5 MINUTES WITH… MICHELLE NICOLAI

Our children live in New Zealand. We became residents in 2021 and are very happy to be almost ‘half-way’ to becoming citizens. We just bought our first house in Dunedin which I’m thrilled about.

What gives you a buzz about your role?

I’m very honoured to be a part of such a prestigious company. This is a new chapter in my career - I love learning and absorbing new product information.

What’s the best thing about your team?

Their skill and knowledge is fantastic. They’re very committed and loyal to the company and I’m fortunate to have such an abundant wealth of information around me.

Welcome Michelle as our recently appointed Regional Branch Manager for Otago to head our Allanton (Dunedin), Ranfurly, and Wanaka branches.

Michelle has significant international experience in sales, branch, and regional management and since moving with family to New Zealand has worked for Gough CAT and Norwood. Michelle loves learning, is fascinated by people and holds a degree in Psychology and Counselling and a diploma in Management Development, along with numerous industry qualifications.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m South African by birth and cut my teeth in the construction industry straight out of school. I worked in the construction / heavy industry until 2018 when I was offered a role at Terra Cat Power Systems (formerly Gough Power Systems) in Palmerston North while holidaying there with my husband.

Which Our Way speaks to you the most, and why?

All of them:

In It Together means TEAM — Together Everyone Achieves More.

Keep Growing - no one wants to stagnate personally and professionally.

Front Up - be honest, be transparent be real. Say ‘I do not know but would love to learn’.

What do you do when you’re not at work?

I love art and Moroccan and Middle Eastern cooking after having worked in those countries. (My son-in-law wants to enter me in My Kitchen Rules!)

What’s on your bucket list?

To take my husband to all the Middle East places I’ve been to several times. I love the culture – the sociopolitical climate is intriguing, the landscape is so different (mostly desert), and the food is amazing.

Canterbury Team Pulls Out All The Stops To Deliver To Customers

The global shipping crisis has widely impacted our teams working hard to support customers. There’s been plenty of In It Together along with Front Up conversations and solutions to help our farmers get what they needed when they needed it.

General Manager of CLAAS Harvest Centre Canterbury, Tom Denton says their combine shipment normally arrives late October/early November so the team has time to ready the machines for the upcoming harvest.

Despite this shipment arriving 15 January, Tom says the team still “rose to the occasion” and delivered 20 new combines to our customers before 3 February.

“This is nothing short of remarkable, considering the short amount of time they had to prepare and deliver the machines to farms across the country.”

Tom attributes that extraordinary result to customer commitment, hard work and attention to detail. With a big thanks to everyone involved, Tom says, “the farmers now have the best equipment to get the job done efficiently and effectively.”