It’s time to feature another fantastic team member! This month, the spotlight falls on Ken Martin. Ken has been with Bourne’s Energy for three years now. He started as a fuel delivery driver, then two years ago, he trained for and earned his certification as a service technician. Now he drives in the winter and is a service tech in the summer.
April: Welcome, Ken, and congratulations on being named Employee of the Month! Let me start by saying it has been a rough winter. We can’t thank you enough for all your contributions and hard work.
Ken: That’s great, thank you. And yes, it really has!
April: I know you play multiple roles for us here at Bourne’s. Which is your favorite and why?
Ken: Probably the service side. I really like being able to problem-solve. It’s unfortunate when a customer doesn’t have heat or hot water and doesn’t know why. I like that they have us to support them and that I can fix that problem for them. People are always so grateful, and that feels good knowing I’ve made a difference and helped them out.
April: That’s pretty fantastic, actually. Tell me what you like best about working with Bourne’s Energy and what maybe differentiates us from previous employers. I believe you came from a national brand.
Ken: I did. What I like about Bourne’s is the camaraderie. The employees are great and Bourne’s really cares about their employees. It kinda feels like family here. And yes, this winter was rough, and I worked really hard. But the difference here is that I feel appreciated, and I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. I might be working long hours to deliver to as many customers as possible, but we have breaks, and they’re trying to do right by everyone. That wasn’t the case where I was before.
April: Tell me about Ken outside of work.
Ken: Well, I have a wife and two kids, ages two and three.
April: You’re really in the thick of it Ken! 🙂
Ken: I am! They keep me busy. I’m usually (or used to be!) a night owl, but the kids sure changed that!
April: Do you enjoy traveling, or has that gone on the wayside with the littles for a while?
Ken: No, we still enjoy traveling around to see family. In the summer, we like to visit family we have in Maine, New Hampshire, and Florida.
April: That sounds really great right about now, doesn’t it?! 🙂 OK, I always like to ask our Employees of the Month to share one thing they wish our customers or the community knew about their roles. Every single time I learn something new. So, what have you got for me?
Ken: Well, can I share two things? One for each role? On the delivery side…I’d really remind customers that our trucks are significantly larger than your vehicles and need a much larger turning radius. I hear customers all the time say “Oh I got up the drive with no problems” without realizing how much smaller their car is versus my truck. On the service side…. I’d just say that we really try to work as diligently as we can. Sometimes things come up that we just can’t avoid, and they cause us to be late or miss the arrival window. But trust me, the last thing we want is to frustrate a customer right before we visit you. So just try to remember we’re doing our best, but sometimes things happen. If an emergency arises, we have to help.
April: That’s really helpful info Ken. Great feedback. What about advice? We’re working hard to encourage young people to enter the trades and to support more of them as they do so. What advice would you give someone considering this industry?
Ken: I’d say, if you have the opportunity, start small. Small businesses, local businesses tend to be more personal. They give you more opportunities to work your way up. Also, get your CDL license, even if you want to be a service tech. There’s a lot of opportunity out there.
April: Fantastic advice, Ken. Ok, I’ve taken up enough of your time this morning. Thank you for speaking with me, and congratulations again on being named Employee of the Month. We really appreciate everything you do here and how hard you’ve worked this winter. I hope you have lots of cuddles with your little ones and fun travel ahead this summer!