NIFA - Key Persons
She originally comes from the hospitality industry and is NIFA's number one pub tiger. Agnes has been with us for three years now as a warehouse assistant. She likes to talk briefly about her career switch and why she likes it so much working at NIFA!
'Officially, I have a background in the hospitality industry, which is where I grew up in. My father worked in the Cambuur café where I was always to be found. So, it was no surprise that I started working in the hospitality industry myself. About 20 years ago, I was convinced by a friend to try working in a warehouse. Since then, I have seen a lot of this; from small metal to firefighting materials, home sustainability products, and plastics. NIFA's products and the world around them are much more interesting and that makes my work a lot more fun.'
'Also here you can find me in the warehouse. My main tasks are registering goods in and out, order picking and loading and unloading goods with the forklift truck. I also have some additional tasks, such as taking minutes at our logistics team meetings, I am responsible for the stock of packaging materials, and I do some production work in between. These include the production and packaging of our own lubricant.'
'At NIFA, you are really included in the process and teamwork is key. There are plenty of development opportunities, if you are up for it. I really enjoy working in the warehouse and I have a lot of pleasure in my work! I really like the small team compared to larger companies where you are easily seen as a number. You can also tell your stories to your colleagues here and they can be reached day and night, so to speak. I also enjoy our office dogs who regularly come to give me a cuddle. NIFA is the first place where I feel good and appreciated. They are correct and to the point here, I like that.'
During the weekend, Agnes can always be found in the pub with her friends, or she goes to concerts with Dutch music or pirate festivals. She is a really sociable person! She doesn't find sports necessary as she is lifting products and taking 16,000 steps a day. During her holidays, Agnes likes to go camping and loves the sun. In bad weather, she likes playing games.
Job Titles:
- Senior Financial Assistant
Annemie has been employed as an administrative assistant since 2015. From origin she comes from Belgium, West Flanders, but moved to the Netherlands in 2006 for her husband. But what is she doing exactly? She explains what it's like to work at NIFA.
'Every working day is a surprise and dependents on incoming mail. I mainly take care of the financial administration, including processing sales invoices and purchase invoices. Apart from that I take care of the export documents for larger shipments, which are required for certain countries, as we have many international customers. I also supervise a bit of after-sales. Varied work and is what I like!'
'In those eight years I've been working at NIFA, I've enjoyed a lot together with my colleagues. For example, the relocation of NIFA in 2018 was a big change. This was a really great step forward that we still enjoy every day. Besides that, I have super lovely colleagues. You are able to share everything and learn a lot from each other. That's really worth a lot. We always socialize between work and we also go out sometimes after work.'
In her free time, Annemie likes to be outside and enjoys gardening. She is also very creative and makes crochet stuffed animals. A busy bee! We love that at NIFA.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader Administration
Brenda has been following Formula One since she was 16 years old. Besides watching sports, she enjoys to play tennis on a weekly basis and likes going for walks. Furthermore, she also likes to have fun with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Expert and Quick Response to Queries. Extremely Friendly at All Times
As of June 2023, she supports our sales team from our office in Leeuwarden. You will probably meet her when you have a question about our products or when you place an order.
'My passion for reproduction started during my bachelor in Animal Management in Leeuwarden. In my second year of university I did an internship at Seldsum Stables & Equine Fertility, where I continued to work after my studies. I was involved in embryo transfer, OPU/ICSI, but also in inseminating horses and analyzing uterine health. In the meantime, I worked for a short period in England and New Zealand. Of course also in horse reproduction. I have seen a lot so far, what is a huge advantage for my job at NIFA.'
'As sales support I make sure that orders are processed, but I'm also there if customers have any questions. With my practical experience, I have a lot of knowledge of products and their usage.'
In her free time, she also spends time with horses and rides for fun. Furthermore, she loves adventuring, as she goes backpacking regularity.
Former director Dirk Postma is officially retired, but he is still occasionally called in for projects and consultancy - something he continues to do with great conviction. His passion for the field remains as strong as ever, and his knowledge is invaluable. He has left a permanent footprint not only within NIFA but also in the world of animal reproductive technology.
Job Titles:
- Senior Logistics Coordinator
Since July 2024, this curious jack-of-all-trades has been the Senior Logistics Coordinator at NIFA. Frank has quickly found his footing and is excited to share his experience in logistics and his responsibilities at NIFA.
‘After completing my agricultural studies, I started working at a paint manufacturing company. I spent an impressive 32 years there, working in production, the color lab, logistics, warehousing and product management. That's quite a long time nowadays,' Frank laughs. ‘I enjoyed my time there, especially because of the variety of roles I held and the opportunities for training, education and career growth. However, I missed the close-knit feel of a smaller company, which I've found at NIFA. I also really appreciate the open culture at NIFA, where you can ask anything.'
