"Perfect" employee delivers sage advice
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Tony Simoni Driver, Maintenance Supervisor Empire Snow Removal Marlboro, NY |
Brian Greve, co-owner of Empire Snow Removal with Vinny DiLeonardo, was flummoxed by the All-Stars entry form word limit: “How do you explain in 200 words or less how important your mechanic/welder/fabricator/supervisor and member of your management team fits into your business? How do you explain how someone who can work 100 hours in a week is important?”
Still, we’re glad he was up to the task for Tony Simoni, who has been with Empire for five years. “Tony is the personification of a perfect employee; to say that he is hardworking is an understatement—he is a machine!” Greve says. And with all that diligence comes a level of expertise and understanding of day-to-day issues, he adds, so that when the company makes decisions, it turns to Simoni for his insights and opinions.
For example, he says, Simoni accompanies Greve and DiLeonardo on all equipment purchases, including auctions. His input, based on his experience and industry knowledge, is invaluable, Greve says. “Tony brings a complete package to any organization, and Empire is honored to have him as an employee,” Greve concludes. “When we are all old and tell stories to our grandchildren, Tony Simoni will definitely be in them!”
Wikke keeps Ontario company moving
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Christian Wikke |
George Griffith, owner of Griffith Property Services, can’t say enough about Christian Wikke’s work ethic and understanding of the snow & ice business. “He knows to have equipment ready for snowfall or removal without even telling him,” Griffith says of Wikke, who’s been with the company for eight years. “He may stay late getting equipment ready for the snowplowing session, and then be in again before dawn, as we all know how equipment can break down at any time.”
For example, several years ago, Richmond Hill experienced about a 12-in. snowfall in a mere three hours. “It was Dec. 23, and we were going crazy,” Griffith recalls. “When you get that type of snowfall, everything you have is working 24, 48, 72 hours. Christian was keeping us on the road with very little time off. He did not see much of a Christmas break that year, as he was managing breakdowns and keeping everything moving from a maintenance point of view.”
But Wikke saw that the event was kept under control, with nary a complaint, Griffith notes: “He always seems to pull through for us and keep us working.”
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William Bryan |
“William is as dependable as they come,” notes Brett McCurdy, owner of BAM’s Landscaping, about William Bryan, who has been with him since 2008. “He makes sure to finish every task in a way that the client feels they got what they paid for, and then some.”
McCurdy points out that Bryan not only takes pride in his work, but also owns up to the occasional mistake—and tries to learn from it. “He will go back on his own time to make it right,” McCurdy says. “He constantly learns how to become more efficient about both the landscaping and snow removal industries.”
