COMTEL - Key Persons
Derm Guerin - Founder, Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Managing Director
- Owner
Founder, Derm, testing GT (Guerin & Tebbit Communications) radio coverage from a service vehicle.
After working as a Product, Sales and State Manager for Phillips Electronics for many years, Comtel Owner and Founder, Derm, returned to Toowoomba where his family has been farming since 1900, to open GT Communications with business partner, Leith Tebbit, in 1982. Parting ways in June of 1985, GT Communications became Comtel in Toowoomba in July of the same year.
Derm pioneered communication technology services to the Toowoomba region, by providing some of the first radio communications available for public use in Australia, allowing people to reliably communicate over a wide area including the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley.
With communications for businesses being vital for operations, he knew that businesses in the area could not wait days or weeks for systems' spare parts to be sent from Sydney or Melbourne. Because of this, Derm and Comtel have always stored a full supply of spare parts at their locations and a team of technicians to assist businesses, around the clock.
Passionate about the local Toowoomba community, Derm has actively participated in many local organisations and clubs such as the Toowoomba Apex Club, the Rotary Club of Toowoomba South, and the Darling Downs Irish Club, sitting on many Boards. Derm continues to support the community by providing valuable donated services to local organisations like the Toowoomba Royal Show, the Toowoomba Hospice, the Queensland Theatre Company, and more.
In his role, Derm wears many hats. He is responsible for the successful leadership of the Comtel team and supervises Comtel's operations and staff. He also mentors the next generations of the team, always up for helping those around him.
Having grown the business from the ground up, Derm is proud of the success of both Comtel and its clients over the years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Comtel Team
- Telephone Service Manager
Joining Comtel in 1997, Heath is a hugely appreciated member of the Comtel Team. With more than 27 years of experience in the IT and communications industries, Heath brings a wealth of knowledge and unmatched experience as our Telephony Service Manager.
In his many years working with Comtel, Heath's favourite aspect of his role has always been working alongside a great team of people and the variety of his work.
Based in Toowoomba, Heath is responsible for managing projects, designing and implementing systems and coordinating staff to perform projects and jobs, helpdesk support for internal and external customers, sales support, in-house and customer training, dealer support, service administration - just to name a few!
Service Manager: Technical Manager Radio & Electronic Communications
Qualifications: GCert Aviation Management, Diploma of Aviation, Diploma of Management, Diploma of Security & Risk Management, Cert IV Public Safety (Defence), Electrotechnology Communications Trade
Toowoomba local, Michael, has more than 18 years of experience in the ICT industry, with 16 of those years working at Comtel.
In his role, Michael leads a team of seven technicians and a sales support team and oversees project coordination, system designs and integrations of digital and analogue radio systems, CCTV systems, GPS tracking, microwave linking systems, off-grid solar systems, tower construction and public address systems.
Passionate about the advancements in technology and integration of technology systems, Michael thoroughly enjoys working with the team and seeing apprentices thrive at Comtel. As Comtel's in-house pilot, Michael can transport the team to the site anywhere, quickly.
With no two days the same, Michael enjoys the variety of work he experiences from Aviation Weather Stations and runway lighting to solar-based microwave communications linking systems, to supporting emergency services with their communications needs.
When not working, Michael has been a long-term supporter of the Royal Australian Airforce cadets based in Toowoomba.
Originally from Sunderland in the North of England, Toowoomba resident, Scott, joined the Comtel team in 2015. Having worked in the ICT sector since 1999, Scott has worked within all avenues of corporate environments, managing Multinationals and working for and with small family businesses, and large corporations.
Qualifications: Cert. 4 in Information & Technology Networking, Cert. 3 apprenticeship Electronics Telecommunications
Joining the Comtel team in 1997, Steve is Comtel's in-house IT expert, solving difficult communication and technology system problems for both clients and internal staff.
Based in Comtel's Brisbane office, Steve helps everyone and anyone with internal and external IT systems, ensuring that clients and Comtel staff are well looked after and their systems are running smoothly.
With many years of experience and many qualifications in electronics telecommunications and ICT, Steve provides customers with their IT systems, as well as designing projects and advising staff on how to implement the right sized system for the client.
Internally, Steve supports staff with solutions that work for the clients, designing presale projects and advising the sales team on how the system works.
An integral part of the Comtel Team, Steve handles a variety of projects every day. With more than 25 years with the Comtel Team, Steve enjoys the large variety of his work, with each day being different.
Qualifications: Bachelor of General Education Studies, Certificate III in Electronics and Communications
Joining the Comtel team in 2008, Toowoomba local, Stuart, provides customers with technical sales advice which meets their communications needs.
Experienced and trained in many different ICT certifications, Stuart is a multi-talented communications guru, even having logged hundreds of hours flying drones, both at work and home.
Always up for something new, Stuart thoroughly enjoys the variety of projects and clients he works with delivering solutions that are on time, on budget and exceeding expectations.
Qualifications: Bachelor Of General Studies (History), Masters in Business Administration (MBA) (Project Management)
Tomas has been an important part of the Comtel team for as long as he can remember. He worked in the business as a child stamping envelopes, and after graduating high school, Tomas worked as a vehicle installer. In 2000, he moved into a sales and administration role and then worked his way up to sales manager in 2007, and General Manager in 2012.
Working predominantly in the sales and support team for many of Comtel's services, Tomas has specialised knowledge of a broad range of business communications systems and experience across the ICT and telecommunications industry.
With no two days the same, he primarily oversees Comtel's daily operations and long-term planning for the future, whilst still providing invaluable support to clients and staff alike.
Being locally based in Toowoomba, Tomas understands regional and remote requirements and is just as comfortable providing corporate communications solutions in Australian capital cities.
His life-long experience in the industry, broad exposure to businesses and industries, and best-fit solutions allow Tomas to find appropriate solutions for businesses, large and small. Tomas is proudly part of Comtel and looks forward to seeing his family's company grow further.