‘At NIFA, I'm responsible for managing logistics processes and leading the logistics team. We have some exciting challenges ahead, including implementing a barcode system. In addition, I handle technical tasks and perform maintenance on instruments. I enjoy the fast-paced nature of the work and am always looking for new challenges to keep me engaged. For example, I'm eager to learn about all the products we sell so I can ensure they're transported to our customers in the best possible way, adhering to all relevant laws and regulations.'
In his free time, Frank loves variety as well. He enjoys listening to music, DIY projects, and walking his dog. To stay fit, he regularly rides his road bike or mountain bike. He balances this out by baking delicious apple pies and brewing his own beer. You can probably guess what we're all waiting for now at our office.
He started working at NIFA in 2022, and immediately became an indispensable member of our team. Hans Jubbega is always busy supporting our clients, whether it is in the Netherlands or somewhere abroad. Hans is a real jack-of-all-trades if you ask us, and he would like to introduce himself to you.
‘Growing up, we had a livestock farm with pigs and chickens. You could always find me there, and later I decided to take over the business after finishing my agricultural studies. Due to a lack of expansion opportunities, I started a new career. Within the agricultural sector of course, because that is where my heart lies.'
‘My background is primarily in the pig reproduction business. Over the past 25 years, I have worked for several years for an artificial insemination (A.I.) organisation after which I delved into reproduction data. I focused on creating workflows (SOPs) for products. Reproduction is truly my driving force, my passion. I enjoy combining knowledge and practical experience with the aim to improve results. This requires both data and technology.'
‘Therefore, NIFA was not unfamiliar to me. Meanwhile, I joined them as Sales Director. It is a fantastic team, and we are all dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction. Entrepreneurs can contact me if they are interested in new products. I enjoy visiting customers on site to get an overview of the situation. In this way we can provide a custom-made advice on a suitable solution. In case a customer is still unsure about a product, a demo is possible.'
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations & Administration
She is the key person within NIFA and a jill of all trades. In April, Janny celebrates a remarkable 32 years of service at our company! But how did she find herself with us and why does she never get tired of working here?
'Many people do not know that I once started cooking school, which I was unable to complete due to knee problems. As a farmer's daughter, I was taught that staying at home is not an option, so I started working as a substitute veterinary assistant, after which I worked as a shop assistant at Keurslager for a couple of years. In 1992, at the age of 22, I started working as an administrative assistant at NIFA, a family business at the time. Over the years I have worked in every department and by completing an evening study I expanded my knowledge of finance and management. Dirk Postma taught me the skills needed to properly advise our customers.'
'At NIFA there are endless opportunities for employees who distinguish themselves through their commitment, and there are always opportunities for career development. That is something we as NIFA are very proud of! These days I am responsible for the operational and administrative activities at NIFA. That means I have a lot of contact with customers and make sure my colleagues can carry out their work. Furthermore, I am the first contact person for our French mother company, IMV Technologies.'
'NIFA gives me energy and I never go to work reluctantly, there is never a single day the same. The most important thing for me is our customers, they must be satisfied with our products and services. We don't do hard sales, but we advise products that take our customers to a higher level. Of course, this is only possible with a great team of fantastic colleagues.'
Each and every day, this sporty man cycles to work in all weathers. As of 1 March, Johan has been employed for 22 years and isn't unknown to many of you. Nevertheless, he likes to introduce himself and tell us about his journey at NIFA.
'Before I joined NIFA, I worked for a few other wholesalers distributing technical and chemical products. Compared to this, NIFA's products are completely different. It is already some years ago that I started as an employee working at the warehouse. At that time I had a variety of responsibilities at NIFA. Over the years our team has grown, so jobs and responsibilities have become more specified. This ultimately gives everyone more focus, peace of mind and works efficiently.'
'Every day I step inside NIFA with a good feeling. I think everything is well organised and I have nice colleagues. Between work there is always room for a little chat and the company outings are always great fun, especially the sporting outings. And if you need something to do your work, that is also neatly arranged.
In his spare time, he enjoys going to sport to unload, but also to gain energy. During winter, he is most often found at the gym working out, but as soon as the weather allows, he likes to get on his race bike. From training a few times a week to weekend tours in the Veluwe, France or Germany. Besides, Johan has been practicing sports massages for years: it is a hobby that sometimes got out of hand in the past.
Job Titles:
- Sales Representative Imaging
This lady from Limburg has been part of our team since the beginning of September 2023. She is delighted to introduce herself.
Job Titles:
- Expert and Quick Response to Queries. Extremely Friendly at All Times
As a rookie, Peter started at NIFA after completing his retail degree in December 2005. All these years later, he still finds his work both enjoyable and challenging.
‘Via my colleague Johan, I started order-picking in the warehouse in 2005. In the meantime I have been promoted to Logistics Team Leader and am responsible for the warehouse and all logistics processes. In addition, as of this year, I am also the contact person for purchasing. All this makes my job diverse and challenging. I think it is nice that there are opportunities to grow within the company and that they focus on personal ambitions.'