AIM Magazine 2017 Print_AIM Magazine_2017_web | Page 69

Travis Ames is the operations manager and oversees day-to-day business. He’s been with the company about 20 years and started working at Winnelson right after high school, when he was just 17 years old. the customers and “You have to know how to interact with to their problems.” know the products to help find solutions “I started as a delivery driver and did that for several years. I liked being out and doing something every day.” Ames later moved up to a job in counter sales, helping customers who come into the Springdale location find what they need. “That’s where you really learn a lot. You have to know how to interact with the cus- tomers and know the products to help find solutions to their problems.” He credits sales with giving him the experience he needed to become operations manager. Gabe Burns also built a career a Springdale Winnelson. He’s now in charge of preparing price quotes for commercial customers by going over their blueprints and finding the products they’ll need. He got his start in the warehouse. “I had some experience as a plumber’s assistant. We used to come to Winnelson for supplies and one day I asked about a job here,” he remembers. “After the warehouse, I spent two years doing counter sales, and then another two years in our showroom. That was a real learning curve. That taught me about a completely different side of the business. Both positions taught me more about our products and how to help customers find the parts they need.” Learning those parts of the business helped him move up the career ladder to a higher-paying position. Burns is still learning. He says there’s always something new because technology is constantly creat- ing new products and changing how people work in the industry. To get hired at Springdale Winnelson, you must pass a drug test and background check. The background check will see if you have a criminal record and will even check to see if you have unpaid debts. You must also have a good driving record and be at least 18 years old before you can get behind the wheel of one of the company’s $60,000 delivery trucks. Managers also want to make sure you’re a good fit for the team. They want people who are outgoing, have a good attitude and are hard working. In return, they’ll help you build the career you want. You can also qualify for benefits at Winnelson like health insurance, paid vacation, and even a stock ownership plan. If you’re interested in joining the team at Springdale Winnelson, visit www.winsupplyinc.com and check out the careers page. CAREERS WAREHOUSE CREW MEMBERS LIFT DRIVERS DELIVERY DRIVERS SALES REPRESENTATIVES MANAGERS BENEFITS HEALTH INSURANCE PAID VACATION STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN APPLY WINSUPPLYINC.COM SPRINGDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | 69