I AM DYNACO: PATRICIA AERTS

I AM DYNACO: PATRICIA AERTS

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT MANAGER

A combination of enthusiasm, smarts and warmth: Patricia Aerts breathes Dynaco’s values of empowerment, integrity and innovation. She was there in the early years and - at 63 - she still is. At the top of her game as Dynaco’s Commercial Support Manager, but most of all, a woman that knows the company inside out and is always happy to share. Especially about how to stay curious and open.

“Everything interests me. That is why I work for Dynaco”  

INTEGRITY: OPEN EN DIRECT COMMUNICATION

Patricia first arrived at Dynaco in 1995, when it was still a young company. With a background in languages and sales, she started as a receptionist. Ad interim. But soon, her open attitude, fast brain and practical mindset got noticed and she moved to a position as a commercial assistant.

“It was hectic,” she describes “I had only been there for a few weeks and now I was processing orders for doors I knew very little about. Some weekends I would come and bring my husband to help me with the administration.” But Patricia got the job done - as she does. “Everything interests me. And there was always someone you could ask or who could help you. Dynaco has such an open culture, still to this day. Even though we have grown so much, and are still growing, that openness has made it all go smoothly. From colleagues, to partners and management: we all value transparent communication.

“Honest, direct, but respectful of each other.

That is how I like to work.”

EMPOWERMENT: NO PLAN, BUT LOTS OF IDEAS

It is not only this sense of integrity that Patricia shares with Dynaco, she is a firm believer in empowerment as well. After all, she is living proof. Over the years she has grown from assistant to manager, from administration to the technical side and back. Constantly learning, forever asking questions and connecting with teammates and clients.

“Dynaco always takes people into consideration.

Their talents, their ambitions, their ideas.”

“After a few years at the sales department, Patricia was invited to cross over to the after-sales side. A technical and hectic job, but Patricia changes gear easily and fast. “Dynaco helps you find your path, makes you grow. Keeps you interested. My problem is that I always say ‘yes’ when they offer me something new” (laughs) “Anything and everything interests me, and if you are enthusiastic about it, that comes across. That is one of Dynaco’s strengths. We believe in what we do, we are passionate about it.”

Once she had helped grow the technical department into a more service-oriented way, Patricia went back to sales for a while. And then back to the after-sales side. Gradually growing into a more senior role, from purely organising to mentoring and training others. “Dynaco really realises that a company’s strength lies in its people. We are not pigeon-holed here, you don’t get a label. And that helps to empower people.”

“Integration is so important, especially now that we are part of a larger group, with people from all over the world. You have to make your colleagues feel like they belong, wherever they are or are coming from. That doesn’t happen so much through big gestures, but in daily interaction. Ask someone how they are doing, invite them to lunch when they are new. Show interest, offer help.”

“Empowerment is real here. Dynaco loves nurturing talent.“

Your input is always valued. We still have that start-up company mindset and that is why I am still here, after so many years. We grow organically, because we let our employees do the same. Knowledge is something you build, relationships form over years. And talent only grows. That is why we not only provide internal trainings, but external ones, for our dealers and partners.”

INNOVATION: ALWAYS AHEAD, FROM THE BEGINNING

Growth, but in an organic way. Sustainably. That is what Dynaco stands for. Always AHEAD, in how we do business and what we design. According to Patricia it has been part of Dynaco’s DNA since the very beginning.

“Sustainability is the new buzzword nowadays, but at Dynaco we have been striving for it since the beginning. It is the whole philosophy behind our work. Even though some of our doors are PVC, they were designed to be durable and last a long time. But we are not complacent, we keep improving things. Part of our PVC is now being recycled, for instance. We always stay ahead of the curve, with our ADM technology for instance. And the DYNALOGIC5. Totally unique, on a world scale. And it has been invented here, in Moorsel.”

“I think that sometimes we keep too quiet and humble about what we can do. We have every right to be very proud. Throughout my career I have felt that way. That we have a product that nobody else has. You never put another product down, that is not what being proud is about. But you share your belief and enthusiasm, about what you achieved as a team.”

“When people ask me about my career advice, I tell them there is just 3 simple questions you need to ask yourself:

• Do I (still) love my job?
  
• Do I (still) enjoy coming to work?
• Do I (still) like being around my colleagues?

“Things will work themselves out when your answer is yes. That is my attitude to life: if you persist in being positive, the rest will stop being negative.”

Inspired to become one of the Dynaco team, just like Patricia? Check out our job openings and internships via https://www.dynacodoor.com/en/about-us/job-offers