Door Industry Journal - Winter 2024

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 22 THE door industry journal winter 2024 Industry News A New Leading Lady at Garador Sam Todd is named as Garador’s new Commercial Manager. Leading British garage door manufacturer Garador has just enhanced its management team with the appointment of Sam Todd as the company’s new Commercial Manager. Sam has been with the company since 1998 when she joined Garador after studying business at college. Working her way up through various roles, including as Customer Centre Manager and Internal Accounts Manager, Sam brings to her new position a wealth of hands-on experience. Now, as Garador’s Commercial Manager, Sam will be involved in a wide area of commercial aspects, including financial and growth strategies, and also supporting Garador’s national sales management team. Sam says she wouldn’t have progressed so far in her career without the support of Garador. “In my 26 years with the company, I have seen first-hand how training and flexibility can help all aspects of a workforce and business,” she said. “Garador supported me through adapting work requirements when my children were young, and also sponsoring further training for me; it was thanks to their support that I was able to return part time to college to obtain my HNC in Business and Finance.” In her years with the company Sam says one area of change that has been particularly noticeable has been the range of products. “Of course a lot of this change is thanks to advances in technology,” Sam said. “This has affected almost all parts of the company, from the new technically advanced paints that we use today, with their superb durability, finishes and depth of colour and the computer controlled machinery we use in our manufacturing and production processes right up to our communications with customers and even energy sourcing from the solar panels on the roof here. “It has all come in gradually, but looking back to when I first started, the changes in the company over the years have been really quite dramatic,” she added. Sam’s appointment will allow Garador’s Business Support Manager Emma Hannam the opportunity to focus on the future strategic direction of the business and the wider elements within the organisation, with ongoing support for the Sales and Commercial functions. “We are delighted with Sam’s new appointment,” said Emma. “Her experience with Garador will bring additional expertise into our current management team and we wish her every success in her new position”. Sam’s appointment as Garador’s new Commercial Manager adds to an already well-established management team with over 117 years of combined experience within the manufacturing industry. This move is sure to strengthen Garador’s existing management structure. From left to right: Iain Thompson Head of HR; 1 years’ service, Sam Todd Commercial Manager; 26 years’ service, Emma Hannam Business Support Manager; 35 years’ service, Martin Best Operations Manager; 36 years’ service, Jon Watson Managing Director; 1 years’ service. Crazy Colours for Garador Team A group of Garador employees joined forces recently to take part in a charity run in aid of their local St Margaret’s Hospice Care in Taunton. It was no ordinary run, though; this time, they did the event in fancy dress and, even more, were pelted with paint as they went along the course. They even had to mount various obstacles, such as a soft foam pit, before they reached the end of the 4k run. A member of the Garador team said: “It was just a lovely event and we all knew what a good cause it was for. The day was sunny and there was a lot of laughter along the way. We all ended up with rainbow clothes and coloured hair but also with a real sense of achievement.” Money is still coming in for St Margaret’s Hospice Care but with thousands of pounds already raised, the event has been declared a real success.

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