I started as a service technician at Stentofon (Commend's big competitor) and a few years later as a project manager at CTC in the CCTV (camera) business. At both companies I learned a lot and I still carry this baggage with me to this day in a positive way.
In February 1998, I received a call from Arend Boekhoudt. He had been my direct supervisor at CTC and he had made the move to WPS (Parking Systems). They were looking for someone in inside sales. I told him I wasn't interested because I didn't want to work exclusively inside but rather in a combination of inside and outside work. He advised me to come and talk to Eric Smulders and Hans Wernaart, who were both in charge at WPS at the time. That conversation was on the Friday before Carnival. The conversation was extremely pleasant and I agreed to the transfer, on the condition that I could also leave quickly after my induction period. I was also eager to get everything on paper before I quit CTC, because right after Carnival I had to go hand in my resignation letter. Getting that WPS paper done was easier said than done. Eric and Hans didn't feel the need to do it themselves because they were going to celebrate carnival, so Arend just had to make half an A4 sheet, in which the most important things like salary, function and the number of days off were laid down. That wasn't the end of it, because Eric had to be brought out of the pub during the carnival period to sign it. In the end, it all worked out in time and on May 1, 1998, I was able to start at WPS, where I enjoyed working for many years and eventually ended up as sales manager.
When Eric started IP Parking in 2005, I stayed with WPS for another year and then spent a few years trying to set up a bicycle parking business. I succeeded in part, but the big expansion I expected did not happen. During that period, I always kept in touch with Eric; we spoke a few times a year. In 2011, IP Parking had been on the road for a few years, and they were looking for a sales manager. After a few nights' sleep, I decided to make the switch and was back on my "old nest", as IP Parking employed a number of former WPS employees. The only little bit exciting for me was that I was coming to work under Jimmy, which was new to me. I didn't know him very well and couldn't really tell beforehand if we would click. Fortunately we clicked very quickly, which is why I still enjoy working for IP Parking.
In recent years we have been very successful and have grown very rapidly, with some growing pains at times. As management, we always try to respond to this as best we can by hiring and training new people in a timely manner. When I started at IP Parking we had just over 10 employees. I am very proud that we are now the largest parking company in the Netherlands. We have really earned that with our innovative attitude, hard work and good teamwork.
My motto: work hard and have fun to make a good living !
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