Role at POPES: Remove the barriers that prevent our team from providing the best service experience possible. Favourite customer service experience: Hand delivering an order to the Australian Embassy in Beijing (talk about going the extra mile!) Interests: My wife and 3 kids, Belconnen Magpies Football Club in local AFL, endurance sports, learning new things What I love about Canberra: The change of seasons Canberra’s best kept secret: The Lantern Rooms, Campbell Shops My AFL & NRL teams are: Carlton Blues & Canberra Raiders My mother always told me: To wear a singlet. Favourite song: A day in the life – The Beatles Something people may not know: I love my iPhone!
Natasha Williams
Accounts Assistant
Role at POPES: Assisting accounts manager with all accounts Favourite customer service experience: Helping an elderly customer with everything for her installation as she did not understand and got very confused. Interests: 4 Wheel Driving, Camping, Fishing, Going down the coast, Traveling, My twin nieces, Footy, V8’s What I love about Canberra: My Family and close friends are here Canberra’s best kept secret: Tharwa Sandwash My AFL & NRL teams are: Fremantle Dockers, South Sydney Rabbitohs and QLD Maroons My mother always told me: Treat people how you want to be treated… Favourite song: Shine your light – Robbie Robertson Something people may not know: I love putting smiles on peoples faces
Ted Hanily
Storeman/Delivery Driver
Role at POPES: To deliver goods on time and in good condition Favourite customer service experience: I like it when a customer says ‘Gee that’s great service I just got off the phone’ Interests: Family, fishing, racing What I love about Canberra: Its close proximity to the sea and the mountains Canberra’s best kept secret: The National Archives My AFL & NRL teams are: Hawthorne and Cowboys My mother always told me: Eat your bloody greens Favourite song: Any country song Something people may not know: I lived in New York for 12 months and loved it
Arna Walker
Accounts Manager
Role at POPES: Crunching numbers and counting beans Favourite customer service experience: Visiting a client who owned a lodge at Perisher to discuss their account Interests: Skiing, Family, Friends, Fitness, Food, Books What I love about Canberra: Open spaces and the seasons Canberra’s best kept secret: How easy it is to live here My AFL & NRL teams are: What? Who? My mother always told me: Stand up straight Favourite song: Bat out of Hell (Album) – Meatloaf Something people may not know: I love fresh tomatoes and cracked black pepper on peanut butter toast.
Daniel Gowing
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Assist others and complete all aspects of my role to the best of my ability Favourite customer service experience: Interests: Bboying, the Universe/Planet Earth What I love about Canberra: Scenic views – Lake Burley Griffin and Red Hill Canberra’s best kept secret: Tulip Lounge – Manuka My AFL & NRL teams are: Don’t follow AFL, Raiders/Cronulla Sharks My mother always told me: Be good to your mum Favourite song: I Love Music – O’Jays Something people may not know: Human beings are multi dimensional
Riley Banks
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: To satisfy every customers needs Favourite customer service experience: Doing deliveries out of hours to make sure the customer get’s his job done Interests: Eating, Sleeping, Music What I love about Canberra: Get the best of every season Canberra’s best kept secret: There is a nude beach at Kambah Pool My AFL & NRL teams are: Sydney Swans, Canterbury Bulldogs My mother always told me: To brush my teeth Favourite song: Tie me Kangaroo Down Sport – Rolf Harris Something people may not know: Every person has a unique tongue print
Roman Demkowski
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Sell Favourite customer service experience: Getting back to customers with answers Interests: Gardening and music What I love about Canberra: Tranquility Canberra’s best kept secret: Filthy McFaddens My AFL & NRL teams are: Carlton and Raiders My mother always told me: Be honest Favourite song: Stairway to Heaven Something people may not know: Supported Cold Chisel
Rob Wozniak
Mitchell Branch Manager
Role at POPES: Co-ordinate and assist the Mitchell sales team in providing high quality service to our customers Favourite customer service experience: Making new and current customers feel welcome whenever they walk into our store. Interests: Watching sport, movies, gardening, fishing What I love about Canberra: The great educational, cultural and sporting opportunities Canberra’s best kept secret: Dragon boat racing My AFL & NRL teams are: Sydney Swans, South Sydney Rabbitohs My mother always told me: Eat your veggies Favourite song: Thick as a brick – Jethro Tull (Extended version) Something people may not know: I have level 4 coaching qualifications in both athletics and soccer. I also coached baseball.
Gary Harrison
Fyshwick Branch Manager
Role at POPES: To plan, organise, direct and control work in line with organisational strategy Favourite customer service experience: Driving to Sydney and back at 2am on a weekend to pick up an urgent order for a customer. Interests: Family, Sport, Egyptian History. What I love about Canberra: The weather Canberra’s best kept secret: The Flute bakery in Fyshwick My AFL & NRL teams are: West Coast Eagles. My mother always told me: To put sunscreen on before I went out side. Favourite song: Mistress for Christmas – AC/DC Something people may not know: I survived cancer.
Brendan Ryan
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Ensuring that the flow of stock in and out of the store is as fast and efficient as possible. Favourite customer service experience: Carrying 500m of hardwood decking down a battle-axe driveway for one very grateful customer. Interests: Zombies, Warhammer, Music, Horror Movies,
Cthulhu Mythos and Comics.
Oh and Maggie. What I love about Canberra: The maze like qualities of it suburbs. Canberra’s best kept secret: The Dumpling House in Civic (near UniLodge) My AFL & NRL teams are: AFL: Greater Western Sydney. NRL: Eastern Suburbs My mother always told me: To get a haircut Favourite song: Casmir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens Something people may not know: I was raised in Kakadu National Park.
