Craig Slobodian started working for Redhead Equipment 26 years ago as
the assistant controller focusing on accounting, payroll, and some human resources
duties. The company was much smaller back then, under 100 employees and the
position covered a lot of ground. He then became the regional sales manager for
Southern Saskatchewan, and has since become the Corporate Sales Manager for
Construction.

When Craig talks about life in sales he says the day to day can be unpredictable.

“We get surprises daily, customers get new jobs, have breakdowns and changes, we’re busy every day and things can change drastically by the end of the day. One of the bigger challenges of his role is being able to adapt under pressure with the ever changing customers. Some people need to have a plan, however the group we have in sales seem to work pretty well in panic mode and are able to adapt in pressure situations.”

Craig stated regarding the challenges the sales team faces. The daily challenges are all worthwhile though, knowing our equipment and service is satisfactory to our customers, and how we partake in their business success. Craig says:

“There is satisfaction knowing our equipment was a part of something great like the recent by-pass construction.”

The tagline “Whatever It Takes”, used by RedHead, is demonstrated daily and Craig remembers a time when he and a colleague made a part out of a hockey puck for a customer when they couldn’t find the part they needed in time for the fix.

At the question about why he has stayed with Redhead for so many years and he said it’s a family culture he answered:

“The staff and customers feel like family, lots of friendships are made, its way more than a business.”

Quick questions:

Redhead Equipment is celebrating 70 Years, why do you think the company has been around so long?

“We’re different because we’re a big company that still functions like a little company. The personal touch and feel we use when working with customers, we’re very creative.”

What does Redhead mean to you?

“It’s more than a job, feels like family, and having an employer that gives back at the level they do with Gary’s leadership, it’s a very respectable company and a great place to work”.

Do you have any advice for employees new to Redhead Equipment?

“There is a ton of experience here in these walls, rely on your team and learn from them. Build relationships and lean on others for support”.

Do you have a favourite place to visit?

“Phoenix, Arizona”

If you have an hour of spare time, what do you find yourself doing?

“Sometimes I play video games, however I’m usually spending time with the family and kids”.

Source: RedHead Equipment

The post [Job story] Craig Slobodian from RedHead Equipment appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

When asked to describe his role as if to a child, Richard says its “Kind of like being a parent I guess, managing the people in the shops and ensuring work is being completed. I have 4 really good Foreman that help me in each division that I oversee and help me and I help them in each area.” We asked Richard about some of the challenges of his role and he said “keeping everyone happy, from upper management, to the people on the ground can be challenging.” When asked what the biggest reward is, he said working at Redhead is a reward, “the company is very accommodating to your personal lifestyle and I really appreciate that.”

When asked what he thinks of our tag line “Whatever It takes” he said “I think it’s always been a part of our brand even before it was our tagline. A while back, there was a paver that was down once, and we needed a part. I got the answer, the part was stuck in customs in Calgary, and I was on the phone for over 2 hours trying to figure out why, and it was a fax to release the part that got lost. After getting the part released, I got hold of
our pilots, and they went to Calgary and picked up the part and flew it to Saskatoon for the customer. When I called a cab to transport the part to the airport, and they wouldn’t take my credit card over the phone, so I ended up calling a limo service and they picked up the part and drove it the 4 blocks down the street to the airport. After all of that we did get the unit up and running that night;” sharing an example of how at Redhead we do Whatever It
Takes for our customers in need.

Richard also mentioned that the great people and work environment make coming to work enjoyable and the company accommodating to employee needs on and off the job is very valuable.

What advice would you give someone starting a career with Redhead Equipment?

Work to the best of your ability. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake, own it, admit it, move on and learn from it.

Tell me something interesting about working at Redhead Equipment.

I was on the Case Service Advisory Board for a few years and got to travel all over the United States and meet other smaller locations and other Service Managers and Service People.

What do you find yourself doing in your free-time?

I read and catch up on news, or I’m usually driving kids to sports.

Source: Redhead Equipment

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Mobility. Being able to drive your excavator to various segments on a road job can be a huge time and money saver. First, you can reduce your reliance on a lowboy, which eliminates extra equipment, labor and time spent loading and unloading a machine. An additional benefit is that operators do not need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) — as they do with some trucks used for hauling and with truck-mounted excavators — allowing the same person who operates the excavator drive it. When it comes to Volvo wheeled excavators, most can hit up to 22 mph on the road and can tow a trailer with attachments or pipe, another way to reduce transport costs.

Maneuverability. A short swing wheeled excavator can work in one lane of traffic, while a comparable conventional swing machine may require closing two lanes. Outriggers and the choice of a medium- or heavy-duty undercarriage give stability on par with tracked excavators, so you are not sacrificing reach or lifting and digging performance. The EWR150E and EWR170E are two short swing excavators from Volvo that are great options for roadwork — both able to work within a single lane or on a shoulder, in many cases. At 67.7 inches, the EWR150 has the shortest radius of any Tier 4 Final wheeled excavator on the market.

Flexible configuration. A wheeled excavator, unlike a truck-mounted excavator, can be outfitted with a range of arm and attachment options to meet the requirements of the job. The versatility of the two-piece boom allows operators to easily transition from placing a jersey barrier to digging a trench to laying a culvert and cleaning up the work site with the front blade. The do-all capabilities allow you to handle multiple tasks on a road job without bringing in additional equipment. And the possibilities are limitless with attachments. For instance, watch how an Alabama county uses an EW180E wheeled excavator to cut trees and clear brush along miles of roadway without damaging the asphalt.

Lower price, better performance than truck-mounted excavators. Volvo wheeled excavators typically have a lower purchase price than truck-mounted excavators. While the truck-mounted excavator can offer highway speeds, wheeled excavators bring much more to the table when it comes to doing the job. Volvo wheeled excavators provide greater lifting capacity and breakout force than comparably sized truck-mounted excavators, plus improved visibility and the ability to rotate 360 degrees. Visibility is critical for maintaining safety in a busy work environment with nearby traffic and pedestrians. Rear view and side view cameras come standard on Volvo wheeled excavators. Plus, you can choose to add Volvo Smart View, which gives the operator a bird’s-eye view of the machine in real time.

Source: redheadequipment.ca product news

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