Thanks for taking your eyes off Scott Douglas of DVS for a minute, you’ll have to read on to see just what he’s doing in that photograph.
Well, that’s it the summer is over; I hope you had a great time? I went and hired a villa in Turkey, which is owned by Ian Galloway who works for the distributor Anixter. He hires it out so I highly recommend it if you are looking for a villa break. The Villa Serenity it’s called. On the stunning coastline of Göcek. That’s what the website says but I say it as well. The website also says it has a private pool and breathtaking views and is a short walk from a marina and I can tell you that’s all correct too. But meanwhile I hope you are ready for those shivery dark nights and don’t forget there aren’t that many shopping days to Christmas!? As usual we have not had a quiet summer as a few people have decided to seek new opportunities, so if you don’t know then here we go.
Canada swap
Mark Novak has resigned from Senstar after nearly five years and so is swapping one Canadian company for another; and it’s not everyone who can say that. He is joining Avigilon to run the A&E bit for Europe. What does that mean? Architects and engineers which basically means that Mark is going to be out there with all those types of guys getting the company cameras specified into those big jobs. Mark has spent a lot of time travelling and told me that he had spent something like 80 days in the air flying around the world in the last year and therefore thought it was time to change. He has lots of air miles though! Likewise Bryan Osborne has joined DVS as director of operations. Now Bryan used to work along side me at Imigix, and more recently he was over at Wavestore, in fact I remember being in the offices in Cardiff with him during 9-11, I was getting ‘phone calls saying, put the TV on as those ‘planes were crashing into the World Trade Center. We had a TV but no aerial, so Bryan wired the TV up to the false ceiling and we had a great picture, who needs aerials eh? That I think tells you what you need to know about him ie that he is very resourceful. He lives in Wales so DVS is just right for them and he also runs an audio-visual hire business if you ever need lights, sound or music (for when you go on a villa break!?).
DVS double
As I said last month DVS are busy expanding. A new much bigger office-cum-warehouse that I visited the other night which is very nice to be honest. Doubling their staff numbers, these guys are certainly making waves in the industry. I have got to say when DVS do things they tend to do it right. The night was primarily a staff party to celebrate the company’s success, with a few VIPs thrown into the mix. They had a band playing, a bucking bronco ride, a hog roast, a bungee running thing, a free bar all night and lots of cakes, and all this was in the new warehouse next to the £3m of stock; all the stock wasn’t there yet but it was on its way! I think the point for me was the team spirit at the party, every one seems to be totally committed to the company and especially to Scott and Shaun, the company’s two founders, and when it was time to go Scott threw himself on the car bonnet pleading with me not to leave, as you can see from this pic …. ahhh! And don’t worry, I did wait for him to get off the bonnet before I drove home.
About Alison
I mentioned in August that Alison Gallagher was on a temporary basis working for iComply; it seems that has been made more permanent. Not sure if she reports to hubby Mike but that could be interesting. Bet she wears the trousers at home though!? I know she does, I follow her on Facebook, not in a stalking sort of way you understand.
UK sales
I am also told that Genetec have appointed a new UK sales manager to replace Simon Barnes as he was promoted like I mentioned last month. Now I am sworn to secrecy as to who that is but can tell you he starts on October 1 and I am sure he will be an asset to the company.
In the north
Karen Churchill has joined Xtralis as regional sales manager for the north of England. Karen brings over 20 years experience in security manufacturing to the role as well as a background in electronic engineering. More recently, she worked at Synectics; she started in our industry in 1991 for Interlogic, weren’t they bought by GE?
Charity
Colin Burgess at Samsung Techwin Europe is asked you if I can help his wife promote a ‘Let’s rebuild Nepal’ project. You will remember that earlier this year the country suffered an earthquake. I understand that Sarah ([email protected]) is organising the trip on a non-profit basis. For five days they will be building one or more houses for families in the Kathmandu valley for those that lost their homes. Perhaps she needs to show some English builders how to build a house in England that fast!
And last but not least John Davies, MD of TDSi in Poole is running the Bournemouth Marathon on October 4, in aid of the local hospice Julia’s House. Donate here: www.justgiving.com/John-Davies46/.
