This year, we’re proud to be celebrating a huge milestone with one of our Tennant ANZ Field Service Technicians, Marek Ranosz. We’d like to extend a huge congratulations to Marek, who has been with Tennant for 25 years, making him one of our longest serving employee.
We thought we’d have a chat to Marek and hear more about his experiences with Tennant over the last two and a half decades.
Despite the fact that he describes himself as an “ordinary, hard working person”, he’s got quite the story!
From Poland to Australia
Originally from Poland, Marek and his wife immigrated to Spain as a refugee in the late 1980s before arriving in Australia in 1990. He didn’t speak English at the time and knew very little about Australia, but he needed a job to support his family.
Marek had a mechanical background, since he’d done further studies in technical college after graduating high school. But it soon became clear that it wasn’t enough to get a job.
“We didn’t know anyone at the time and it was impossible to find a job if you didn’t speak English. At the time, it was hard - our daughter arrived and we had three mouths to feed. I went for every interview I could think of, but there wasn’t much out there.”
So, Marek took some basic English courses and spent three more years studying machinery to improve his chances of getting work. Finally, in 1993, he got an interview with Tennant.
Starting work with Tennant
Marek had the right technical/machinery background for the role, the interview went well, and he was hired!
“The day after my interview with Tennant, I got the call. They said: you have the position and you can come to work right away!”
“So I just grabbed what I had, which at the time, was a small plastic tool box and a few basic tools I used around the house.”
“When I arrived at the workshop for the first time, I met my two other colleagues and saw they had huge tool boxes on wheels!”
Straight away, Marek starting working with the machines and was able to get them running smoothly. The team were pleasantly surprised at what he could do and this kickstarted 5 years in the workshop, during which he had plenty of opportunities to flex his skills, including designing modifications for some of the machines.
Career highlights
Marek joined Tennant while we still had a relatively small team here in Australia, which meant that he had a lot of opportunities to talk to the General Manager at the time.
“He was the person who opened the company in the morning and the last one to leave in the evening. He always liked to come and talk to me in the workshop, find out who I am, and what I think. He’d come to us about every decision - sometimes twice per day - to find out what would help us do the work.”
One significant career highlight for Marek is when Roger Hall, Tennant’s US-based CEO at the time, visited Australia in the late 90s. The General Manager invited Marek to join them for a business dinner. Marek says he will never forget this!
Promotion to Field Service Technician
Tennant was growing rapidly around the world and in Australia at the time. So, Marek soon had an opportunity to move into a new role.
“I was in the workshop for 5 years, from 1993-98. I did a good job but my goal was to work more directly with end customers.”
“In the workshop, you can go the whole day without talking to other people, but I wanted more opportunities to talk and practice my English.”
After 5 years, Marek was ready to move into the Field Service Technician role, carrying out repairs and services on machines at customer locations. He’s been in this role now for 20 years and really enjoys the work.
“I’m very passionate about what I do and like to do my best for the customer and the company.”
Why 25 years?
So, what does it take for someone to stick around at a company long-term?
Marek enjoys his role and the people he works with. But one big reason he has stayed with Tennant for 25 years is because it still feels like a family business and he appreciates the heritage and where the company has come from.
“It was started in 1870 by Irish-born immigrant, George H. Tennant who came up with an idea to design mechanical cleaning equipment to help people clean their floors. It wasn’t easy for him, but he didn’t give up.”
“I always have Tennant’s story in the back of my mind.”
Tips for new employees
We asked Marek if he had any tips for newcomers who are starting out at their next job - whether at Tennant or another company. Here’s what he said:
1. Learn
“I was prepared very well because I did a lot of study before I started. You need knowledge and a good education so you can do a good job. For me, I studied motor mechanics, hydraulics, and engineering. And this gave me the confidence I needed to do a very complex job.”
2. Think long-term
“Be patient. Long-term work, not short-term work, will build stronger relationships and more meaningful work.”
3. Do what you know and love
“Do what you know, what you like, and what you’re good at. If you like your work, it’s easier to keep at it long-term.”
What’s next for Marek?
“I like what I’m doing and I’m not planning to look for another position. At the moment, my health allows me to do my job, but I suppose I’ll have to retire at some point. We’ll see!”
Thank you so much, Marek for sharing your story with us! We’re so glad you’re part of the team.