Mick Barry
Sales Manager
Role at POPES: Overall sales & business development of our 3 branches through our existing and new customer base. Favourite customer service experience: Taking 10 of our customers to a weekend fishing trip to Bermagui and experiencing the enjoyment and appreciation of our customers that came along. Interests: Looking after my 3 girls/keeping them happy, Keeping fit and active, Photography/Photographing lightning, not many people know how to do that. What I love about Canberra: Its central location / Restaurants / Autumn colours. Canberra’s best kept secret: Zierholz Brewery in Fyshwick. My AFL & NRL teams are: Sydney City Roosters My mother always told me: Eat up all of your dinner and you will grow up big and strong just like your brothers. I never ate all of my dinner. Favourite song: BB King/Eric Clapton “ Rock me Baby “ Something people may not know: I am running my third City 2 Surf next year and “will” achieve my third consecutive personal best time. 3 Years 3 PB’s.
Shaun Sonee
Storeman/Delivery Driver
Role at POPES: To deliver and serve the POPES customers to my full potential Favourite customer service experience: When I drove past a customer on the side of the road who had a flat tire so I pulled over and helped them change it. Interests: Sports (oztag indoor/outdoor soccer), NRL, Cars, Motor bike riding, Drawing, Fishing, don’t mind the tattoo here and there, and that’s about it. Oh and my partner!!! What I love about Canberra: It’s so small and cute!!! Canberra’s best kept secret: The bar at the old parliament house. My AFL & NRL teams are: AFL: West Coast Eagles. NRL: The All Mighty Brisbane Broncos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mother always told me: Stop peeing on the floor. Favourite song: Anything, I don’t have a favourite. Something people may not know: Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark’s stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.
Ricky Byrne
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Customer Service / Purchasing Favourite customer service experience: I was told not to worry about a 50 cent phone call to a customer we won’t get his work. 3 years later they are now one of our bigger customers. (Everyone is worth a call.) Interests: My partner Tracie, rugby league, horse racing (punting) What I love about Canberra: So many opportunities to make something of yourself. Canberra’s best kept secret: Delissio restaurant & bar in Curtin. a++++++ My AFL & NRL teams are: Collingwood & Newcastle Knights My mother always told me: Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Favourite song: Crackling Rose – Neil Diamond. Something people may not know: Newcastle Knights will take out the comp in the next two years.
Christiaan Sep
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Overall Sales Favourite customer service experience: Interests: Playing in a band, music, rugby league, football, hanging out with mates What I love about Canberra: It’s nice and quiet but there is still lots to do.
Good place to raise a family. Canberra’s best kept secret: The Pot Belly, Belconnen My AFL & NRL teams are: Canberra Raiders & GWS My mother always told me: Treat people as you would like to be treated Favourite song: Run to the Hills – Iron Maiden Something people may not know: When I was 17 I used to be in a boy band
Zac Trenka
Storeman/Delivery driver
Role at POPES: Deliveries, internal sales Favourite customer service experience: Interests: Band promoting, NRL, working on cars, my son What I love about Canberra: The nightlight Canberra’s best kept secret: The Basement – Belconnen heavy metal pub My AFL & NRL teams are: Storm My mother always told me: To confront my problems Favourite song: Snuff – Slipknot Something people may not know: I have my own band promotion company
Adam Wheelens
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Sales Favourite customer service experience: All of them Interests: My family, Homebrew, Gardening What I love about Canberra: Good place to raise a family Canberra’s best kept secret: The George My AFL & NRL teams are: Carlton and Melbourne Storm My mother always told me: To wear clean undies Favourite song: Anything U2 Something people may not know: Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy
Nathan Williams
Internal Sales
Role at POPES: Customer Service Favourite customer service experience: Customers being very thankful for the service you provided them. Interests: Rugby League, Motorcycle Racing What I love about Canberra: For a city – Its very clean and easy to get around Canberra’s best kept secret: Fairbairn park My AFL & NRL teams are: Bombers and Parra My mother always told me: To respect my elders Favourite song: Endless Summer – Jezabels Something people may not know: I won a year 9 spelling test when I was in year 3!!
Adam Hughes
Project Sales / Estimator
Role at POPES: To provide a fast and reliable service for your project requirements. Favourite customer service experience: Working out the little things that are important to the customer and delivering. Interests: Movies, Music, My family What I love about Canberra: The weather / Different seasons Canberra’s best kept secret: Popes (of course) My AFL & NRL teams are: Collingwood & Broncos My mother always told me: Treat others the way you want to be treated yourself. Favourite song: Anything really….. Something people may not know: I have two dogs. One is named Charlie and the other is named Indie.
Steve Quilter
Phillip Branch Manager
Role at POPES: Provide service and support to everyone involved within the Electrical industry. Favourite customer service experience: Getting a call out on a Sunday and opening the store for contractor that didn’t shop with Popes at the time. Interests: My Family, sports, outdoors, Wakeboarding. What I love about Canberra: Great place to live and raise a family. Canberra’s best kept secret: Just out of Canberra, The Royal Tara restaurant. My AFL & NRL teams are: Panthers, and any team who is playing Carlton. My mother always told me: No you can’t have the day off school. Favourite song: Toby Keith, How do you like me now. Something people may not know: Chuck Norris is the real reason why George Michael is never gonna dance again.
