GEORGE DAVIES TURF - Key Persons
Big Dave is the longest serving team member at GDT joining at a time when the tea and coffee round was a lot smaller - he was the start of the team in a way. He has done everything within the business throughout his GDT career from picking orders, and handwriting invoices (yes, he really is that old…) and dealing with our ever-growing customer base developing key relationships with suppliers and clients alike. He took over the planning and logistics system when George went on a holiday and never gave it back. He has developed it from pencil, paper and abacus system capable of handling 800k rolls of turf a year, to a state of the art bespoke computer program that can service 1.5m rolls plus. Dave's dry sense of humour make him a firm favourite with the team and suppliers, and his ability to consume tea by the bucket is legendary at Tetley. His deep sense of commitment and ownership and communication skills make him the rock of GDT.
Darren started his GDT career in St Albans working under Freddie (never somewhere you would want to find yourself). Darren proved his worth, handling huge volumes of customer collections and in bound deliveries, he worked tirelessly to serve customers and promote the St Albans depot. Darren now finds himself based at head office, where he is demonstrating his true value. He has worked closely with George digitally analysing sales and marketing data. Darren is the driving force behind an overhaul of our website and the development of a new turf ordering app. He has been responsible for a large technology uptake within the business.
Job Titles:
- Sales & Customer Service Administrator
Dawn arrived at the beginning of the year, searching for a new challenge. Well reporting to Freddie, challenged she will be! Dawn has settled in quickly and has been a trainer's dream and soon endeared herself to the primary consumer of tea when she declared she also adds the milk first! Dawn will be bringing energy and enthusiasm and call on a wealth of customer service experience to help her build some great customer relationships. Dawn said she was attracted by the prospect of the grass being greener well at least she's in the right industry. Dawn will fit in really well with the team!
Freddie joined GDT in 2013 as a driver, and soon raised the service levels provided with our deliveries, making him a real customer favourite. Freddie's knowledge of the haulage industry and vehicle compliance elevated his status to fleet manager. Freddie would be known to most as the depot manager of St Albans, where he oversaw the introduction of artificial turf to the company. He now draws on his experience of the landscape industry to head up the sales team and oversee the day to day running of the company. Freddie is integral to the running of GDT, and has pushed the company to make many technological advances.
Job Titles:
- Sales & Customer Service Administrator
Jo has joined the GDT team for 2024 to bolster the customer service and sales teams. She brings with her a wealth of experience in office administration and she's already settled in nicely having come from an adjacent industry. Jo is always smiling and this warmth and confidence is even evident down the phone when talking to you. Her role will be very customer focused and she describes herself as often finding herself in the right place at the right time. This was very apparent as the first thing she learned was the tea/coffee round for the team - what a star! Jo has a 15 year old son and enjoys yoga to relax. So you can fully expect her to be handing out mini yoga lessons on the lawn once she is settled in, one of her targets will be to see if she can teach Freddie how to touch his toes. We at GDT expect great things from her and we can't wait to see her journey with us, and we hope you love working with her as much as we do.
Job Titles:
- Product Specialist and Sales Person
Jo arrived to us in spring 2021 and although she had no industry related experience, she made it her business to learn quickly and become the go to person on the phones. Jo always brings energy and enthusiasm to any task she takes on and has struck up some great relationships with our customers. Jo has focused on work with the golf courses we supply, and has also managed to attract some new courses as well. Jo is involved in in-house training and has become a key part of the office development. She's also our resident party planner, if there is a good time to be had she will be right at the front making sure it all goes according to plan!
Job Titles:
- Olney Yard Manager & Planning and Logistics Assistant
Joanna joined the sales team with no experience of telephone sales, but her desire to succeed and her bubbly personality shone through and she was able to win over the customers. Since then, she has progressed to take control of the yard in Olney, bringing efficiency and organisation to collections. Now working in planning and logistics Joanna is getting to grips with a new planning system. Joanna is very popular with customers and her peers; she loves to look after the team and provides breakfast for them every Friday morning.
Job Titles:
- Accounts and Credit Control
Julie came into the business and immediately implemented controls and accountability, she has bought order and organisation. Working closely with George, Julie always has headline data available and has contributed massively to improvements in this area of the business. Julie is also responsible for software integration with the SAGE accounting platform she uses. As well as her own role, Julie has offered a huge amount of support to the sales team and has often covered a sales role as well as her own job. Julie's sense of fun definitely breaks the mould for the accounts department.
Job Titles:
- St Albans Depot Assistant
Chris has joined the GDT family this September. His role as driver will see him cut his teeth in the industry delivering across our customer base from building sites to residential properties. His easy smile and fantastic customer service will be huge assets for him as he is one of the faces you will see day in and day out on the front lines for us. Chris comes to us after a career driving Ambulances for the NHS. Although his new ride doesn't come with blue flashing lights, you can still expect your deliveries on time! His cool head and composure under pressure will undoubtedly serve him well on his new path. Team member spotlight: Chris' Case Study
Liam joined the team at the turn of the year, he has already made a big IMPACT in the yard which is not surprising with him being an ex-prop forward for a local rugby team. Liam is a big dog enthusiast, with two Dachshunds, he comes to us with a lot of experience, so we will be hoping his pedigree shines through. A keen gardener Liam will be well placed in the yard to offer help and advice to our customers, whilst nurturing and cultivating some great relationships.
Matt was introduced to the company initially in a supporting role to help cope with the volume of collections from the St Albans depot. During 2020 Matt worked alone for long periods of time due to the effects of Covid, he coped with a record volume of collections and got through an immense work load. In the months that have followed Matt has used his analytical and problem-solving skills to streamline a number of company systems and processes. Matt is also responsible for the introduction of a range of GDT branded seed.
Job Titles:
- Sales & Customer Service Administrator
Nicolle is one of two new signings in the January Transfer Window for the 2023 season. Bought in for her experience in customer service rather than her EXCELLENT taste in football teams (she's a Gooner). Nicolle joins as a beneficiary of a more forward thinking and flexible approach to recruitment at GDT, and will in fact be in the office for only three days a week, (although we will still get our 5 days worth out of her). Nicolle has settled in quickly, and once up to speed promises to provide a 5* service. Arriving with a wealth of experience in customer service and a winners mentality, she will be a great addition to the GDT team!
Job Titles:
- Millboard Specialist & Social Media Manager
Shannan joined the sales team just as Covid 19 broke out, consequently she was thrown in right at the deep end with very little training at one of the busiest times the company has experienced. Shannan adapted to the situation, learnt quickly and proved to be a real asset through very challenging times. Shannan now heads up our Millboard sales, identifying many new customers and opportunities which GDT has taken advantage of. Whilst not occupied with Millboard, Shannan is involved in the rebuild of our website and responsible for many of the various social media platforms used by us today. If only she was as engaged with tea making...
Mark arrived towards the end of 2021, with industry related experience and knowledge of fast moving operation. He is an expert at artificial projects and now is an Approved Millboard Installer. There isn't a tip or a trick he doesn't know, so if you need help or advice on how to go about creating your dream garden Mark is your man. He has fitted in well with his focus on customer service, and we expect lots from Mark in the future.