discuss with clients their requirements - process their requirements - and then produce quality products has made David an invaluable member of our team. At this age – David shows maturity beyond his years- and his technical ability is daily demonstrated to the existing tradies and staff.
2017 Young Achiever Award - Winner
David Bradshaw, Versatile Structures
Congratulations David!
Read below to learn a little about David:
What are the key roles and responsibilities of the nominee?
The Key responsibilities of our nominee are as follows:
1. Foster relationships with current customers.
2. Develop new relationships with future customers
3. Provide detailed estimations and design clarifications throughout the quoting process.
4. Provide detailed handover information on award of project to operations team for delivery
5. Maintain regular communication with the customer throughout the project completion.
6. Develop marketing strategies to assist the company in moving forward.
7. Investigate new products available and ways to utilise them within our organisation
8. Develop and foster relationships with architects and specifiers.
Has the nominee completed a trade certificate course?
Yes, Certificate 3 Customer Contact
Has the nominee contributed, donated or had any milestones outside his work role?
Yes. David is an avid sportsman, playing many sports from Rugby League to Futsul, Touch football, skating, squash, Fishing, Jet skiing and Soccer.
He is always available to lend a hand to any family member or friend and even friends of friends. Donating his time regularly to help others in need.
David has assisted in Rotary events whether it be volunteering time to help with sausage sizzles or doing the dirty work in an Adopt a Road event. Though not a member of Rotary he is there to help when help is needed.
He loves to play guitar and bring people together through his love of music.
Does the trainee volunteer or contribute to any community or industry based initiatives?
Yes. David has been an avid sponsor of the Smith Family for many years.
Along with being a regular volunteer for Rotary International at specific events.
Please provide details for 2 projects that the nominee has been involved in:
Name of Project Child Care
Address of Project Multiple, Australia
Summary of project Supply and installation of replacement fabric and infrastructure to many sites across multiple states
How did the nominee contribute to this project?
- Design
- Installation
Provide a summary detailing the nominees involvement in this project:
David was key for this project. Not only did a marketing campaign that was wholly developed by David lead him onto this potential customer. The follow through in the entire sales process from negotiations, to lead development, estimations, countless meetings, after hours work, weekend work, emergency install works (which Dave would complete just to prove his capability to the client) and true grit and determination is what got this customer over the line. Operations can only be strong when sales is also strong, David shines strong within his role.
Name of Project: Construction
Address of Project Multiple, Australia
Summary of project:
David is a one of a kind sales negotiator, able to take in extremely varied and unclear information, then turn this information into a clear deliverable project, whilst factoring in customer expectations. Maintaining a high level of professionalism whilst completing daily negotiations, estimations, follow ups with hundreds of contacts.
How did the nominee contribute to this project (please select all applicable)
- Design
- Installation
Provide a summary detailing the nominee’s involvement in this project David’s ability to create a clear path forward in the sales process allows for an easy integration of the operations team to deliver the project. All to regularly we under-estimate the importance of a strong front end to a business which is a very highly skilled component of any company. David is an excellent part of our company and has been directly related to setting up over 110 individual projects since his employment started with us.
Our opinion, though bias, is that David is one of a kind. Thoughtful, kind and dedicated. He hates to let a customer down so backs himself to deliver where sales never usually dare to go. David’s training in installation and design also allows him to assist in operational aspects of projects. He treats his customers like family and this is why they keep coming back.
He came to us 6 months after we started as a company daring to dream big and make something great, no regular leads coming in or steady advertising campaigns, just a company at the start of their journey. He accepted the challenge and put all of these into place for the benefit of the company as a whole, developing marketing material, pounding the pavement, cold calling, unearthing new potential 100% proactively, working day in and day out, 110% dedicated and unwavering to the end goal.
Is there any other relevant information that will help the judging process?
Thanks to David’s hard work we have many regular customers, constant work flow and seamless integration between sales and operations. Its these reasons, more than any other, that we believe our nominee is more than worthy of this award.
2015 Young Achiever Award - Winner
Robert Bull, E H Brett & Sons Pty Limited
We believe our YA exemplifies the opportunities which exist when working creatively with textiles across the range of products and services within our industry. Further, he demonstrates that a viable career can be built around design and fabricating skills in Australia which can form the foundation of a successful and sustainable business model. Our nominee is Robert Bull who capably demonstrates what can be achieved through a combination of training, determination, some hard work and the desire to embrace the opportunity presented with challenging projects. We feel fortunate to have him on our team and wish him well for the future.
What are the key roles and responsibilities of the nominee?
Overall operational management of our business across two sites – Sydney and Melbourne with the special emphasis on production. This sees him involved in the business process right the way through from sourcing and responding to customer enquiry and quoting to specifying the product/project response through to fabricating and installing the end result. This includes managing a workforce of 24.
Trade certificate course completed:
- Certificates II & III in Textile Fabrication
- Certificate III in Carpentry & Joinery
- Certificate IV in Building & Construction
- NSW Shade Sail Installers Licence
- NSW Carpenter Licence
- Forklift & EWP Licence
- Boat & fishing licence
Has the nominee contributed, donated or had any milestones outside his work role?
Qualified Gliding Instructor of 14 years’ experience where he frequently takes responsibility for supervising up to 40 gliding trainees for weekends, ensuring aircraft, equipment and runway/conditions are safe for use.
Inaugural STA Young Leaders’ Challenge in 2012 where he led the winning team in designing and constructing a temporary fabric emergency shelter.
Leading a factory site tour in 2014 to demonstrate shade sail design and construction to local, state and federal politicians as part of a Cover our Kids campaign initiated by STA.
Mentoring our business’ trainees including one trainee who has received multiple awards for her success in training, and another who has completed an assisted traineeship which catered for his special needs whilst on a Disability Support Pension. It is a credit to our YA that he has managed this training whilst capably managing the other aspects of his role. Managing a special needs staff member requires considerable care and attention including communication with the employee’s parents, counsellors, Centrelink and medical professionals.
Instrumental in the winning of 2 STA and one IFAI Awards for Excellence.
2014 Young Achiever Award
Special Recognition - Renee Kelly, E H Brett & Sons Pty Limited
The nature of this young achiever nomination rather than relating to one specific project has more to do with the ongoing excellent achievements of our young achiever over her first 18 months of work. This has seen her recognised as Manufacturing Trainee of the year for 2013 in our region. A remarkable achievement for a first year trainee, just out of school and aged 18.
For the purposes of this award nomination we will however make reference to two particular projects which exemplify the outstanding work achieved by this nominee throughout her first 18 months of work.
What did the client request?
I. Horticultural Geodesic Dome
This 5m dome structure was fabricated by our young achiever from start to finish with her taking responsibility for CAD design, plotter cutting and finally fabricating a dome cover over the frame. The inclusion of doorways and ventilation openings required use of cut outs and zips.
II. Poco Helibanner
This 800 sqm helibanner would be a job usually undertaken by a qualified senior tradesman in our business. Staff absences at the time however saw our young achiever step up to lead a team of 4 in the plotter cutting, fabricating and painted artwork involved on this large helibanner.
What was unique or complex about the project?
Both jobs involved a high degree of CAD and plotter cutting work, and sewing fabrication skills. In the case of the helibanner, our young achiever led a team of older fabricators to complete a complex multifaceted job accurately and to an extremely tight deadline.
Was there anything different or special about the project?
The major point of difference on both these jobs was the age of the young achiever running the project. At just 18 years of age our young achiever showed a level of maturity and understanding rarely seen in the competent planning and execution of all tasks involved. Both assignments involved techniques not usually present in work of this type we have undertaken.
How did the project achieve or exceed the client's needs?
Both customers' needs were met as to quality and timing which is also evident in the enclosed photos of the jobs.
What were the results of the project?
Aside from completing all projects in a competent manner, these jobs in particular were the prime examples used in awarding our young achiever 2013 Manufacturing Trainee of the year in our region.
How did you contribute to the project? What did you add to make the project worthy of an award?
Our young achiever stepped forward willingly to take the leading role on both these jobs at a time when a combination of staff absences and other work demands created the opportunity for her to lead.
Is there any other relevant information about this project that has not been covered in the above questions?
The acute shortage of skills in our industry highlights the importance of Young Achievers. Our business is indeed fortunate to have our young achiever on the team. Her achievements to date as a teenager show she has a bright future in our industry.